Staging Unit Theme: The Power of One Act The Diary of Anne Frank (drama, play) by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett Literary Analysis The staging of a play includes its physical features scenery, costumes, lighting, and sound, as well as the actors' movements and the way they speak. These details are indicated in the stage directions. Stage directions are usually printed in italics and set in brackets. The stage directions here describe the setting of the play: [A narrow steep flight of stairs at the back leads up to the attic. The rooms are sparsely furnished with a few chairs, cots, a table or two.] Directors and actors use stage directions to help them produce the drama. Readers use the stage directions to help them visualize the characters, the scenes, and the action that would occur on stage. Connecting Literary Elements The stage directions in The Diary of Anne Frank describe the on-stage setting. In this, and other literary works, however, the events take place in a larger setting as well a time and place in the world a historical context. The historical context of a work includes the time, place, customs, political forces, cultural attitudes, and major events of the period. As you read, use the timeline shown here to help you track the events that form the backdrop for the play. Reading Strategy: Analyzing the Effect of Historical Context The historical context of the play creates a mood, or feeling, of danger and tension. Some characters react by helping others avoid danger. Other characters react selfishly in the face of danger. As you read, use these focus questions to help you analyze other effects of the historical context on the mood and meaning of The Diary of Anne Frank. 1. What are the political forces and cultural attitudes of the setting? 2. What is Anne's reaction to these forces and attitudes?
**The Diary of Anne Frank: Act 1, Scenes 1 & 2** Top 3 Moments Directions: Identify the top three moments from your reading and explain why each moment is important. Important Moment Why was this moment important? Stage Directions Understanding Stage Directions What important information is revealed? The door at the foot of the small stairwell swings open. Mr. Frank comes up the steps into view. He is a gentle, cultured European in his middle years. There is still a trace of a German accent in his speech. He stands looking slowly around, making a supreme effort at self control. He is weak, ill. His clothes are threadbare. From the street below we hear the sound of a barrel organ and children's voices at play. There is a many-colored scarf hanging from a nail. MR. FRANK takes it, putting it around his neck. As he starts back for his rucksack, his eye is caught by something lying on the floor. It is a woman's white glove. He holds it in his hand and suddenly all of his self-control is gone. He breaks down, crying. MR. VAN DAAN, a tall portly man in his late forties, is in the main room, pacing up and down, nervously smoking a cigarette. His clothes and overcoat are expensive and well cut. Staging: What impression of this character do you get from the description? Staging: What does the staging of this scene suggest about the room's significance to Mr. Frank? Staging: What do these details tell you about the members of the Van Daan family? MRS. VAN DAAN sits on the couch, clutching her possessions, a hat box, bags, etc. She is a pretty woman in her early forties. She wears a fur coat over her other clothes. PETER VAN DAAN is standing at the window of the room on the right, looking down at the street below. He is a shy, awkward boy of sixteen. He wears a cap, 2
a raincoat, and long Dutch trousers, like ''plus fours." At his feet is a black case, a carrier for his cat. The yellow Star of David is conspicuous on all of their clothes. During the following scene MR. FRANK helps MARGOT and MRS. FRANK to hang up their clothes. Then he persuades them both to lie down and rest. The VAN DAANS in their room above settle themselves. In the main room ANNE and PETER remove their shoes. PETER takes his cat out of the carrier.] Staging: How do the characters' actions in this scene move the action along? Contrasting Points of View Directions: Anne and Peter differ in their opinions about the Star of David. Describe these contrasting views. Anne s Opinion Peter s Opinion Making Inferences Directions: Anne calls Miep and Mr. Kraler our protectors. She tells us they would suffer the same fate we would if they were caught. Make two inferences about these two characters. Inference #1 Inference #2 **The Diary of Anne Frank: Act 1, Scenes 3** 1. Describe two situations where Anne tries to clown around with Peter: o o 2. Describe each character s reaction to Anne s behavior: Peter s reaction Mrs. Frank s reaction 3
