A Play Adaptation by Goodrich and Hackett

Mr. Frank: Father of Anne
Mrs. Frank: Mother of Anne
Margot Frank: Older sister of Anne
Anne Frank: A thirteen year-old girl
Frank
Family
Mr. Van Daan: Father of Peter
Mrs. Van Daan: Mother of Peter
Peter Van Dann: A boy about Anne’s age
Van Daan
Family
Mr. Kraler: Worker at the business Mr. Frank owns
Miep Gies: Worker at the business Mr. Frank owns
Workers who are helping the families hide

Exposition (Setting):
The events take place in Amsterdam, Holland. The family is forced into hiding in 1942, when Margot receives deportation notice from the Gestapo. She has been ordered to a “work camp” in Germany.
The building they use to hide in is the one that Mr.
Frank owned. His employees have pledged to help conceal them.

Setting:

The entrance to the hiding place is concealed by a bookcase with a latching hook. When it is unlocked, it can swing open.

The play starts in 1945, after the end of the war. Otto Frank and Miep Gies, one of women who had helped conceal the Frank family have returned to the hideout.
Miep hands over Anne’s diary to Otto.
Otto opens the diary, and starts to read.
The play then uses a flashback and returns to 1942, when the family first went into hiding.

These terms are in your Literary Terms Packet as well as previous notes.
Theme: The main idea/concept of a piece of literature. (Not the topic!)
Examples: Triumph of human spirit, True friendship, Conflict with society
Flashback: Transition to an event that occurred earlier; returning to a time frame that happened before the current time in the writing.
Characterization: The way a writer reveals the traits of characters. In plays, most of the characterization is indirect and depends upon the interpretation of the actors/audience.
Conflict: Internal or external struggle between opposing forces. (Man vs.
Man, Man vs. Nature, Man vs. Society, Man vs. Self, Man vs. Fate)

Act I, Scene I
Foreshadowing: When Mr. Frank picks up a woman’s glove from the floor of the secret annex, he breaks down and starts to cry. What might this foreshadow? What reason might he have for crying over a woman’s glove?
At this point in the play, how do you think Anne feels about going into hiding?

Act. I, Scene II-Characterization
Before Anne says a single word, the stage directions on pg. 373 reveal a bit about her character. What do we learn about her?
Read back over the exchange between Mrs. Frank and Mr. Kraler on pg. 374. What does this reveal about Mrs. Frank’s character?
Mr. Kraler says, “I never thought I’d see the day when a man like Mr.
Frank would have to go into hiding. When you think-” This passage reveals Mr. Kraler’s opinion of Mr. Frank. How does he regard him?
Describe Anne’s reaction to Peter when he is standoffish on pg. 377.

Act I, Scene II
How does Mr. Frank try to persuade Anne that hiding will have certain advantages?
Imagine you were confined to three rooms-no contact with the outside world. Tell two things that would be a positive, and two things that would be a negative. (What you would be happy to give up and what you would miss.)
Are the things you would miss similar to what Anne misses?

Provide an adjective to describe each character.
Mr. Frank:
Mrs. Frank:
Margot Frank:
Anne Frank:
Mr. Van Daan:
Mrs. Van Daan:
Peter Van Dann:
Mr. Kraler:
Miep Gies:

Artifacts
Uncle Sam last week assumed the role of fashion designer. Sweeping restrictions aim to save 15 percent of the yardage now used on women's and girls' apparel through such measures as restricting hems and belts to two inches, eliminating cuffs on sleeves. Exempt categories include bridal gowns, maternity dresses, vestments for religious orders. - Life
Magazine, April 20, 1942

Artifacts
By the end of 1942, half of U.S automobiles were issued an 'A' sticker which allowed 4 gallons of fuel per week. Remember-mileage per gallon was much lower then!
Clothing Rationing for women and girls.
What would you buy with your 60 clothes coupons to last you a year?

In the first few pages of the book are some examples of wartime rations , which for an adult for one week included:
2oz butter.
2oz cheese
1 egg
The picture on the right gives a weeks ration of protein products for an adult.
The selection to the left is from England.
One ration book from the
U.S.

Act I, Scene II ended with Anne’s thoughts on being in hiding.
In Scene III, we jump ahead two months. This is because the length of the diary makes it difficult to show the full book on stage. Remember most diaries are records of the everyday; not all that is in the diary would fit well on stage although it does in the book.
This Scene will be our chance to get to know the characters a bit better. Pay attention to their interactions with one another.