De Castro , Katherine Joy A.

3-A1

The Diary of Anne Frank (Young girl)

Summary:
The epigraph of this book is in Anne’s handwriting and claims that she hopes she
will be able to confide “completely” in her diary, and that it shall be a great comfort
to her.

The first entry of the diary is on June 12, Anne’s thirteenth birthday. She tells the
story of how she woke early and then had to contain herself until seven a.m. to
wake her parents and open her presents. She claims that the diary, one of those
presents, is “possibly the nicest of all.” She relates her list of presents, adding that
she is “thoroughly spoiled,” and then goes off to school with her friend Lies. On
Sunday she has a birthday party with her school friends. Her mother always asks
who she is going to marry, and she has managed to dissuade her from the boy
she really likes, Peter Wessel. She talks about her school friends: Lies Goossens,
Sanne Houtman, and Jopie de Waal. Lies and Sanne used to be her best friends,
but since she started attending the Jewish Secondary School, she has become
closer to Jopie.

On Saturday, June 20, Anne divulges that she wants her diary to be a friend to
her--unlike her other friends,someone she can completely confide to. Although she
has a loving family and lots of friends, she feels isolated and alone sometimes, and
wants her diary to be someone she can talk to openly and honestly about
everything. So she will call her diary “Kitty” and address it like a friend. She tells
Kitty the history of her family: her parents’ marriage, her 1929 birth in Frankfurt,
and then, “as we are Jewish,” their 1933 emigration to Holland. The rest of her
family suffered under Hitler’s pogroms in Germany; some of them managed to
emigrate to other countries.

After 1940, Hitler conquered Holland and brought anti-Jewish measures there.
Jews were forced to wear yellow stars as marks of identification; they had to hand
in their bicycles and were not allowed to use trams or public facilities. They were
segregated into Jewish shops and Jewish schools and not allowed to visit Christian
homes. As Anne says, “Our freedom was strictly limited.” Her beloved grandmother
died in 1942. She went to the Montessori Kindergarten for lower school and
currently, she attends the Jewish Secondary School.

The next entry, also on June 20, begins with the signature greeting of “Dear Kitty.”
Anne says that she has taken a liking to ping-pong; she and her friends often play
and then go get ice-cream at the nearest shop that allows Jews. There, they let
their admirers buy them ice cream. At this point, Anne lets the diary know that she
has plenty of boy friends, whom offer to escort her home from school and almost
always fall in love with her. She tries to ignore them when they do. Meanwhile,
Anne’s whole class is waiting anxiously to hear who will be promoted to the next
grade. She personally is not worried about any subject except for math, since she
has been punished for talking too much. Her teacher made her write three essays
about being a “chatterbox.” After she wrote funny essays, he allowed her to talk in
class.

In the boiling heat, Anne wishes she didn’t have to walk everywhere--but alas,
Jews are not allowed to ride trams. The only place they are allowed is the ferry,
which the ferryman let them ride as soon as they asked. Anne expresses sympathy
towards the Dutch; saying it is not their fault that the Germans treat Jews so badly.
She is approached by Harry Goldberg, a sixteen-year-old boy she met at her friend
Eva’s house. He “can tell all kinds of amusing stories,” says Anne, and soon the
two are seeing each other regularly. Although Harry has a girlfriend, Fanny, a “very
soft, dull creature,” he is smitten with Anne. Although his grandparents, with whom
he lives, think Anne is too young for him, he stops going out with Fanny and makes
himself available to Anne. When she asks how, he claims, “Love finds a way.”

Harry comes to meet her parents, and Anne makes all sorts of preparations for his
visit. They go out for a walk, and Harry brings Anne home ten minutes after eight
o’clock. As Jews have a city-wide curfew of eight o’clock, Mr. Frank is very upset
and makes Anne promise to be back in the house at ten minutes to eight from now
on. Still, her family likes Harry, and Anne does as well.

