English

ANNE FRANK
THE DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL (Extract)

Introduction
In July 1942, thirteen-year-old Anne Frank and her family, fleeing the horrors of Nazi occupation,

went into hiding in an Amsterdam warehouse. Over the next two years Anne vividly describes not

only the daily frustrations of living in such close quarters, but also her thoughts, feelings and

longings as she grows up. Her diary ends abruptly and tragically when, in August 1944, Anne and her

family were all finally betrayed. Anne was transported to Auschwitz and then on to Bergen Belsen

concentration camp where she died in early March 1945.

Glossary

Fleeing - to escape.

Warehouse - a building where materials are stored.

Close Quarters - being uncomfortably close.

Longings - desires.

Abruptly - suddenly and unexpectedly.

Betrayed - revealed or exposed.

Extract One
“Writing in a diary is a really strange experience for someone like me. Not only because I’ve never

written anything before, but also because it seems to me that later on neither I nor anyone else will

be interested in the musings of a thirteen-year old schoolgirl. Oh well, it doesn’t matter. I feel like

writing, and I have an even greater need to get all kinds of things off my chest.”

Questions - Extract One

1. Who is the narrator?

2. What is a strange experience for a girl like Anne?

3. What does she think about her musings?
4. Were her ideas really not liked by anyone later on?

Extract Two
“‘Paper has more patience than people.’ I thought of this saying on one of those days when I was
feeling a little depressed and was sitting at home with my chin in my hands, bored and listless,

wondering whether to stay in or go out. I finally stayed where I was, brooding: Yes, the paper does

have more patience, and since I’m not planning to let anyone else read this stiff-backed notebook

grandly referred to as a ‘diary’ unless I should ever find a real friend, it probably won't make a bit of

difference.”

Glossary

Listless - little energy of enthusiasm.

Brooding - deep thought about something sad or worrying.

Stiff-backed - hardback.

Questions - Extract Two

1. How has paper more patience than people?

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 2. What did she do when she was depressed?

3. Why does she want others to not read what she writes?

4. Does she have a real friend now?

Extract Three
“Today I have nothing but dismal and depressing news to report. Our many Jewish friends and

acquaintances are being taken away in droves. The Gestapo is treating them very roughly and

transporting them in cattle cars to Westerbork, the big camp in Drenthe to which they’re sending all

the Jews. It must be terrible in Westerbork. The people get almost nothing to eat, much less to drink,

as water is available only one hour a day, and there’s only one toilet and sink for several thousand

people. Men and women sleep in the same room, and women and children often have their heads

shaved. Escape is almost impossible; many people look Jewish, and they’re branded by their shorn

heads. If it’s that bad in Holland, what must it be like in those faraway and uncivilized places where

the Germans are sending them? We assume that most of them are being murdered. The English

radio says they’re being gassed. Perhaps that’s the quickest way to die. I feel terrible. Miep’s

accounts of these horrors are so heartrending… Fine specimens of humanity, those Germans, and to

think I’m actually one of them! No, that’s not true, Hitler took away our nationality long ago. And

besides, there are no greater enemies on earth than the Germans and Jews.”

Glossary

Dismal - gloomy or depressing.

Acquaintances - a person one knows slightly.

Droves - a heard or flock of animals being driven in a body.

The Gestapo - secret state police.

Cattle Cars - carts used to transport animals.

Branded - marked.

Shorn - shear/shave.

Heartrending - causing great sadness.

Questions - Extract Three

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 1. What was Anne’s dismal and depressing news?
2. What do you think is meant by “they’re branded by their shorn heads”?
3. What do you think is the best way to prevent these horrible acts from happening
again within society?