ENGLISH CLASS- 10
CHAPTER-4
(From the Diary of Anne Frank)
From the Diary of Anne Frank
1. Was Anne right when she said that the world would not be interested in the musings of a thirteen-year-old girl?
No, Anne was not right. Although she believed that people would not be interested in the thoughts and experiences of a thirteen-year-old girl, her diary later became one of the most widely read books in the world.
Anne's diary provides a unique and touching account of life during the Second World War. Her observations, feelings, fears, and hopes help readers understand the suffering caused by war and discrimination. Therefore, her musings proved to be of great historical and literary value.
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?
Anne's diary was originally written in Dutch, her native language. Later, it was translated into many languages, including English.
Anne's diary is different from ordinary diary entries because she treats her diary as a close friend. She gives it the name “Kitty” and writes to it in the form of letters. Instead of merely recording daily events, she shares her personal feelings, emotions, opinions, and experiences. This makes her diary more intimate, lively, and engaging than a typical journal.
3. Why does Anne need to give a brief sketch about her family? Does she treat ‘Kitty’ as an insider or an outsider?
Anne gives a brief sketch of her family because she feels that anyone reading her diary in the future would need some background information about her life. Since Kitty has just become her diary companion, Anne introduces her family members so that her future entries can be understood more easily.
Anne treats Kitty as an insider. She shares her deepest thoughts, feelings, and personal experiences with Kitty. She trusts her diary completely and considers it a true friend who understands her better than anyone else.
4. How does Anne feel about her father, her grandmother, Mrs Kuperus and Mr Keesing? What do these tell you about her?
Anne is very fond of her father. She considers him kind, loving, and understanding. She also remembers her grandmother with great affection and feels sad about her death.
Anne respects Mrs Kuperus, her former headmistress, who was very attached to her and became emotional when Anne left the school. Initially, Anne finds Mr Keesing, her mathematics teacher, strict and annoying because he frequently scolds her for talking in class. However, she later appreciates his sense of humour.
These feelings show that Anne is affectionate, sensitive, observant, grateful, and capable of understanding different people and their qualities.
5. What does Anne write in her first essay?
Anne's first essay was titled “A Chatterbox”. Mr Keesing assigned it as a punishment because Anne talked too much in class.
In the essay, Anne argued that talking is a natural trait of students and that she had inherited this habit from her mother. She explained that while she would try to control it, it was difficult to completely change an inherited characteristic. Her arguments were convincing and showed her intelligence and creativity.
6. Anne says teachers are most unpredictable. Is Mr Keesing unpredictable? How?
Yes, Mr Keesing is unpredictable. At first, he appears to be a strict teacher who repeatedly punishes Anne for talking in class. He gives her several essays to write as punishment.
However, after reading Anne's humorous essay titled “Quack, Quack, Quack, Said Mistress Chatterbox”, he is greatly amused. Instead of punishing her again, he laughs and allows her to continue without further punishment. His sudden change from strictness to amusement makes him unpredictable.
7. What do these statements tell you about Anne Frank as a person?
(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 statement shows that Anne is thoughtful, honest, and self-critical. She is willing to examine her own behaviour and accepts that she may be partly responsible for the lack of closeness in her 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.”
This statement shows that Anne is emotional, imaginative, and lonely. She wants a true companion with whom she can share her deepest thoughts and feelings. This is why she treats her diary as a friend.
(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.”
This statement reflects Anne's sense of humour and playful nature. She presents an ordinary fact in a funny and imaginative way, showing her lively personality and creativity.
(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 shows that Anne is frank, witty, outspoken, and observant. She freely expresses her opinions and uses humour to describe situations around her.
(v) “Anyone could ramble on and leave big spaces between the words, but the trick was to come up with convincing arguments to prove the necessity of talking.”
This statement reveals that Anne is intelligent, confident, and creative. Instead of treating the essay as a punishment, she accepts it as a challenge and uses logical arguments to defend her viewpoint. Her ability to think creatively and present convincing ideas highlights her sharp mind.
Amanda!
1. How old do you think Amanda is? How do you know this?
Amanda appears to be a young school-going girl of about 10 to 12 years of age. We can infer this from the instructions repeatedly given to her by an adult, such as cleaning her room, finishing her homework, sitting properly, and not eating chocolate. These are typical instructions given to children of her age.
2. Who do you think is speaking to her?
The speaker is most likely Amanda's mother or parent. The person continuously advises and corrects Amanda about her behaviour, manners, cleanliness, and studies, which are usually the responsibilities of parents.
3. Why are Stanzas 2, 4 and 6 given in parenthesis?
Stanzas 2, 4, and 6 are given in parenthesis because they represent Amanda's thoughts, imagination, and daydreams. While the adult is instructing her in the other stanzas, Amanda escapes into her imaginary world where she can enjoy freedom and peace. The parentheses help distinguish her inner thoughts from the spoken instructions.
4. Who is the speaker in Stanzas 2, 4 and 6? Do you think this speaker is listening to the speaker in Stanzas 1, 3, 5 and 7?
The speaker in Stanzas 2, 4, and 6 is Amanda herself. These stanzas express her personal fantasies and dreams.
No, Amanda does not seem to be listening carefully to the speaker in Stanzas 1, 3, 5, and 7. Instead of paying attention to the constant instructions, she escapes into an imaginary world where she can be free from restrictions and enjoy life according to her wishes.
5. What could Amanda do if she were a mermaid?
If Amanda were a mermaid, she could drift freely in the calm, green sea. She could move through the water without any restrictions, enjoy the beauty of the ocean, and live a peaceful life away from constant instructions and criticism.
The image of a mermaid reflects Amanda's desire for freedom, independence, and relaxation.
6. Is Amanda an orphan? Why does she say so?
No, Amanda is not an orphan. She imagines herself as an orphan because she feels irritated by the constant instructions and restrictions imposed on her.
She believes that an orphan would not have anyone telling her what to do all the time. Therefore, she fantasizes about being an orphan as a symbol of complete freedom and independence, not because she actually lacks parents.
7. Do you know the story of Rapunzel? Why does she want to be Rapunzel?
Yes, Rapunzel is a character from a famous fairy tale. She was a beautiful girl with very long hair who lived alone in a tower, isolated from the outside world.
Amanda wants to be Rapunzel because she wishes to escape from the constant interference and instructions she receives. Like Rapunzel, she wants to be left alone so that she can enjoy peace, freedom, and independence.
8. What does the girl yearn for? What does this poem tell you about Amanda?
Amanda yearns for freedom, peace, and independence. She wants to escape from the continuous instructions, criticism, and restrictions imposed upon her.
The poem tells us that Amanda is an imaginative, sensitive, and creative girl. She often escapes into a fantasy world whenever she feels troubled. It also shows that children need understanding and encouragement rather than constant scolding and control.
9. Read the last stanza. Do you think Amanda is sulking and is moody?
No, Amanda is not necessarily sulking or moody. She appears quiet because she is tired of being constantly corrected and instructed. Her silence may be a reaction to the pressure she feels from the repeated commands.
The last stanza shows that adults sometimes misunderstand children's behaviour. Amanda's quietness is not a sign of bad mood; rather, it reflects her frustration and desire for freedom. The poem suggests that parents should be more patient and understanding towards children.