Anne gets her school marks back and they are good. She explains that although
her parents do not pressure her for grades, she wants to be a good pupil. The
headmaster of the Jewish Secondary School accepted her and her sister Margot
“conditionally” and she does not want to let him down. She mentions that her father
has been home a lot lately, “as there is nothing for him to do at business.” Her
father tells her the disturbing news that he has been planning for them to go into
hiding for more than a year. Anne is horrified and asks why he must talk like that.
He replies that he and Mrs. Frank will take care of it all and there is no need for
her to be upset.

The Diary of Anne Frank and the 7 Literary Standards

Anne Frank’s diary is one of the most important and inspiring true stories ever
written. It was not meant to be a famous book, Anne was simply a young girl writing
her thoughts, feelings, and daily experiences while hiding from the Nazis during
World War II. Yet, her words became a powerful voice for millions of people. Here’s
how her diary shows the seven literary standards:

1. Permanence
Anne Frank’s diary is permanent because its message never fades with time. Even
though it was written more than 80 years ago, it is still being read all over the world
today. It has been translated into many languages, included in school lessons, and
remembered in museums and memorials. Her words remain alive because they
are not just about her life, they are about the human experience. Just like classic
works of literature, her diary continues to inspire and warn future generations about
the dangers of hate and war.

2. Universal Appeal
The diary appeals to all kinds of people, no matter their background, religion, or
culture. Anne’s emotions are those of any teenager, she argued with her mother,
dreamed of being a writer, fell in love, and questioned her future. Readers see
themselves in her because we all share the same human feelings: fear, joy,
sadness, anger, love, and hope. Her story may be about the Holocaust, but her
voice speaks to everyone because it shows what it means to be human.

3. Suggestiveness
Anne’s diary is not just about hiding in the Secret Annex, it suggests bigger
lessons. Her words make us think about life’s meaning, the value of freedom, and
the importance of kindness. She never directly told people what to do, but her
experiences guide us to reflect on our own lives. The diary suggests that we should
fight against hatred, respect human dignity, and appreciate simple freedoms we
sometimes take for granted.

4. Artistry
Anne may have been young, but her writing had beauty and artistry. She described
her surroundings, feelings, and even ordinary events in ways that touched the
heart. She gave life to her diary by writing as if she were talking to a friend, whom
she called “Kitty.” This creative touch makes her writing not just informative but
also artistic. Her natural talent for expressing emotions turned her simple journal
into a timeless literary masterpiece.

5. Intellectual Value
The diary is full of intellectual lessons. It teaches history by giving a firsthand
account of what Jews experienced during the Holocaust. It also makes readers
think critically about issues like prejudice, injustice, and survival. More than history,
the diary sharpens our understanding of human behavior, why some people
choose hate while others choose compassion. Schools and universities use the
diary to open discussions about human rights, ethics, and the consequences of
discrimination.

6. Spiritual Value
Even in hiding, with danger all around, Anne showed faith and hope. Her belief in
God and in the goodness of people is the spiritual strength that shines through her
words. She teaches us that even in moments of darkness, we can hold on to hope,
courage, and kindness. This spiritual message uplifts readers, giving them
inspiration to face their own struggles with faith and positivity.

7. Style
Anne’s style of writing is simple, personal, and honest. She did not use complicated
words or flowery language—she wrote straight from the heart. By addressing her
diary as “Kitty,” she made readers feel like she was speaking directly to them. Her
playful tone, mixed with deep thoughts, creates a unique style that makes the diary
easy to read but full of meaning. This style makes her diary different from many
formal historical accounts, because it feels like a conversation with a real friend.

Reflection
The Diary of Anne Frank is more than just a young girl’s journal, it is a voice of
hope, a witness to history, and a guide for humanity. It has permanence because
it continues to be read; universal appeal because everyone can relate to Anne;
suggestiveness because it makes us reflect on life and humanity; artistry because
her words carry emotion and beauty; intellectual value because it teaches
important lessons about history and human behavior; spiritual value because it
uplifts and strengthens the heart; and style because it is personal, simple, and
deeply touching.