DR RAJU DAVIS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, MALA

CLASS X (2024-25)
STUDY MATERIAL- ENGLISH LITERATURE (PROSE)

FROM THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK

lo this extract Anne talks about the problens of being lonely in a crowd. In the absence of
good friends, withdrawing into herself. she finds solace and friendship in 'Kitty'her diary.

She felt thatpaper had more capacity for absorbing thoughtsthan the people. The lesson also

lays emphasis on studentteacher relationship, family relationship, wit and bumour.

Short answer questions

1. In what way did Anne's diary become the most widely read books?

The diary of Anne provides a close examination of her daily lite. ler original work was in
Dutch language. Then there came several films, telex ision and theatrical production of her
diary.

2. Why did Anne feel like writing?

Anne had no real friend. Even she had a greaterneed to get all kinds of things off her chest.
So she felt like writing. Though she had a whim that none would take interest in her views
because of her small age.

3. Anne wasnot alone in this world. How?

Anne was not alone in this world. She had loving parents and a sixteen year old sister. She
had a deep intimacy with thirty people. She could call them friends. She had a family, loving
aunts and a sweet home.

4. What did Anne think of having a true friend?

Anne thought that one could have good tine with a true friend. Friendship brings closeness
andhelps in confiding in each other. Though we can talk about ordinary things with anybody
else too.

5. What did Anne tellabout her father?

Anne said that her father was the most adorable man. He married at the age of thirty six and
her mother was twenty five.

6. Whatshows that Anne was deeply in love with her grandmother?

Anne loved her grandmother fron thecore of her heart.She died in January
1942,butAnne
went onloving her. When the birthdayof Anne was being celebrated in
still
1942,a special
candle was lit for her.

7. Why was Anne's entire class quacking in the boots?

Anne's entire class was shaking with fear and nervousness because of the forthcoming
teacher's meeting.The teachers had to decide w ho would move up to the next grade and who
would be kept back or not promoted.
 when she the Montessorisehool?
Why was Anne in tears left

Anne
8.

studied at the Montessary school. She stayed there till she was in the sixth form. s
At end of the year
her teacher and headnistress\Jrs Kuperus.
the
asvery much attached to

they were both in tears as they bid 'a heartbreakingfarewell'.

9. Where did Anne stay before going to Holland?

mother went with him in September.
Anne's father emigrated to lolland in 1933 and her
sent to Aachen to stay with their
Anne and her sister did not go with their parents. They were
grandmother.

10.Why did Anne feel alone?

Anne felt alone though she had loving parents, relatives and thirty friends. It was because she
could not confide in them. Though she enjoyed their company. yetshe could not get close to
any one of them.

11.How did Mr Keesing stop punishingher?

Mr Keesing read the poem by Anne. In this poem, a father swan bit his three ducklings to
death. He could not bear their excessive quacking. Mr Keesing took the jokes.He read the
poem to the class. He never punished her after that.

12. Why did Anne jump with joy?

Anne had two essays as punishment. She had exhausted all her views about
already written
When she got a third essay to write, she was at a loss. She wanted something
chatterboxes.
original. Her friend Sanne offered to write it in verse. Anne jumped with joy.

13. What arguments did Ir Keesing laugh at?

The arguments that talking was a student's trait and she could not do much about it since she
had inherited it from her mother.

14. What punishment was given toAnne?

Anne was a talkative girl. Her maths teacher was annoyed at her talkative nature. So he gave
her an essay "A Chatterbox'to write as a punishment.

What makes
15. writing in a diary a strangeexperience for Anne Frank?

Writing in a diary is a strange experience for Anne. It is because she has never written
anything earlier. Also she thinks that none willtake interest in the musings of a thirteen year
old school girl.

16. Why does Anne w ant to keep a diary?

Anne has got no friend with whom she can confide in (her secrets) and pass time. She feels

herself alone in this world.

17. Why did Anne think she could confidemore in her diary than in people?

It is because of the fact that she can have a good time with her diary. She may be able to
confidemore with her diary by remaining quite close with it. She can even have heart to heart
talk with her.
 As. Why does Anne provide a brief sketch of her life?:

Anne has nanned her diary kitty. She is her friend non. She will address and talk to her

throughout. No one nould understand her directly if she fails to give her brief sketch to the
people.

19. What tells you that Anne loved her grandmother?

When the parentsof Anne went to Holland,she and her elder sister. Margot went to stay with
their grandmother. She loved her very nmuch. She was thinking of her. On Anne's birthday,
a special candle for the grandma was also lit.

20.Why was Mr Keesing annoyed with Anne? What did he ask her to do?

