The Diary of Anne Frank Act II Study Guide 1.When does Act II begin? How long have the families been in hiding? January 1944 (July 1942 – January 1944)

2. What does the following passage tell the reader about Anne Frank? ANNE: …You know what I do when it seems as if I couldn’t stand being cooped up for one more minute? I think myself out…You know the most wonderful part about thinking yourself out? You can have it any way you like. She is imaginative. She has a positive attitude; optimistic

3. What is Anne referring to when she says that she is going to “run the gauntlet?” (scene 2, p. 935) She is referring to having to walk past all the adults on her way to Peter’s room and facing their criticism and questions.

4. What does Dussel mean by his remark to Mrs. Frank that she is “spoiling the whole invasion?” (scene 3, p. 948) He is trying to lighten the mood and tease Mrs. Frank out of her tears.

5. What event made Mrs. Frank threaten to put the Van Daans out on the street? Mr. Van Daan was sneaking food in the night.

6. Why is Mr. Van Daan’s theft of the bread such a serious offense? They were already low on food. He was taking food away from children.

7. When Miep declines to share the New Year’s cake she has bought, Mr. Van Daan declares, “Good! That leaves one…two…three…seven of us,” failing to count Margot. What does this tell us about his character? Greedy, selfish – wants a bigger piece

8. Why does Mr. Frank apologize to Miep that sugar is going to everyone’s head? After all Miep has risked to take care of them, Mr. Frank is embarrassed to have the group arguing in front of her.

9. What does Mr. Frank mean when he says, “We don’t need the Nazis to destroy us. We are destroying ourselves.” (scene 3, p. 944) They are constantly arguing, destroying relationships

10. When news of the Normandy invasion arrives, everyone is thrilled. Why do they feel that way? It meant that new forces have arrived to fight the Germans, and the war might end soon.

11. In the stage directions at the opening of Scene 4, the telephone rings. How does this sound affect the characters? It makes them tense, nervous.

12. What does Peter mean in the following exchange between him and Anne? ANNE. You’re making a big mistake about me. I do it all wrong. I say too much. I go too far. I hurt people’s feelings…/PETER: I think you’re just fine…What I want to say…if it wasn’t for you around here, I don’t know. What I mean… The situation is better because Anne is there.

13. Why doesn’t Mrs. Frank stop Mrs. Van Daan from making comments about Anne and Peter? Mrs. Frank doesn’t want to start an argument. She is the peacemaker.

14. When Miep brings the cake, Mr. Dussel requests that Mrs. Frank, not Mrs. Van Daan, cut the pieces. When Peter talks about his missing cat, Mr. Dussel says that someone outside probably ate it. When Mrs. Van Daan tries to stop Mr. Van Daan from selling her fur coat, Mr. Dussel says he is amazed that anyone in times like these would worry about a coat. What do these examples say about Mr. Dussel’s character? He picks on things that people care about.

15. Why did the food supply in the hiding place diminish toward the end of the play? The people Miep got ration books from was arrested.

16. How were the Franks and the others in hiding discovered? The thief told on them.

17. Why doesn’t Anne take the diary with her when the Nazis come to take them away?

18. As the soldiers were breaking into the attic, Mr. Frank says, “For the past two years we have lived in fear. Now we can live in hope.” What does he mean by this? For 2 years they have feared being caught, and now they can hope for an end to the war and to be rescued.

19. Two purposes of stage directions: 1.Tells actors how to move, speak, and look 2. For readers: fills in information that would be supplied by a narrator in a story or novel

19. Inarticulate Speechless or unable to express oneself

20. Apprehension A fearful feeling about the future; dread

21. Intuition Ability to know immediately, without reasoning

22. Indignant Filled with anger over some meanness or injustice

23. Stealthily In a secretive or sneaky way

24. Ineffectually Without producing the desired effect

Essays a.Each of the individuals in hiding is a mixture of good and bad qualities, strengths and weaknesses. Choose one character from the play and analyze both sides of his or her personality. b. Near the end of the play, Mr. Frank says, “We don’t need the Nazis to destroy us. We’re destroying ourselves.” In what ways were the people in hiding destroying themselves? Use details from the play to support your ideas.