English 8
Mrs. Harris
The Diary of Anne Frank
Drama
Name___________
Act I Scene 1 p. 712-715
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The play opens on the top floor of the warehouse in Amsterdam, Holland near a belfry of a church of Westertoren
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The play opens in late afternoon of November 1945
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Mr. Frank in his middle years comes in seeming weak or ill and is coming back to take a look where he and his family spent two years in hiding from the Nazi Germans
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Miep, a pregnant Dutch woman of 22 years comes up the stairs to see him
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Mr. Frank is saying good-bye because he can’s stay here, and no one is left
 Mr. Frank’s daughter Anne’s diary was found in papers the Gestapo left, and Miep kept it
 Anne’s diary began in July 6, 1942 and she was 13 years old, born on June 12, 1929. Anne and her family moved to Holland when Hitler was making a name for himself as Chancellor.
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In 1940 the Dutch surrendered to Hitler and Germany, and in 1942, the Franks went into hiding, with Mr. and Mrs. Van Daan, son Peter, Mr. and Mrs. Frank, Margot, and Anne.
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Some Jews went into hiding because it became too much to be a Jew and continue on with the persecutions, and watch Pogroms = organized persecutions and massacres, often officially prompted, of a minority group
Jews had to: o
Wear a yellow star o Hand in their bicycle o Not use trams or cars o not visit theatres, cinemas etc. o not visit Christians
* shop only between 3:00 – 5:00
* not participate in public sports
*only go to Jewish schools
* shop only in stores belonging to Jews
* be indoors by 8:00
Act I Scene 2 p. 715-722
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In the early morning of July 1942, the Franks arrange to meet the others in the attic of the warehouse. It is called the Secret Annexe. Margot had been “called up” and this precipitated the family into hiding.
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They move to the top attic levels of the warehouse, and left a message in the garbage of their home with a Switzerland address to fool the Nazi
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Mr. Kaler brings food and ration books and whatever they need. They are to make a list to get by.
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Peter brought a cat and doesn’t get along with people well
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Mr. Frank gives the rules for living there. No w.c., running water, no shoes, from 8:00 a.m. to
6:00 p.m. while the workers are working in the warehouse. The kids will read, do schoolwork ect.
And rest during these hours, and they will heat food and eat at 6:30 p.m.

Anne gets a diary while they are in hiding, to occupy her time. She names her diary Kitty, and she is hoping it will be her friend

Act I Scene 3 p. 722-734
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6:00 p.m., about two months later, Anne and Peter are doing homework and Margot is in her room. Mr. Van Daan is resting in his room and Mrs. Frank and Mrs. Van Daan are in central room
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Anne does not take boys seriously, and she likes school, although her worst subject is math. She has a nickname and gets in trouble regularly, and writes essays for punishment, and is bright beyond her years in writing skills.
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Mr. Frank is looking out a window, ready to give the signal that all workmen are gone from the building, and they can put on their shoes
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They wait for Miep to come and bring food. They entertain each other. Anne torments Peter,
Anne asks personal questions of Mrs. Van Daan, and Peter argues with his parents
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Peter needs help with his homework and Mr. Frank helps him
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Anne again listens to the Van Daans argue about smoking, then she talks too much and irritates the Van Daans. She believes that Mrs. Van Daan is pushy, and a stupid, foolish person. She flirts shamelessly with Mr. Frank.

Anne gives voice to her dreams, and talks about what she wants for her future. She wants to be a famous dancer or singer, or something wonderful. Anne has dreams, and is an intuitive young lady. Margot is a more serious girl, reserved but intelligent, but Anne is more outspoken.

