1. Act One Questions and Discussion
The Diary of Anne Frank
Act One Questions and Discussion

2. Act One, Scene 1 1. What year is it when the play begins?
2. Where is Mr. Frank when the play begins?
3. What causes his flashback?
4. Write a simile based on the play.
5. Write a metaphor based on the play.

3. Act One, Scene 2 1. What year is it when Scene 2 begins?
2. How old is Anne?
3. What country are they in?
4. What must Jews wear on their clothes to signify their religion?
5. How do the Franks and Van Daans bring their clothes into hiding?
6. Where are the Franks hiding (building)?
7. What has Peter brought with him that Anne was not allowed to bring?
8. What is the rule about running water or going to the bathroom?
9. Describe the living conditions in the secret annex. Use information from the play. Cite the scene.
10. Why has Mr. Frank allowed the Van Daans to say with them?
11. How does Anne feel about the yellow star that is different from the way Peter feels? Use quotes from the play. Cite the scene.

4. Act One, Scene 2 contd. 12. Who is Miep? 13. Who is Mr. Kraler?
14. What two things does Mr. Frank bring for Anne?
15. What do these gifts tell you about Mr. Frank’s relationship with Anne?
16. What does Anne find out when she says she’s going downstairs for a pencil?
17. What present does Anne get for her birthday?
18. Explain Mr. Frank’s quote to Anne: “There are no walls, there are no bolts, no locks that anyone can put on your mind.”

5. Act One, Scene 2 contd
19. How does Anne feel about being in hiding? Use quotes from the play.
20. How does Anne feel that her mother treats her? Use quotes from the play.
23. Write an alliteration based on the play.
24. Write a personification based on something in the play.
25. Write a hyperbole based on the play.

6. Act One, Scene 3
1. Mrs. Quack Quack. What is the author’s purpose for including this event in the play?
2. Write a paragraph explaining some of the disagreements between the Van Daans. Reference dialogue from the play. Make sure you have a topic sentence that uses words from this prompt.
3. What are some of the things Mr. Van Daan does that cause Peter shame? Mrs. Van Daan?
4. How do the conflicts that characters have seem almost insignificant when Mr. Dussell tells them what has been going on outside? Explain why.
5. What conflicts arise between Anne and Mr. Dussell? Why?

7. Act One, Scene 4
1. As Act I, scene 4 opens, what is Mr. Van Daan doing?
2. What does Anne’s nightmare in scene 4 tell the audience about her?

8. Act One, Scene 5 1. What is Hanukkah? 2. What is a Menorah?
3. How does Anne make Hanukkah special for each person?
4. Define irony
a. Explain the irony of Mr. Van Daan’s complaint about Mouschi’s eating up all of the food.
5. What happens during the Hanukkah celebration that causes fear among the group?
6. Mrs. Van Daan thinks a thief may never tell that they are in hiding. Mr. Dussell disagrees with her, saying a thief might make a bargain with the Green Police in exchange for information about people in hiding. Which is the more logical conclusion? Why?