OR
Why was Mr Keesing annoved with Anne and what extra homework did he give to
her after several warnings?

Mr Keesing was her maths teacher. By nature Anne was very talkative. He did not like this.

As a Ipunishment he gave an essay to write on the topic "A chatterbox" to Anne.

21.How did Anne justify her being a chatterboxin her essay?

Anne was an She cxplained in writing the necessity of talking. She argued that
intelligent girl.

talking ^is a student's trait. She tried to control itbut she was helpless since her mother was
moretalkative than her. It was her inherited trait.

22. Do you think Mr Keesing was a strict teacher?

In the beginning Mr Keesing seems to be a hard task master.He wants to ridicule Anne but
he himselfbecomes the victim. Since then he starts participating in jokes with the students.

23.Whatmade Mr Keesing allow Anne to talk in-class?

Mr Keesing thrice gave Anne a writing job on her talkative nature.On all the three occasions
she came out successful. In the third attempt the ball fell on the teacher and he became her
victim. Finding himself unsuccessful, he allowed Anne to talk in the class.

Long Answer Tvpe questions

1. What punishment did Mr Keesing give to Anne Frank? How did she finally stop him
from punishing?

Mr Keesing was an old-fashioned mathsteacher. Anne much during Mr Keesing's

talked too

class and this annoyed him. He gave her several arnings did not keep Anne away,
but that
from talking in the class. So Mr Keesing had to punish her time and again.Mr Keesing
assignedher some extra homework as a punishment for talking in the class.

He asked her to write an essay on the subject 'A Chatterbox'.On the second occasion,she
was asked to write an essay, on the subject 'An Incorrigible Chatterbox'. On the third
occasion,Mr Keesing assignedher a more difficult topic. It was "Quack,Quack,Quack, Said
MistressChatterbox".

Mr Keesing was trying toplay a joke on her when he asked her towrite an essay entitled
"Quack, Quack. Quack, Said Mistress Chatterbox" so she decided to play a joke on Mr
;.
heesing hinself. She had nearly eshausted her ingenuity on the topie of chatterbov
friend Sanne suggested her to rite the eway in a poetic lorn.

she wrote atbout a mother duck and a father swan with three baby ducklings w ho were bitten
to death by father because they quacked too much. Mr keesing took the poem in the right
way and understood the joke. After that he neser axsigned any extra homework to Anne for
talking in the class. On the contrary. he was alw ays making jokes in the class.

2. What do you know about Mr keesing? How did he punish Anne?

Mr Keesing was an old-fashioned maths teacher. Anne much during Mr Keesing's

talked too

class and this annoy ed him. He gaveher seseralwarnings butthat did not keep Anne away,
from talking in the class. So Mr Keesing had to punish her time and again.Mr Keesing
assignedher some extra homework as a punishment for talking in the class.

He asked her to write an essay on the subject 'A Chatterbox'. On the second occasion, she
was asked to write an essay. on the subject .An Incorrigible Chatterbox'.On the third
occasion, MrKeesing assigned her a more difficult topic. It was "Quack.Quack.Quack, Said
Mistress Chatterbor".

Mr Keesing was trying to play a joke onher when he asked her to write an essay entitled
"Quack. Quack. Quack. Said Mistress Chatterbov" so she decided to play a joke on Mr
Keesing himself. She had nearly exhausted her ingenuity on the topic of chatterboxes. Her
friend Sanne suggested her to w rite the essay in a poetic form.

She wrote about a mother duck and a father sw an with three baby ducklings who were bitten

to death by father because they quacked toomuch. Mr keesing took the poem in the right
way and understood the joke. After that he never assigned any extra homework to Anne for
talking in the class. On the contrary. he was alw ays making jokes in the class.

3. Why was Anne's teacher annoyed with her? How was she able to bring about a

change in his attitude towards her?

Mr. Keesing,her maths teacher, was annoyed with Anne becauseshe talked too much.When
she improve, despite severalwarnings, he punished her. The punishment was extra
did not
homework. She was supposed to write an essay on "A Chatterbov",then an essay on "An
Incorrigible Chatterbor" and finally "Quack.Quack. Quack. Said Mistress Chatterbox".

Inher first essay Anne argued that talking was a student's trait and her mother talked to0
much. She could not doanything with aninherited trait. Finally. Anne wrote the third essay
in verse form. After reading the poem Ir Keesing read to the class. It was about three
it

ducklings bitten todeath by their father swan because they quacked too much. Ater that Mr
Keesing never gave her any punishment.

4. Write the character sketch of Anne Frank.

OR
How do you assess Anne's character?