Anne gets milk on the fur coat of Mrs. Van Daan, and this angers the woman, who retreats to her attic room
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Anne and her mother, Mrs. Frank, get into an argument—Anne should be more like Margot, and she sobs on the couch
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Mr. Kraler comes and interrupts. He comes with news, and he brings food. They mostly eat beans and potatoes, and a few vegetables.
 A Jewish dentist friend of Dirk, Miep’s boyfriend, is in trouble, and needs to go into hiding.
Could they take Mr. Dussel in? Perhaps only for a few days, until another place is available, but
Mr. Van Daan is realistic and knows it is for a long time

They re-arrange the living quarters, so that Margot will sleep in the central room with Mr. and
Mrs. Frank, and Mr. Dussel will sleep with Anne in the little room.
 Mr. Dussel admits he thought Otto Frank’s family was in Zurich, Switzerland, as their note intended people to think
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Mr. Van Daan embarrasses Peter with his talk of not enough food
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Mr. Dussel tells them what has been happening to the outside world. Many families that they know have been abducted and dragged off to death camps, like Mauthausen.
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Anne takes Mr. Dussel into their room and gets him settled. She tries to be nice to him
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According to Anne, she and Mr. Dussel rarely get along and nothing is right!
Act I Scene 4 p. 734-737
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Several months later, Mr. Van Daan steals down the attic stairs, goes to where the food is stored, and sneaks back up. No one seems to notice. Anne does not like Mr. Van Daan, as he isn’t really a father to Peter.

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Anne has nightmares, as she has heard stories from Mr. Dussel about her Jewish friends being taken away by the Gestapo, and their heads are shaved, and they are being taken to camps. This screaming from nightmares awakens everyone, and all fear being heard from the outside and being discovered. Mr. Dussel is furious and escapes to the wc.
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Mrs. Frank comes in to comfort Anne, and Mr. Frank checks for their safety.
 The Van Daan’s awaken and are disgusted by the noise.
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Anne can only be consoled by Mr. Frank, and she doesn’t get along with Mrs. Frank. Margot never acted like this. Margot is a good daughter, and Anne is a “silly little goat”.
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Mr. Frank gives Anne a sleeping pill and she said that she had a dream about the Green Police who broke down their door and dragged her out.
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Anne also confesses that she is not a nice girl at times, but will try harder, and she likes only Mr.
Frank, (Pim) and has nothing in common with anyone else.
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Anne writes that there are more planes flying overhead, and that means that there will be an end to the war soon. On November 19, 1942 the Allies landed in Africa.
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All eight discuss what each would like to do when they get out of their confinement.
Act I Scene 5 p. 737-744
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The first night of Hanukkah, which is an eight day Jewish celebration, (during Christmas time) all are gathered in the central room
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The Franks are celebrating with the Van Daans, lighting the Menorah with the Shamos (servant candle)
 Dussel doesn’t understand and is not Orthodox, and Anne tries to make it special to all by giving them gifts as best she can: o
Margot gets a crossword puzzle book which Anne had erased to use again—like new!
o Mrs. Van Daan received a little bottle of soap pieces with toilet water (perfume) o Mr. Van Daan received two cigarettes that Anne made (along with her dad) from tobacco found in pockets, and they got some papers o
Mrs. Frank received an IOU of 10 hours of Anne doing what her mother says o Mr. Frank received a knitted scarf of parts from many things made by Anne o Mouschi (the cat) received a toy ( a paper ball on a string of yarn) o
Peter received a safety razor to shave, a second-hand one, but he needs to shave now!
o
Mr. Dussel receives ear plugs to stop her noises from her nightmares during the night

A very festive mood was created in the generous spirit of giving by Anne during Hanukkah!
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They begin to sing the song of joy and jubilation, but not too loudly when Peter leaves and pretends to bring the cat out, teasing Mr. Dussel, who leaves irritated.
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Singing resumes, and the candle is blown out instead of going out naturally, when below their rooms is a loud crash. They shut off lights, and take off shoes, and Peter is to shut off another light, but he falls and crashes to the floor, along with a lamp shade. Footsteps run down the street.
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Anne faints. Her biggest fear is realized—she is terrible afraid that they will be found, and terrible tragedies will await them. Again their security is jeopardized by the noise they were making.
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Mr. Frank goes down their steps into the warehouse to check it out, and Mrs. Frank prays.

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It was a thief who took the cashbox from the warehouse, and left the street door open. Now someone knows that they are up there. Dussel and Van Daan are angry. They can’t go anywhere else to hide.
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The adults urge Anne to sing the Hanukkah song again, and gradually the others join in. This ends the year, and Act I.