Answer key: short answer study guide questions

ANSWER KEY: SHORT ANSWER STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS

Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl

June 14, 1942 - February 27, 1943

1. Who was Anne Frank?

Anne Frank was a young girl, born June 12, 1929 to an upper-middle class Jewish

family. Her father, Otto Frank, saw the danger to the Jews long before Hitler had his

"final solution" for all Jews in place. When Anne was four years old, in 1933, the family

moved to Holland where her father had business connections.
2. Identify and give a brief description of:

Margot Frank - Margot was Anne's beautiful, intelligent sister who was three years older

than Anne. She is often held up as a model of what Anne should try to become.

Otto Frank - Mr. Frank is Anne's father. He is several years older than Anne's mother.

He is intelligent and well-educated. Mr. Frank usually plays the role of peacemaker in

the frequent bickering that take place in their confined quarters.
Mrs. Frank - "Mummy" is eleven years younger that Mr. Frank. She has been used to

having servants in the house to do the work. Consequently, when the responsibility for

cleaning and cooking falls mainly upon her shoulders, she is often incompetent and rather

disorganized.

3. The Franks' ability to prepare the "hidden house" and survive living there for two years would have been impossible were it not for a group of protectors. Identify Mr. Kraler, Mr. Koophuis, Meip, and Elli.

Mr. Kraler - When Jews were no longer allowed to own a business, he assumed

management of those which Mr. Frank and Mr. Van Daan had run. He helped them

prepare the "Secret Annexe" and later provided material supplies as well as psychological

support. All of this involved extreme risk to himself, even though he was not a Jew.

Mr. Koophuis - He, along with Mr. Kraler, takes over the running of the business. Like

Kraler, he too is a Dutch Gentile. He is especially helpful in arranging the logistics of

obtaining food.
Meip - Meip is a young woman who works in the office of the business. She too helps

to secure food and is particularly good at raising the spirits of those in the annexe. Her

husband's name is Henk.
Elli- Elli is another young office worker who helps with collecting food. Like Meip, she

also helps keep spirits up.

4. When does Anne's diary begin? Why is this day special?

It begins on June 14, 1942, Anne's birthday.

5. What is meant by the saying, "Paper is more patient than man"?

See June 20, 1942 entry. People may weary of listening to adolescent "unbosomings,"

but a piece of paper just patiently receives whatever the writer wishes to write on it.
6. Give a brief sketch of Anne's life prior to the beginning of the diary.

Anne was born in Frankfort, Germany. The family migrated to Holland in 1933 when

Anne's father became a partner in Kolen and Co.
7. What were some of the restrictions placed on the Dutch Jews by the Germans?

They had to wear the yellow star and to hand in their bicycles. They were banned from

trains and forbidden to drive. They could only shop between three and five o'clock and

then only at "Jewish" shops. They had to be indoors by eight o'clock P.M. All sports and

sports facilities were forbidden. They could not visit Christians, and they had to attend

Jewish schools.

8. What forces the Franks into hiding?

In early July, Margot, who was sixteen, received a "call up notice" which meant she

would be deported to a concentration camp. It was unthinkable that Margot should go.

The only alternative was to hide and try to survive.

9. Where is the secret annexe located?

It is in the same building where Mr. Frank's office and warehouse were located. There is

a hidden entrance behind a cupboard. Part of the second floor and all of the third floor

which was not bare attic, made up their living quarters. The building itself is located in

downtown Amsterdam.
10. On July 13th, the Van Daan family arrives. Identify and briefly describe Mr. Van Daan, Mrs. Van Daan and Peter Van Daan.

Mr. Van Daan is a business associate of Mr. Frank.

Mrs. Van Daan is an interesting, opinionated woman. In the beginning Anne finds her

very difficult to get along with. Later she finds her to be a good listener and talks to her

more than she does her own mother.

Peter Van Daan is two and a half years older than Anne. His quiet personality is a great

contrast to Anne's chatterbox tendencies.

11. What contact do the Franks and Van Daans have with the outside world?

In the office there is a secret radio where broadcasts from England can be heard.

Although Anne and the others fear to listen, the desire to know what is going on prevails

and they tune in almost every day. News from nearby is brought to them by their

protectors.

12. In September, Peter and Anne begin their studies, usually under the direction of Mr. Frank. What do they study?

Anne studies French. Peter struggles with English. Anne works with her father on his

family tree. Later (October) Elli writes for a correspondence course in shorthand for

them. Anne has trouble with math, but she loves to read. Her passion is mythology.

13. Because of their close confinement and constant association with each other, friction among them occurs frequently. What are some of the clashes?

Mr. and Mrs. Van Daan "yell" at each other. Mrs. Van Daan is annoyed by Anne's

chatter and shirks her dishwashing duties when it is her turn. Anne's mother and Mrs.

Van Daan frequently tangle, which seems to be based on a simple personality conflict.

Peter is moody and a hypochondriac. Anne had believed that only children squabbled,

but now she believes that adults can be as petulant as children. Anne, the youngest,

eems to be the most frequent scapegoat. She says you can only really get to know people

when you've had a "jolly good row with them."

14. What is the big news from the outside world in November of 1942?

The Allied forces invaded Africa and there is news of victories.

15. In November another person comes to live in the secret annexe. Describe this newcomer.

Mr. Dussel is an elderly dentist who must share Anne's room. Margot will sleep on the

camp bed. Anne finds him slow on the uptake. He brings sad news of many of their

friends who have been deported. It is hard to remain cheerful in the face of this enormous

brutality. Mr. Dussel turns out to be a "sermonizer" and lectures Anne very often about

her "manners." Worse than that, he runs to Mummy, who lectures her all over again.

16. What was Mr. Van Daan's previous occupation? How does he make use of it now?

Mr. Van Daan used to be in the meat, sausage and spice business and now makes

sausages in order to preserve some black market meat for future use in case times "get

harder."
17. What special event brightens the Christmas holidays?

Each person will receive an extra 1/4 pound of butter, which they decide they will use to

make biscuits and cakes to celebrate.

18. Are conditions better as the year 1943 begins?

No; indeed, they are much worse. More and more Jews are being dragged away. Dutch

young men are sent to the front. "Everyone is afraid." To add to this, air raids continue

night after night. Dutch children go about without warm clothing from cold house to cold

street to cold classrooms. Countless children beg a piece of bread from strangers in the

street. Amidst all of this misery, nerves snap and Anne is reminded daily of her faults, a

situation she does not enjoy. No wonder there are frequent blow-ups.

19. In February, Mr. Frank thinks the invasion may be soon. Is he correct?

No, the invasion is a long way off. The winter months are not a suitable time for an all-out

invasion. Perhaps he says this to lighten their despair. The food is in short supply and

not very good. The attic is full of rats, and Peter is bitten. The tedium is almost

unbearable. To make matters worse, there is some evidence that thieves are snooping

about the warehouse.