The diary | Anne Frank House | Explained

Summary

Anne Frank, a Jewish girl who went into hiding during World War II, is renowned for the diary she kept during her time in the secret annex. Gifted a red checked diary on her 13th birthday, Anne wrote letters to an imaginary friend named Kitty, sharing her thoughts, fears, and experiences in hiding. Amidst arguments and tension, Anne also edited her writings, aiming to publish them after the war. However, she was arrested before finishing the book. Her father, Otto, discovered her writings after the war and fulfilled her wish, publishing 'The Secret Annex' in 1947, two years after her death.

Takeaways

• 😀 Anne Frank received a red-checkered diary as a birthday present from her parents on her 13th birthday.
• 😀 The diary was not a surprise gift; Anne chose it herself.
• 😀 A few weeks after her birthday, Anne and her family went into hiding in the secret annex to escape Nazi persecution.
• 😀 In her diary, Anne pretended to write letters to an imaginary group of friends before addressing them to 'Kitty'.
• 😀 Anne shared her emotions, fears, and frustrations in her diary, revealing details about her life in hiding.
• 😀 She wrote about arguments with her family, especially with her mother and Fritz Pfeffer, who shared her room.
• 😀 Anne described the tense atmosphere in the annex, where everyone was angry with one another.
• 😀 After hearing a broadcast from the Dutch government-in-exile asking people to keep diaries, Anne decided to edit her diary for potential publication.
• 😀 Anne rewrote parts of her diary, leaving out some private entries, and gave the book the title *The Secret Annex*.
• 😀 Sadly, Anne did not get to finish her book, as the hiding place was discovered, and the family was arrested.
• 😀 Miep Gies and Bep Voskuijl saved Anne's diaries, and only Otto Frank, Anne's father, survived the war.
• 😀 After returning to the Netherlands, Otto Frank read Anne's diary and decided to fulfill her wish by publishing it in 1947, two years after her death.

Q & A

What was Anne Frank's diary originally given to her as?

Anne Frank's diary was a present from her parents on her 13th birthday, and it was a red checked book that she chose herself.

How did Anne Frank feel about bringing her diary with her into hiding?

Anne was glad that she brought her diary with her into hiding, as she mentioned in her writing.

Why did Anne Frank start writing to 'Kitty' in her diary?

Anne Frank started writing to 'Kitty' in her diary because she initially imagined writing letters to a group of imaginary friends before choosing one to address, which became Kitty.

What types of events did Anne Frank write about in her diary while in hiding?

In her diary, Anne Frank wrote about her life in the secret annex, including arguments with her mother, conflicts with Fritz Pfeffer, and her emotional struggles and fears.

How did Anne Frank describe the atmosphere in the secret annex?

Anne Frank described the atmosphere in the secret annex as tense, with constant arguments among the people in hiding, leading to a negative environment.

What was the significance of Anne Frank's decision to edit her diary?

Anne Frank decided to edit her diary after hearing a radio appeal from the Dutch government-in-exile, asking people to keep diaries and documents, with the intention of publishing it as a book after the war.

What was the title Anne Frank chose for her diary?

Anne Frank chose the title *The Secret Annex* for her diary.

What did Anne Frank do with parts of her original diary?

Anne Frank rewrote parts of her original diary on loose sheets of paper, leaving out some entries she found too private.

What happened to Anne Frank's diary after she was arrested?

After Anne Frank was arrested, two of the helpers, Miep Gies and Bep Voskuijl, found and saved her diaries.

How did Otto Frank contribute to the publication of Anne's diary?

Otto Frank, the only member of the family to survive the war, read Anne's diaries upon his return to the Netherlands. Surprised by her profound thoughts, he decided to fulfill her wish and publish the diary, which was released on June 25, 1947, two years after her death.