Here are recaps of the previous diary entries that we have read, to refresh you memories :)
June 14, 1942 - June 15, 1942
• Anne's 13th birthday brings her a special gift - her diary.
• She also receives other gifts and sweet biscuits at school.
• Anne writes that she likes Peter Wessel and wants to marry him.
• Anne is friends with Lies Goosens and Sanne Houtman and more
recently Jopie de Waal
• Anne has party with friends.
June 20, 1942 - July 5, 1942
• Anne contemplates how she will use and share her diary, if at
all.
• Anne doesn't think she has anything important to say.
• Anne writes about her family - her father, sister Margot, and
her mother.
• Her two uncles have left Germany because of the war.
• Her grandmother has come to live with the family.
• Anne talks about the rise of Jewish persecution - the yellow
stars, curfews, not being able to visit Christians, etc.
• Anne begins an entry with "Dear Kitty"
• Margot is out playing ping pong with friends.
• Anne is a good student, but gets into trouble for talking too
much.
• She is worried about making it to the next level in school,
talking about other students, who she thinks will pass and who will fail.
• Anne starts walking to school with a boy named Harry.
• Anne's father begins to talk about going into hiding.
July 8, 1942 - September 2, 1942
• Anne's father gets call up from SS but was not home when they
came to call.
• Anne's mother talks to the Van Daan's - friends of the family -
and says they will all go into hiding together.
• Anne finds out that call-up notice was actually for Margot.
• She packs up to leave the next day for the hiding place.
• Anne names their hiding place "my beautiful Secret
Annexe"
• When they arrive, Margot and Mrs. Frank are too distraught to
unpack, so Anne and her father clean up and organize the area.
• Van Daans arrive on July 13th with a 16-year-old son, Peter
• There is tension among the families as they settle in together.
September 21, 1942 - October 3, 1942
• Anne is frustrated with Mrs. Van Daan, who thinks Anne talks too
much.
• But still, Anne likes to be around the Van Daans, even if Peter
touches her cheek and she doesn't enjoy being touched by boys.
• There is a big fight between the families about modesty and
manners.
• Anne describes the troubles of washing with only one washtub and
no privacy.
• Anne is scared that they will be discovered and finds being
quiet all day tiresome.
• Everyone is finding ways to pass the time - Anne and Peter play
dress up, Margot takes correspondence classes, etc.
October 9, 1942 - November 28, 1942
• Anne is beginning to hear stories of Jews being taken to camps
by the Germans.
• Everyone is starting to become complacent in the annex.
• Knocking on the wall startles everyone, but it's only Mr.
Koophuis.
• More tension among the Frank women, and Anne resolves to not to
follow her mother's failings.
• Peter turns 16 on November 9.
• A new person will be living in the annex with them - they choose
Albert Dussel, a dentist.
• Anne likes Mr. Dussel who moves in without issue.
• More news from the outside world upsets everyone.
• Tension increases as they are not allowed to use electricity.
December 7, 1942 - April 2, 1943
• The members of the annex celebrate Chanuka and St. Nicholas Day
with presents.
• Anne talks about rations and says that their butter ration is
being eaten up by the Van Daans.
• Mr. Dussel begins to treat the members of the annex.
• Continued tension in the annex becomes the "norm."
• The building with the annex is sold, but Koophuis tells the new
owner that the key to the annex area has been lost.
• Another scare with noises downstairs leaves everyone rattled.
• Anne wants to say prayers with her father, but when her mother
offers, Anne is hurtful toward her, upsetting her mother greatly.
• Anne does not want to apologize to her mom, saying she was only
being truthful.
April 27, 1943 - September 10, 1943
• The annex is still tense and food rations are becoming sparse.
• New concerns about ill fitting clothes, burning waste, and
visible battles.
• Anne celebrates another birthday and her father writes her a
poem.
• Tension between Dussel and Anne results in Anne's father trying
to intervene.
• Burglars have taken sugar and money.
• Meal times become the scene of inequality, in Anne's eyes.
• Anne describes the daily schedule.
• Some happiness in the annex with new things from Miep and Elli.
September 16, 1943 - January 5, 1944
• Tension continues. Anne taking pills for depression - Valerian -
but says that being able to laugh would be the best medicine.
• Everyone is suffering - money woes, headaches, illness, etc.
• Anne talks at length about her fountain pen.
• Anne has horrible dreams about Lies.
• St. Nicolas Day arrives, but no one gets presents.
• Mr. Frank and Anne exchange poems.
• Anne is sick for weeks with the flu and has to stifle coughs.
• Christmas comes and there are some presents exchanged.
• Anne begins to understand her mother and improves her
relationship.
• Anne begins puberty, her period, and wishes
for a girl friendThis is the essay topic that I will be giving you all on Friday. The essay will be done in class. I would like for you to look at the topic and start organizing your ideas, I will be looking for evidence in your essays from the novel.
Essay Topic
One of the things that stands out about Anne's diary is its
constant referral to her depression and her problems with feeling blue. Bring
confined in the small space for over two years, Anne and the rest of the
occupants seem to come up with their own ways of handling the pressures.
1. How does Anne cope with her depression?
2. How do others in the Annex deal with the stress and anxiety?