3. Explain the Person vs. Person conflicts between the following characters in this scene: Mr. Van Daan vs. Mrs. Van Daan Anne vs. Mr. Van Daan Anne vs. Mrs. Van Daan Anne vs. Mrs. Frank 4. How do Mr. Frank and Mr. Van Daan feel about having Mr. Dussel hide with them? Mr. Frank Mr. Van Daan 5. What reason do people think the Franks have moved to Switzerland? 6. Mr. Dussel brings news from the outside. What are three things that he shares? **The Diary of Anne Frank: Act 1, Scenes 4** 1. Describe an event that propels the action between the following characters: Anne and Mr. Dussel Anne and her mother 2. Do you think Anne s mean side is appropriate under the current circumstances? Why or Why not? 4
3. Identify an activity each character longs for: Anne Peter Mrs. Van Daan Mr. Dussel ** The Diary of Anne Frank: Act 1, Scene 5** Characterization: What do you learn about the character based on the following categories? Thoughts & Emotions Choose a character: dreams, wishes, hopes, fears, and/or feelings? Actions OR Reactions actions, their reactions to others, and/or their reaction to the setting? Dialogue conversations? 5
Analyzing Conflict & Cause and Effect Events Propel Action Explain how each item causes a conflict to follow. Topic (cause) Conflict that Follows (effect) Mouschi the lampshade crash the thief Respond and Think Critically: Act One Directions: Answer the following questions after reading Act One. 1. Why does Mr. Frank tell Miep he is leaving Amsterdam in Scene One? How does he seem to feel about leaving? 2. What is Mr. Frank s first reaction to the papers that Miep gives him when he returns after the war? 3. Based on what you ve learned, what can you infer about life in the Franks household before they went into hiding? 4. What frightens Anne the most about being in hiding? 6
5. What does Mrs. Van Daan think about the relationship between Anne and Peter? 6. Do you think Mr. and Mrs. Frank would like Anne to be more like Margot? Why or why not? Explain your thoughts. 7. What are the major differences between how the Franks, the Van Daans and Mr. Dussel deal with the constant danger? 8. What is the group s main concern about the thief? 9. Why do you think the authors tell the Franks story in flashback? 10. What are some things Anne does that help her find strength from within? 7
The Diary of Anne Frank: Part 2 The Diary of Anne Frank: Act 2, Scene 1 1. How long have they been in hiding at this point? 2. Name 2 things Miep brings them for New Years: a. b. 3. What has happened to Mouschi? Person vs. Person Conflicts : Why does Mr. Dussel cause Peter to become furious? What causes Mrs. Van Daan to become hysterical? What does Mr. Van Daan ask Miep to buy with some of the money from the coat, and what does this show us about Mr. Van Daan? 5. Anne Speaks Out Provide details based on the events. What kinds of concerns does Anne express to her mother? How does Peter respond to Anne s speech? Describe some bad news Anne writes about at the end of the scene: The Diary of Anne Frank: Act 2, Scene 2 1. What surprised you most about Anne and Peter's "date"? 2. Describe each character's attitude toward Anne's "date" with Peter: Mrs. Frank Mr. Dussel Mrs. Van Daan 3. After her date with Peter, Anne writes in her diary, " Oh, don't think I'm in love, because I'm not." Do you believe her? Explain. 8
The Diary of Anne Frank: Act 2, Scene 3 Characterization: What do you learn about the character based on the following categories? Thoughts & Emotions Choose a character: dreams, wishes, hopes, fears, and/or feelings? Actions OR Reactions actions, their reactions to others, and/or their reaction to the setting? Dialogue conversations? Analyzing Conflict and Cause & Effect Directions: Identify one of the main conflicts that have occurred. Then explain who was involved, the cause of the conflict and the effect or outcome. Explain one of the main conflicts: Who was involved? What was the cause of this conflict? What was the effect or outcome of this conflict? Respond and Think Critically: Act Two Directions: Answer the following questions after reading Act Two. 1. Why is Anne concerned about Margot s feelings toward Peter? 2. What good news about the world does Miep bring to the annex? 9
3. What does Anne look forward to when she gets out of the annex? Why is this an example of dramatic irony? 4. What message do the authors seem to be sending with their description of Mr. and Mrs. Van Daan in the play? Explain. 5. How believable is the description of Anne as a woman with courage to meet whatever lies ahead? Explain your opinion. 6. After the war, how does Anne s father learn of her death? 7. In Act 2, Scene 1, Anne says to Peter, We have problems that no other people our age have ever had. What does Anne mean by this statement? 8. In Act 1, Scene 4, and again in Act 2, Scene 3, Mr. and Mrs. Frank speak in German, but the conversations are only partially translated in the footnotes. Why do you think the author chooses not to translate them fully? 9. How does reading Anne s diary affect Mr. Frank s emotionally? 10. In her diary, Anne writes, In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart. What do these words reveal about Anne s character? 10