Anne was a sensible. 13 year old girl. Though she had loving parents and thirty friends, she
was lonely. She could not share her innermost thoughts and feelings with her friends. She
knew that no one would understand her need to keep a diary. Anne was very caring and
 ing. She adored her father. She loved her grandma and often thought of ber after her
death. She was quite mature for her age,for she knew that no one would have time for the
thoughts of a 13-vearsold. It was because of this maturity that she could not confide in her
friends.

She was very talkative and was often punished by her maths teacher. Y'et she was intelligent
and had a good sense of humour.She conv inced her teacher with her arguments, ultimately,
he took the joke and did not punish her any more.

5. Was Anne an intelligent girl? Give instances in support of your answer.

Ithink Anne was not only an intelligent girl. but she was far mature than her age. The very
factthat she thought somuch that she needed towrite a diary shows that she was intelligent.
Anne was also intelligent enough to realise that no one nould be interested in her musings.
Anne believed that paper had more patience than people. She knew that she had friends with
whom she could enjoy.

Yet,she could not coufide in them.She realised that things would not change.She was quite
a popular student. She knew that she would be promoted though
Maths was her weak point.
She also took her punishment of writing essays good humouredly. Ultimately she convinced
Mr Keesing with her arguments and she got rid of her punishments.
6. "Paper has more patience than people'. Do you agree with the statement?

OR
than people". Explain with reference to "From the Diary of
Paper has more patience
Anne Frank".

Paper has more patience than people'. It requires a lot of

Anne Frank thought of a saying
and problenns. It is not the listening that is
patience to listen tosomeone's private feelings
is a human
important but the more important thing is to keep another's
secrets to oneself. It

over There limit

tendency that after knowing someone's'secrets, we pass them
to others. is

for listening to someone's problems.

After some time, fed up with the person and tries to avoid him. But paper is a lifeless
one is

on a paper.
thing. It is never fed up with one's problems. One canconfide as much as one likes
desires and for as long
Paper never becomes impatient. One can write on it as much as one
as one wants to. As long as anyone else does not read it, the secret remains a secret.

7. "Our entire class quacking

is in its boots". Explain with reference to "From the

Diary of Anne Frank".

Anne Frank was sent to Montessori nursery school. There she staved till the sixth form.Her
function was
teacher Mrs. Kuperus was the headmistress. At the end of the year, the farewell
arranged. It was a tearful areell with the headmistress. Then Anne was admitted in a

school. There were nine teachers. Among them two were

females and rest were the male

teachers.

The meeting was going on anong the teachers. They had to decide w ho would be moved up
a movement of nervousness for the
to the next form and who nould be kept back. Thiswas

entire class. They were uncertain for their fate. Even sonme of the studentshad staked their
bets. There were some of the dummies who could be kept
back. All the students
savings in
were confused about themselses. Even Anne was not sure due to mathematics. So the

class was quacking in its boots.

8. "Fronm the Diary of Anne Frank" throws light on teacher-student relationship, class

atmosphere and discipline. Discuss.

OR
Write
a paragraph on, the values of these aspects of school and how far these values
are necessary for learning and life.

From the Diary of Anne Frank' describes the teacher-student relationship. class atmosphere
and discipline. Anne Frank who talks a lot in the class gets punished by Mr Keesing, her
maths teacher. He asks her to write essays as punishment is learning in disguise because he

wanted her to focus on studies. He cannot be blamed for the punishment as he did it for the
development of Anne.

The teacher student relationship is very respectful and sacred. It is about discipline and
classroom manners which is essential for every student as well as teacher, otherwise both
teaching or learning could hamper. This relationship is clearly shown in Mr Keesing's and
Anne Frank's actions as they both try to joke with each other but in very humorous and
healthy manner. So this healthy relationship is needed everywhere in the class for effective
teaching and learning.

9. "Ihope Iwill be able to confide everything to you,as I have never been able to
confide in anyone, and I hope you will be a great source of comfort and support."
Explain.

Anne writes this on the inside cover of her diary just after she receives it for her thirteenth
birthday.At the time, she feels that she does not have any true confidants, which makes her
feel lonely and misunderstood. Anne does. however. have many friends and admirers, and
she is a playful, amusing, and social young girl. Thus. her sentiments in this passage may seem
odd and a bit exaggerated.but she later explains that even though she has friends, she is never
fully able to open up to them.

Anne finds that she and her friends talk only about trivial
things. even when she has deeper
thingson her mind that she wishes to share. For example.she never broachesthe subjects of
her developing body or Germany's occupation of Holland. Having a diary-which she

addressesas “Kitty." like a friend- enables her to express her thoughtswithoutfear of being
by others. Anne's relationship
eriticized with her diary helps in comforting her through her
insecure,lonely, and fearful time in the hiding.

