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Anne Frank

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Anne Frank
Night
Julius Caesar

The Diary of Anne Frank

Summer Reading Study Guide Questions Incoming 8th grade students

The Diary of Anne Frank A Play by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett

 

These questions are intended to clarify and enhance your reading. They will not be assessed.

 

            Note w.c. stands for water closet, meaning bathroom

            Look up the following vocabulary words to help you understand the play:

 

            Conspicuous

            Mercurial

            Carillon

            Surplus

 

Act I, i

  1. The opening scene takes place in November 1945. The rest of the play is a flashback. Why do you think the playwrights decided to write the play in this way?

 

Act I, ii

  1. Who are the Van Daans? Describe each member of this family.
  2. How and why is Mr. Frank different in scene ii?
  3. Describe each member of the Frank family.
  4. Who are Mr. Kraler and Miep?
  5. What is ironic about Mrs. Franks concern about doing something illegal?
  6. Why do the Franks have on so many layers of clothing?
  7. What does Mr. Frank explain about the noise?
  8. How does he describe how their lives in hiding will be (schedule)?
  9. Why does Anne start a diary?
  10. What would happen to Miep and Mr. Kraler if they were caught hiding Jewish people?

 

Act I, iii

  1. How are Anne and Peter different?
  2. Describe the following relationships: Anne and her mother, Anne and her father, Peter and his father
  3. How does Mr. Van Daan feel about Anne?
  4. Compare and contrast Margot and Anne.
  5. What is the bad news Mr. Kraler brings in this scene?
  6. Describe how each character reacts to this bad news.
  7. Describe Mr. Dussel.
  8. How does Mr. Dussel describe the events on the outside?

 

Act I, iv

  1. What do we learn about Anne and her relationship with her parents after she has the nightmare?
  2. At the end of the scene, Anne describes what she wants to do when she gets out. What effect does this have on the reader?

 

Act I, v

  1. Describe the Hanukkah celebration.
  2. What ruins it?
  3. What does the disturbance downstairs turn out to be?
  4. What are the suggestions some of the characters have at the end of this scene?

 

Act II, I

  1. How much time has passed?
  2. Describe the characters at this point in the play. What has happened to their relationships?
  3. Explain the significance of the following: the cake incident, the cat, the fur coat, Carl the blackmailer.
  4. What does Peter admire about Anne?

 

Act II, ii

  1. What does Anne think is ridiculous about her mother?
  2. How has Anne and Peters relationship developed (how have their feelings changed for each other)?
  3. How do the other characters feel about Anne and Peters relationship?

 

Act II, iii

  1. What is Mr. Van Daan caught doing at the opening of this scene?
  2. How does Mrs. Frank react?
  3. How has Mrs. Frank changed from the beginning of the play?
  4. Mrs. Frank finally does stand up to the Van Daans. Ironically, Anne doesnt approve. Why?
  5. What good news does Miep bring?
  6. Who feels ashamed about this news? Why do they feel ashamed?
  7. What is everyone worried about at the end of this scene (as expressed in Annes diary excerpt)?

 

Act II, iv

  1. What is Dussels theory about the ringing telephone?
  2. What is your prediction about the ringing telephone?
  3. What does Anne mean when she tells Peter, I think myself out (p. 116)?
  4. What are the differences between Peter and Annes outlook on life?
  5. What feelings does Annes last diary entry evoke?

 

Act II, v

  1. The final scene, like the opening scene, takes place in 1945. Reread the opening scene to refresh your memory of this setting.
  2. Mr. Frank tells Miep and Mr. Kraler what happened after they were discovered by the Nazis. Summarize what he tells them.
  3. Why do you think Mr. Frank says, She puts me to shame in response to Annes famous quotation? What does he mean? Explain.

You can get answers to the study guide by viewing it in MS Word format. However, it is not guaranteed that the answers are correct, and your negligence is not our responsibility. Although the answers are here for your free access, please read the book thoroughly and answer the questions just as you would if these were not available.