Anne Frank: Diary of a
Young Girl Background
SETTING PLACE—
TIME---during
World War II—1942-1944 –25 months
LITERARY TYPE Non-fiction-- diary---written by Anne Frank
CHARACTERS Anne Frank diary
author; wished to be remarkable; Mrs. Quack-Quack; 13 years old
Believed
in the goodness of people
Otto
Frank Anne’s father; even
tempered & intelligent; sole survivor of the Holocaust
Leader;
teacher; successful businessman
Margot
Frank quiet, studious,
beautiful, talented; Anne’s sister; 16 years old
Mrs.
Frank Anne’s mother;
rejected by Anne; overly critical of Anne
Mr.
Van Daan smoker;
business associate of Mr. Frank’s; Peter’s father
Mrs.
Van Daan vain
& self-centered; Peter’s mother; quarrelsome
Peter
Van Daan shy
& quiet; son to the Van Daan’s; 15 years old;
Anne’s sweetheart & confidante
Mouschi Peter’s cat
Mr.
Dussel dentist;
Anne’s roommate; fiftyish & finicky
Kitty Anne’s name for her
diary
Meip Geis young Dutch woman; employee to Mr. Frank;
inhabitants’’ lifeline to the outside world
Mr.
Kraler inhabitants’
protector; employed in the office
Mr.
Koophuis
Mr. Frank’s friend & business partner; great support to family
Elli
Voccon typist;
helps with supplies; friendly
Henk Meip’s
fiancé; works with the underground
PROTAGONIST Anne Frank – diary author & main
character; a teenage Jewish girl who is trying to survive the horror of WWII
And
the Nazi occupation of
ANTAGONIST Adolf Hitler & the Nazi Regime;
goal was to annihilate all Jews
PLOT Although this piece of
literature is a diary and does not have a typical plot (CONFLICT, CLIMAX &
CONCLUSION)
It
can be viewed in terms of ordinary conflict.
CONFLICTS External----World
War II and the physical persecution of the Jewish people by Adolf Hitler
Internal------Anne’s
maturation & maturing process as viewed through her thoughts written
In
her diary
CLIMAX The discovery of the
inhabitants by the Gestapo (Nazi secret police)
CONCLUSION Anne’s death in Bergen Belsen of typhus; tragic
(OUTCOME)
THEMES (3) #1 Major
theme of the diary is the general horror of World War II & the attempt to
annihilate
The Jewish population. This is the external conflict.
#2 Anne’s maturing process in cramped
quarters with little or no privacy is the internal conflict.
#3 The third theme
is Anne’s unshakeable belief in the basic love and goodness of people
which gives her hope that all will turn out all right.
MOOD The contrasting moods of despair and
depression (of hiding, constant fear of discovery) vs
the joy of
being alive. The mood definitely is a tribute to mankind’s
brave struggle for survival.
IRONY The diary which has been translated into 30
languages & condemns the Nazi regime was never discovered by the Gestapo.
QUOTES
“I
have y faults, just like everyone else, I know that, but they thoroughly
exaggerate everything.” Part II
Who
does ‘they’ refer to?
What
are ‘they’ complaining about concerning Anne?
“I
suppose it’s their idea of a good upbringing to always try to set me against my
parents, Part III
because that is what
they often do.” Who
is ‘they’ referring to?
What
is it that ‘they’ do?
“The
period when I cause her to shed tears is over. I have grown wise.” Part
IV
Who
does ‘her’ refer to?
What
has Anne done to not cause her to shed tears?
How
has this made Anne wise?
“Oh,
Anne, why have you deserted me! …rescue me from this
hell!” Who
does me refer to?
What
happens to this person?
“…in
spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.” Part VI
What
doe this quote say about Anne Frank?