Anne wants to keep a diary because she feels the need to get things off her chest and express her thoughts and feelings. She doesn't have a true friend to confide in, so she decides to write her thoughts to a fictional friend named "Kitty."
3. Why did Anne think she could confide more in her diary than in people?
Answer: Anne believes she could confide more in her diary than in people because she thinks paper has more patience than people. She feels that no one would understand her, and she is also not able to get closer to anyone to confide in, which makes her turn to her diary as a trusted confidante.
Additional Comprehension Check Questions:
1.Why does Anne provide a brief sketch of her life?
Answer: Anne provides a brief sketch of her life to give "Kitty" (her diary) some background about herself before she starts sharing her thoughts. She feels that her stories would be confusing without this context.
2.What tells you that Anne loved her grandmother?
Answer: Anne's statement that "no one knows how often I think of her and still love her" reveals the deep affection and love she had for her grandmother, even after her passing. It shows that she cherished her memory and felt a sense of loss.
Here are answers to the oral comprehension and thinking questions based on the excerpts from The Diary of Anne Frank:
Oral Comprehension Check
1.Why was Mr. Keesing annoyed with Anne? What did he ask her to do?
Answer: Mr. Keesing was annoyed with Anne because she talked too much in class. He assigned her extra homework as a punishment. The first assignment was to write an essay on the topic "A Chatterbox."
2.How did Anne justify her being a chatterbox in her essay?
Answer: Anne justified her chatterbox habit by arguing that talking is a natural trait of students. She humorously mentioned that she couldn’t cure herself of it because her mother talked just as much, if not more, and this trait was likely inherited.
3.Do you think Mr. Keesing was a strict teacher?
Answer: Mr. Keesing was initially strict, as he punished Anne for talking in class by assigning her essays. However, as the story progresses, he seems to have a sense of humor and lightens up, even making jokes in class. This suggests that he was strict at first but also willing to be more flexible.
4.What made Mr. Keesing allow Anne to talk in class?
Answer: Mr. Keesing allowed Anne to talk in class after she wrote a poem on the topic "Quack, Quack, Quack, Said Mistress Chatterbox" as a creative response to his punishment. The poem was well-received, and Mr. Keesing took the joke in the right spirit, thus allowing her to talk without assigning extra homework.
Thinking about the Text
1.Was Anne right when she said that the world would not be interested in the musings of a thirteen-year-old girl?
Answer: Anne was self-aware, but her writing in the diary has proven to be deeply insightful, and the world has found her musings to be valuable and poignant. So, while she might have felt that way at the time, her diary became one of the most significant historical documents of the 20th century.
2.There are some examples of diary or journal entries in the 'Before You Read' section. Compare these with what Anne writes in her diary. What language was the diary originally written in? In what way is Anne's diary different?
Answer: Anne's diary was originally written in Dutch. Unlike most journal entries that may be formal and factual, Anne’s writing is personal, intimate, and filled with emotions. She addresses her diary as "Kitty" and shares her thoughts and feelings about her family, friends, and the war, making it very different from traditional journal writing.
3.Why does Anne need to give a brief sketch about her family? Does she treat 'Kitty' as an insider or an outsider?
Answer: Anne provides a brief sketch about her family so that her diary "Kitty" can better understand her personal life and background. She treats Kitty as an insider, confiding her thoughts, feelings, and experiences as though Kitty were a close friend.
4. How does Anne feel about her father, her grandmother, Mrs. Kuperus, and Mr. Keesing? What do these tell you about her?
Answer: Anne feels deeply attached to her father and admires him. She respects and is close to her grandmother as well. Anne also seems to have a certain affection and respect for Mrs. Kuperus, but her feelings toward Mr. Keesing evolve from frustration to understanding, as he lightens up. These reflections show that Anne is sensitive, perceptive, and capable of forming strong emotional connections.
5.What does Anne write in her first essay?
Answer: In her first essay, Anne writes about the topic “A Chatterbox.” She defends the idea that talking is a natural trait of students and tries to justify her habit of talking too much, humorously mentioning that her mother talks as much as she does.
6.Anne says teachers are most unpredictable. Is Mr. Keesing unpredictable? How?
Answer: Yes, Mr. Keesing is unpredictable. He initially punishes Anne for talking but later lightens up when he appreciates her humor and creativity in her responses. Instead of being rigid, he adapts his approach and even begins making jokes in class.
7.What do these statements tell you about Anne Frank as a person?
Answer: These statements reveal Anne as thoughtful, introspective, and open about her feelings. She values honesty, enjoys creativity, and demonstrates a deep understanding of her own emotions and those of others.
- (i) "We don't seem to be able to get any closer, and that's the problem. Maybe it's my fault that we don't confide in each other."
❤This shows Anne's self-awareness and her desire for closer, more meaningful relationships.
- (ii) "I don't want to jot down the facts in this diary the way most people would, but I want the diary to be my friend."
❤Anne views her diary as a confidant, a source of comfort and self-expression.
- (iii) "Margot went to Holland in December, and I followed in February, when I was plunked down on the table as a birthday present for Margot."
❤Anne’s humor and the way she reflects on her family's life demonstrate her ability to deal with difficult circumstances with a bit of lightness.
- (iv) "If you ask me, there are so many dummies that about a quarter of the class should be kept back, but teachers are the most unpredictable creatures on earth."
❤This statement highlights Anne’s sharp observational skills and her ability to humorously criticize the unpredictability of teachers.
THANK YOU Author-Rumi deka.
