ANNE FRANK’S DIARY OF A YOUNG
GIRL
Background:
 Anne Frank was born on June 12th 1929 in Germany &
later moved to Amsterdam with her family
 She received a diary for her 13th birthday
 Anne and her family went into hiding for almost two
years until they were arrested by the Nazis
 Anne died in the Bergen-Belsen camp in March, 1945
 Her diary survived and was later published by her
father.
Image retrieved from
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?ModuleId=10005210
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ANNE FRANK’S “DIARY OF A YOUNG
GIRL”
Lesson objectives:
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Identify the themes in “Diary of a Young Girl”
Compose a written response (100-200 words)
discussing ONE theme
You may choose which excerpt you wish to
discuss
OR identify and discuss any other theme that you
feel is relevant
Be ON-TASK
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DEFINITION: THEME

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Theme = Unifying
or Dominant Idea
Various themes are
explored in “Diary
of a Young Girl”
Read the following
excerpts
Image retrieved from
http://librarykvpattom.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/annefrank.jpg
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EXCERPT 1
“I long to ride a bike, dance, whistle, look at
the world, feel young and know that I’m
free…Just imagine what would happen if all
eight of us were to feel sorry for
ourselves or walk around with the
discontent clearly visible on our faces.”
Anne Frank (December 24, 1943)
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DISCUSSION OF EXCERPT 1
Context: Nazi persecution has forced
Anne into hiding with seven other
people in the Secret Annexe
 How does Anne feel?
 Study the following photographs
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A LIFE BEFORE HIDING
Image retrieved from,
http://www.annefrank.org/content.asp?pid=43&lid=2
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ANNE’S ROOM IN HIDING
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Imagine being
cooped up in this
room at length
Imagine sharing it
with an adult
How would you
feel?
How did Anne feel?
Image retrieved from,
http://www.annefrank.org/content.asp?pid=292&lid=2
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UNDERLYING THEME IN EXCERPT 1
Repression
 Definition: Having to keep under
control one’s feelings
 How would you feel in Anne’s
position?
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EXCERPT 2
“I need my mother to set a good example
and be a person I can respect, but in most
matters she’s an example of what not to
do.”
Anne Frank (January 6, 1944)
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DISCUSSION OF EXCERPT 2
Context: Anne has always been closer
to her father than her mother
 What is Anne’s age when she wrote
this entry?
 Describe Anne’s feelings
 Study the following photograph
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ANNE AND HER MOTHER
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Anne felt her
mother did not
understand her
Who did Anne prefer
to confide in?
Image retrieved from,
http://www.annefrank.org/content.asp?pid=180&lid=2
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UNDERLYING THEME IN EXCERPT 2
Adolescence
 Transition period between puberty and
adulthood
 Anne had to grow up in a restrictive
environment
 She was deprived of contact with her
peers
 Vented her anger and frustration on her
mother
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EXCERPT 3
“I want to be useful or
bring enjoyment to all
people, even those
I’ve never met. I
want to go on living
even after my death!”
Anne Frank (April
5, 1944)
Image retrieved from,
http://fcit.usf.edu/holocaust/GALL37R/AFRANK05.HTM
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DISCUSSION OF EXCERPT 3
Context: Anne feels like there are two
Anne’s within her – the ‘mean’ Anne
and the ‘nice’ Anne
 Why do you think Anne faces an
identity problem?
 How did Anne find her identity?
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ANNE’S DIARY
Images retrieved from,
http://www.annefrank.org/content.asp?pid=122&lid=2
http://www.annefrank.org/content.asp?pid=298&lid=2
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UNDERLYING THEME IN EXCERPT 3
Self-identity
 Awareness of one’s self as a separate
individual
 Her diary entries reflect Anne’s quest
for a sense of identity
 Anne matures into a confident young
woman with a strong identity of her
own
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EXCERPT 4
“I still believe, in spite
of everything, that
people are truly good
at heart.”
Anne Frank (July
15, 1944)
Image retrieved from,
http://www.annefrank.org/content.asp?pid=356&lid=2
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DISCUSSION OF EXCERPT 4
Context: This was one of the final
significant entries in Anne’s diary
 Despite everything, Anne maintained
hope and optimism
 How does this excerpt reflect on Anne
as a person?
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ANNE, MARGOT, THE ANNEXE
Images retrieved from,
http://www.evgschool.org/Anne_Fr
ank.htm
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UNDERLYING THEME IN EXCERPT 4
Optimism
 To look on the favorable side of
events
 Despite all her suffering, Anne chose
to believe in the good in people
 Do you share Anne’s optimism?
Explain your views
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ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS
Choose one diary excerpt
 Write a response
 Discuss the theme and your views on it
 OR, identify and discuss any other
theme relevant to Anne’s story
 One paragraph, between 100-200 words
 20 minutes
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ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDED
READING
Children in the Holocaust and WW II:
Their Secret Diaries – Laurel Holliday
 We Are Witnesses: Five Diaries of
Teenagers Who Died in the Holocaust
– Jacob Boas
 The Diary of Petr Ginz – Petr Ginz
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WEB LINKS
http://www.annefrank.com/who-isanne-frank/
 http://www.annefrank.org/content.asp?
pid=2&lid=2
 http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php
?ModuleId=10005210
 http://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhib
it/online/af/htmlsite/
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LESSON CLOSURE
We discussed the themes in “Diary of
a Young Girl”
 We looked at 4 excerpts from Anne’s
diary
 You wrote a response to ONE theme
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