Diary of Anne Frank Journal - Colby

The boys just finished their "Diary of Anne Frank" journals.  Thought I'd share, because it was insightful, what they wrote.

Here's Colby's:

Act 1 Scene 1

Option 1
Today I will talk about Anne Frank and her story. In Act 1 Scene 1, we learn that Anne and the rest of the people living in the annex have to stay completely quiet throughout the day until the workers below them are done with their shift. If I was in this situation, I would probably lose my sanity. If you know me, I am a pretty loud person and I don't really like to be to be so cooped up all of the time. I don't think I would really mind sharing a room though; I have a twin so I guess I'm used to it. The other thing Anne and the rest of the guests deal with is food, and I eat a lot of it. From these things, I don't think I would last long in that annex. I would probably bump a lamp like Peter did, except multiple times. In conclusion, If I was one of those 8 people living in that secret annex, I would not last long.

Act 1 Scene 2

Option 1
In this scene, Peter cuts off the Star of David (a traditional Jewish symbol) from his clothing. This comes as a shock to Anne because now that there hiding, the Nazis aren't there to force them on. I think the reason he feels this way is because at that moment, the Star of David has both a positive and a negative meaning. The positive meaning is that it's a symbol of his religion, it represents tradition and happiness. Although it causes happiness and joy, it also causes great despair. Despair because all of people being persecuted for wearing that symbol. Some other symbols I think have a positive and negative meaning is our government. It runs our great nation, but causes also a lot of arguing and fighting. There is a common belief that there is only good and there is evil, but the truth is things are more complicated than that.

Act 1 Scene 3

Option 2
Throughout this play, if there is something that Anne thinks is unfair, she will say something about it. Although the rest of the people living in the secret annex thinks it’s annoying, I think It is a good thing to stand up for yourself. Let me explain this through an example. Let’s say you’re a guest at the annex, food is scarce there, and everybody is always hungry. Now let’s say Mr. VanDan takes a half a loaf of bread and you get a tiny slice of bread. Does that seem fair? I think not. If it were me, I would say something about it. I don't care if that makes me annoying because I am the only one standing up for myself, I am doing what's right. If that makes me annoying and irritable, well then let them think that. 

Act 1 Scene 4

Option 3
At the very end of Scene 4, the guests in the secret annex talk about what they are going to do when they finally get out of there. They have been cooped up there for so many months, by that time I would have been dying to get out. If I was in that situation and I finally got out of there, first thing I would do is get actual good food. By that time, it had been years since they last had a good meal. All it has been is a slice a bread and an annual cake. So I would find the best restaurant in town and buy everything off the menu. After that, I would do everything I wanted to do in life, like skydiving and going to places I have never been before. I would start a family and actually live a little and forget all of the suspense and fear in that annex.

Act 1 Scene 5

Option 2
In the annex there are a lot of guests; there are really great ones and some not so great. My favorite guests are Anne Frank and Peter Van Daan. The main reason I say this is because they are kids, and I am also a kid, so I relate to them more. There is also Margot, who is a teen but I left her out because we don't really share the same personalities. You might be wondering why I picked two people instead of one. I did this because I have a combination between Peter’s shyness and Anne's extrovert-ness. My least favorite character is Mrs.Van Daan. This is mostly because of her rudeness. Some examples of this is when she insulted Anne on how she dressed when she was heading to Peter's room. This just makes her an unlikable, really undesirable person. Don't get me wrong, she isn't the worst person in the world. She defended her husband when he got caught stealing bread, like a good wife should. All in all, Mrs. Van Daan isn't necessarily bad, she just happens to be the least desirable person there.

Act 2 Scene 1

Option 1

 When the war started, Anne Frank quickly fled to annex and in the process met Peter Van Daan, a boy about her age. Although they were both kids and were stuck in the same apartment, they didn't become friends until later. I think if the situation wasn't so stressful, they wouldn't had taken so long to become friends. To better show you the reason I think this is to imagine yourself as Peter when he heard the news that he was he had to move into the annex. You have just been told that you have to leave all of your belongings behind and the house you spent your life in. After a long drive, you come to the annex and see how small and cramped it is there.  Then soon after, the owners say you have to stay completely quiet throughout the whole day. Then they also tell you if you make too much noise the workers below will hear it, and if they do hear it, they will probably report it. When they report it, the authorities will come and take you away from your family and you will be sent to a concentration camp where you will probably die. All of this information is just loaded on you, I don't think you would be in the mood to make friends. So those are the reasons why I think it took Peter so long to become friends with Anne.

Act 2 Scene 2

Option 2

In the little cramped apartment that your guests have to live in, there are 2 motherly figures, Mrs. Frank and Mrs. Van Daan. These mothers are both great in different ways, but I do have a favorite. My favorite mother out of all of them is Mrs.Frank. The reason she is my favorite is because she is kind and gentle, but she does know when to bring the hammer down on somebody. One example of this is when Mr. Van Daan stole the a half loaf of bread from the bread safe. Mr. Van Daan was caught red-handed and that's when Mrs. Frank blew up. I think the main reason she blew up is not because she was hungry, or any of the other adults were hungry; she blew up because the kids were hungry. That's what I love about her, she cares the most about the children. It doesn't have even to be her kid, she’ll fight for anybody. Those are the reasons why I would choose Mrs.Frank as my mother. She is kind, generous and willing to fight for her kids. That's what I look in a mom.

Act 2 Scene 3

Option 1

In the Secret Annex there is not much food, or any for that matter. Everyone Is tired and hungry, on the brink of starvation. That is why when Mr. Van Daan is caught red-handed stealing a half loaf of bread from the bread box, it is such a big deal. When this happened Mrs. Van Daan  acted quickly to jump in to defend her husband. Although many people criticize her for doing this I think it was the right thing for her to defend her husband. I know there is no excuse for stealing food,  especially in a time of hopelessness and fear, but they were basically trying to execute Mr. Van Daan by kicking him out of the Annex. The reason why is because there is no place to stay out there, it's basically the apocalypse. There are Nazis everywhere, and if they find you, you will be sent to a concentration camp and probably die. Also, if they kick Mr.Van Daan out,  they will probably kick Mrs.Van Daan out to, thereby killing two people instead of one. All of that for stealing a half-loaf of bread.

Act 2 Scene 4

Option 2
Anne's diary holds many inspirational quotes, but there is one more talked about then the rest. The most famous quote from her diary is “I believe, in spite of everything, that people are really good at heart”. This quote caused a lot of disbelief and confusion on how a girl can have everything thrown at her, and still be good at heart. Some people might not agree with this quote, but I do. I believe everybody is good or can become good if they just try. Even the most angry, enraged person can still be good, if you find the source of that anger and release it. Everyone can be good, you just have to find the courage and will-power to try.

Act 2 Scene 5

Option 1

The Diary of Anne Frank was a story about a young, optimistic, happy girl that just happened to be a Jew in World War 2. After she died, her diary was published, and sold in more than 50 countries. Then it was transferred into a play, which then won a Pulitzer Prize, then became a movie. The story of Anne Frank was passed down from generation to generation and finally to me. After finishing the play, I was confused, sad and happy all at the same time. Confused because that's not how stories are supposed to end, it's not supposed to be sad. I was sad because the optimistic, extroverted, go-getter girl we all know and love did not survive the concentration camps. She was like millions of other Jews at the time. Another emotion I felt was happiness. The reason I think I felt this way is because according to Meip, she wasn't sad or in despair when she got there, she was happy. Happy because she finally got to get out of that cramped little Annex, and got to breathe fresh air. She was happy, and when she was happy, I was strangely happy too.