There are some examples of diary or journal entries in the ‘Before You Read’ section. Compare these with what Anne writes in her diary. What language was the diary originally written in? In what way is Anne’s diary different?
The diary of Anne was originally written in Dutch. It was different from the others in many aspects. It is closer to the memoir in which the name of Raj Kapoor has been mentioned. It was written in Dutch originally. It has informal tone which explains the careful nature of a teenager.
What made Mr Keesing allow Anne to talk in class?
Anne says teachers are most unpredictable. Is Mr Keesing unpredictable? How?
Do you think Mr Keesing was a strict teacher?
What does Anne write in her first essay?
How does Anne feel about her father, her grandmother, Mrs Kuperus and Mr Keesing? What do these tell you about her?
How did Anne justify her being a chatterbox in her essay?
What tells you that Anne loved her grandmother?
Why does Anne provide a brief sketch of her life?
Was Anne right when she said that the world would not be interested in the musings of a thirteen-year-old girl?
What do these statements tell you about Anne Frank as a person?
(i) We don’t seem to be able to get any closer, and that’s the problem. Maybe it’s my fault that we don’t confide in each other.
(ii) I don’t want to jot down the facts in this diary the way most people would, but I want the diary to be my friend.
(iii) Margot went to Holland in December, and I followed in February, when I was plunked down on the table as a birthday present 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 unpredictable creatures on 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.
Where in the classroom does Wanda sit and why?
What was Valli’s favourite pastime?
What ‘experiment’ did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for?
What did Lencho hope for?
When her son dies, Kisa Gotami goes from house to house. What does she ask for? Does she get it? Why not?
Where did the ceremonies take place ? Can you name any public buildings in India that are made of sandstones?
What does Chubukov at first suspect that Lomov has come for? Is he sincere when he later says “And I’ve always loved you, my angel, as if you were my own son”? Find reasons for your answer from the play.
Why was the young seagull afraid to fly? Do you think all young birds are afraid to make their first flight, or are some birds more timid than others? Do you think a human baby also finds it a challenge to take its first steps?
Where does Wanda live? What kind of a place do you think it is?
What was a source of unending joy for Valli? What was her strongest desire?
What does Valli mean when she says, “I was just agreeing with what you said about things happening without our knowledge.”
Which does Mandela think is natural, to love or to hate?
Have you ever had a similar experience, where your parents encouraged you to do something that you were too scared to try? Discuss this in pairs or groups.
Did Lencho try to find out who had sent the money to him? Why/Why not?
What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What did it do two days after that?
At the beginning of his speech, Mandela mentions “an extraordinary human disaster”. What does he mean by this? What is the “glorious human achievement” he speaks of at the end?
Why is Maddie embarrassed by the questions Peggy asks Wanda? Is she also like Wanda, or is she different?
Why does Valli refuse to look out of the window on her way back?
What ideals does Nelson Mandela set for the future of South Africa?
Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/why not?