Question Bank: The Diary of a Young Girl

1. What are the two sides of Anne’s character? Identify the values that make her appealing and attractive to
the reader.

2. What is Anne's advice when one is reeling under melancholy?

3. How does Anne feel while living in the secret Annexe? Describe.

4. The people inside the annexe were always terrified. Describe their condition when they feared being
discovered.

5. What do you learn from Anne Frank’s family and early life from her entry of 20th June 1942?

6. How did the Franks execute the plan of their escape?

7. Isolation and loneliness of adolescence are the two perpetual themes in ‘The Diary of a Young Girl’.
Comment.

8. "Paper has more patience than people". Comment with reference to Anne's relationship with her diary.

9. In addition to Anne's personal experience, 'The Diary of a Young Girl' also documents the increasing
suffering of the Dutch people under the German occupation. Elaborate.

10. How would you characterise the van Daans?

11. Anne’s quest for self-identity comes to a full circle towards the end of the novel. Comment.

12. “I need to have something besides a husband and children to devote myself to!” Comment on the
aforementioned statement throwing light upon Anne’s progressive and mature psyche.

13. “It’s much easier now to tell Peter things I’d normally keep to myself; for example, I told him I wanted
to be a writer later on…” From a hostile relationship in the beginning of the novel, Anne and Peter grow
close towards the end of the novel. Comment with reference to Anne and Peter’s relationship.

14. Anne never seems to grow close to her mother during the course of the novel. Trace Anne’s problematic
relationship with her mother citing examples from the text.

15. “…I still believe, in spite of everything that people are really good at heart”. Anne’s hope in humanity
doesn’t die even after she faces adverse situations. Comment with reference to Anne’s character.

16. Explain the historical background of The Diary of a Young Girl. Comment on Hitler’s powers and
influence, prejudice at that time, lost privileges of the Jews and how these factors affected Anne’s family.

17. Peter Schiff and Peter van Daan amalgamate for Anne into a source of constant support for her
existence. Comment.

18. Nature plays an important role in helping Anne sustain herself in the Annex. Discuss.

19. The Diary of a Young Girl qualifies as a bildungsroman. Do you agree? Cite examples to support your
answer.

20. ‘The Diary of a Young Girl’ is not only a historical document tracing the Jewish experience, but also a
deeply personal account of the challenges of adolescence. Elaborate.

21. Comment on the diary as a symbol.

22. “In the future I’m going to devote less time to sentimentality and more time to reality.” What purpose
did the diary serve for Anne?

23. In what ways does Anne’s description of life in the Secret Annexe around the end of 1943 differ from
the earlier entries? (2013)

24. Analyse the relationship between Anne and Peter.

25. What impression do you form of the Gestapo from your reading of ‘The Diary of a Young Girl’? (2014)

26. Comment on Anne’s relationship with her family.

27. Despite being popular, Anne was a lonely girl. Do you agree? Justify your stance with relevant textual
examples.

28. How did Anne and her family reach the Secret Annexe? (2014)

29. The diary filled a deeply felt need to write in Anne. Discuss. (2013)

30. How did Anne and her family reach the Secret Annexe? (2014)

31. Comment on the Gestapo’s treatment of the Jews. (2014)

32. Critically analyse Pim’s character.

33. Anne’s attitude towards her mother changes over a period of time. What characteristics of Anne Frank
are revealed by this?

34. What makes you think that Anne was becoming desperate and hopeless with each passing day in spite of
her strong will power?