10.Was Anne right when she said that the world would not be interested in the musings
of a thirteen year old girl?

Anne was not at all right in having such a view about her musings. Her writings were
translated in different languages under the title "The Diary of a Young Girl". Her work
became one of the world's most widely read books. They are available in films.
 I1. There are some evamples ofdiar or journalentries in theBefore \ou Read'
section.Compare these with what Anne writes in her diary. VWhat language was the
diary originally written in? In whatway is Anne's diary different?

Ifne compare them with the diary of Anne, we get a ditterence. Anne gives ninute details of
allactions and feelings. The diary is nritten in Dutch language. Anne's diary is different
because she calls her diary her friend. Allwritings are referred to her friend 'Kitty". the name
given to her diary.

12.Why does Anne need to give a brief sketch about her family? Does she treat 'Kitty' as
an insider or an outsider?

Anne says that none will understand a word of her stories in case she starts writing directly

in "Kity' sinceshe is her friend in theshape of a diary. She is a non-living organism. Soshe
gives a brief description of her family. Anne does not think her diary as an outsider. She is
an insider to her.

13. How does Anne feel about her father, her grandmother. Mrs Kuperus and Mr
Keesing? What do these tellyou about her?

For Anne, her father isthe most adorable man. Her grandmother very lovely for her. She is

is very much attached with Mrs Kuperus and her farewell is fullof tears. Mr Keesing is a

hard task master.Her father has a high affection for Anne. The grandnmother loves her much.
The headmistresshas good relations with Anne. Keesing calls her talkative.

14. What does Anne write in her first essay?

Anne writes her first essay on 'A Chatterbox. She states that talking is a trait of students.
She tries to control but she has inherited this trait from her mother. She is more talkative
then Anne.

15. Anne saysteachers are most unpredictable. IsMr keesing unpredictable?How?

Anne is right insaying that most of the teachers are unpredictable. Mr Keesing is quite like
this. None can tell about him. It is he who assigns different topics to Anne about which none

can even think of. About the result the teachers havetheir ownwhims.

16. What do these statementstell you about Anne Frank as a person?

()) We don't seem to be able to get any closer. andthat's the problem. May be it's my fault
that we don't confide in each other.

(ü) I don'twant to jot down the facts inthis diary the way most people would, but Iwant
the diary to be my friend.

(iü) Margotwent to Holland inDecember, and I followed in February when I was plunked
down on the table as a birthdaypresent for Margot.

(iv) If you ask me, there are so many dummies that about a quarter of the class should be
kept back, but teachers are the most unpredictablecreatureson earth.

(v)Anyone could ramble on and leave big spaces between the words, but the trick was to

come up with convincing arguments to prove the necessity of talking.

lo Anne as a statements have diferent meanings. The first statement speaks
person these
second statennent speaks of
about the importance of hav ing the need of a real friend. The
of considering the diars as her real
friend. The third statement shows her
Anne's conviction
that they are
profound love for her elder sister. About te:acher she forms an opinion
unpredictable. The last statement points out her skill in w riting an essay. Thus Anne was a

skilled girl having the deeent qualities of mind. body and soul.

Extra questionsfor practice

1. Anne was a sensitive and mature girl. From the book First Flight, think of any to
characterswho could be her friends or confidante. Analyse the common character
traits that would help in creating this special bond of friendship.

2. What do you think about Anne's talent for writing essays which she wrote
convincingly, when punished by the teacher?

3. Mr. Keesing punished Anne by giving her an essay to write. Did he lack empathy
and compassion? Was it not in his attitude to respect differences among the
students?What values would you like to imbibe in him and why?

4. What does Anne say about her parents, elder sister and her stay in the Montessori
Nursery school?

s. Anne writes that it was fortunate that Jr. Keesing took it right way. What was it'?
Why does she feelso?

6. Can writing a diarybe a way to vent out anxiety? Briefly explain taking the
reference from Anne's habit.

7. Anne says that there were so many dummies in the class that about a quarter of
them shouldn't be promoted. Is she being rude or brutally honest?Evaluate.

8. Doyou agree with Anne when she says that teachers are the most unpredictable
creatures on earth?

9. How did Anne want her diary to be different?

10. If the diary were a 'realfriend', what qualities would Anne expect it to have?

11. What does 'had a good laugh'imply to \Ir. Keesing?

12. Why is anne unable to control her talkative nature?

13. When did the whole class roar with laughter?

14. Explain- "unfortunately they are not liable to change.