Analyzing Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Study Notes

Diary of a Young Girl

The diary is composed of journal entries written by Anne Frank over a two-year period, without a traditional story structure.

Move to the Annex: 1942

Anne introduces herself, her family, and the others hiding in the secret annex, rooms attached to her father's office building.
June 12, 1942: Anne receives her diary for her 13th birthday and begins writing entries.
July 5, 1942: Margot, Anne's sister, is summoned to report to a German work camp, prompting the Franks to move into the secret annex.
July 8-9, 1942: Anne records the move into the annex in her diary.
July 13, 1942: The Van Daans (Van Pels) join the Franks in hiding, including a teenage son, Peter.
November 17, 1942: An eighth person, a dentist named Pfeffer (Dussel), joins the group in the annex.

The Long Wait: 1943

Anne records the fear of being discovered, tensions, and arguments among the group.
February 27, 1943: The owner of the office building sells it without telling the employees helping the Franks hide.
September 8, 1943: Italy surrenders to the Allies, giving Anne hope that the war will end soon.

Openness & Safety: 1944

Anne and the others begin to flourish in the cramped annex, with Anne exploring self-discovery and relationships.
March 1944: Anne writes about her burgeoning relationship with Peter.
April 11, 1944: Burglars break into the warehouse, and Peter and the men investigate, fearing the burglars may have alerted the police.
June 9, 1944: Anne reports good news about the Allies invading France, and the residents of the annex are hopeful the war will soon end.
June 13, 1944: Anne's 15th birthday marks two years of writing in her diary and almost two years of hiding in the annex.
June-August 1944: Anne's entries are increasingly optimistic about the war ending soon.
August 1, 1944: Anne's last entry discusses her feelings about people's perceptions and her inner self.
August 4, 1944: The eight residents of the secret annex and two helpers are arrested and deported.
Early 1945: Anne Frank dies in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.

Description

Explore the structure and events of Anne Frank's Diary of a Young Girl, a personal and historical account of her experiences during WWII. Identify key plot points and character development throughout the book.