E.L.

I- English Language Institute

Book Analysis
4th teens-2014

Books: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

Due date:

Subtopics
 Historical background: Nazi Germany
 Anne Frank analysis
 The Boy in the Striped Pajamas analysis
 Comparison and opinion

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

Sunday, 14 June 1942 to Tuesday, 22 December 1942
 Recalling Questions:
1 What is significant about June 14, 1942, the book’s first entry?
2 Who is Kitty?
3 What was Anne’s life like before entering the “Secret Annexe”?
4 Who are Zionists?
5 What has turned Anne’s whole world upside down in her July 8, 1942 report?
6 How were Jews treated in 1942 Holland?
7 Who lives in the “Secret Annexe”?
8 What are some of the adaptations the “Secret Annexe” residents have to make in hiding?
9 How does Anne spend her time in the “Secret Annexe”?
 Critical Thinking Questions:
1 How does Anne resemble most thirteen-year-olds you know?
2 The Franks decide to go into hiding in Holland rather than try to escape to another country. Why
do you think they made that choice?
3 Why do you think Anne is able to adjust rather positively to her life in hiding? What traits does
she possess that contribute to her ability to cope?
 Reading and Literary Technique Questions:
1 In what ways is a diary a unique form of literature? Hoe does a diary compare to a novel? Why
do people write diaries? Why would a diary be particularly helpful to someone in hiding?
2 Why is Anne in conflict with most of the adults in the “Annexe”? Which of Anne’s characteristics
do you think prompt this conflict? From Anne’s perspective, what is the basis of her conflict with
her mother? The Van Daans? Mr. Dussel?
3 How does the diary illustrate the idea that courage and hope can triumph over the most difficult
circumstances? How do the residents of the “Annexe” react to the restrictions on their activities?
How do they express humor? How does their humor express hope?
4 Personification is the giving of human characteristics to inanimate objects. How does Anne
personify her diary? Why does she write in her diary as though she is writing to another person?

1
 E.L.I- English Language Institute
Book Analysis
4th teens-2014

Wednesday, 13 January 1943 to Tuesday, 13 July 1943

 Recalling Questions:
1 Why does Anne think she is fortunate compared to others?
2 Why do you think Anne writes so often about arguments?
3 Anne uses a lot of synonyms for arguments. What are some of these synonyms?
4 How does Anne spend her days?
5 How do the “Secret Annexe” folk hide their existence?
 Critical Thinking Question:
1 What does Pim’s birthday poem for Anne tell you of their relationship?

Friday, 16 July, 1943 to Wednesday, 29 December, 1943

 Recalling Questions:
1 How are those in the “Secret Annexe” able to survive? Where do they get food? Who helps
them?
2 What would happen to those in hiding if they got sick and required medical care? How do those
in hiding deal with sickness?
3 What are the first wishes of those in the “Secret Annexe” when they are able to leave?
4 What deficiencies does Anne see in Mrs. Van Daan?
5 Explain 24 hours in the “Secret Annexe.”
 Critical Thinking Question:
1 Why would a fountain pen be a special friend to someone like Anne?
 Reading and Literary Technique Question:
1 A simile is a figure of speech using like or as to compare unlike objects. On November 8, 1943,
Anne describes the eight occupants of the “Annexe” through a simile. To what does Anne
compare the group? What do the rain clouds represent? What is Anne saying about their
predicament? How does the simile help the reader understand how Anne feels about her
situation?

Sunday, 2 January 1944 to Friday, 31 March, 1944

 Recalling Questions:
1 Anne thinks Peter has an inferiority complex. Find examples in the diary to support that idea.
2 On February 23, 1944, Anne includes a thought about what is missed by being in hiding and how
they must find inward compensation. What are some of the things Anne and the others miss
while in hiding?
3 Why do you think Anne writes more and more of Peter Van Daan?
4 Who are the people who support those in hiding? What is the Underground, the Resistance?
Why do these people take on the work?
 Critical Thinking Questions:
1 In her January 22, 1944 entry, Anne asks why people always try to hide their real feelings. What
are some possible answers? Choose one of your answers and write a short paragraph to explain
the answer. You should use examples from the book in your paragraph.
2 How do Anne and Margot work out their “competition” over Peter Van Daan? What do you
discover about the relationship between sisters from the letters? What other ways do siblings use
to settle concerns? Explain one such instance.

2
 E.L.I- English Language Institute
Book Analysis
4th teens-2014

3 What do you know of Anne from her Diary? Record her attributes as you know them from her
writing. Focus on the following divisions: how she acts and feels, how she looks, where she lives,
and how others feel about her.
4 Anne seems to have differences with her mother. Why? Find some examples in the book to
support your explanation
5 What is special about a confidante and friend? Why is this such a need for Anne?

Saturday, 1 April, 1944 to Sunday Morning, 7 May 1944

 Recalling Questions:
1 What are the food cycles Anne describes on April 3, 1944?
2 What are Anne’s hobbies? Why does she have so many hobbies?
3 What is Anne’s major run-in with her father in April, 1944?
4 In her April 11 entry, Anne reports a burglary. Why did it cause such an ordeal for those hiding in
the “Annexe”?
 Critical Thinking Questions:
1 In Anne’s April 11, 1944 entry, she tells of a warehouse break-in and then asks some
philosophical questions about Jews. Do you agree with Anne’s explanation written in 1944?
Would her answer be different today?
2 How have Anne’s entries in the diary changed in April, 1944?
3 Reread the entry from April 4, 1944. How has the role of Anne’s diary broadened still further?

Monday, 8 May, 1944 to Tuesday, 1 August, 1944

 Recalling Questions:
1 Why is the Allied invasion (D-Day) a cause for rejoicing?
2 On Anne’s fifteenth birthday, she makes an accounting of her plusses and minuses. What did
she include?
3 How do the “Secret Annexers” deal with 26 trays of strawberries?
 Critical Thinking Questions:
1 Anne says, “The world is a queer place!” She is referring to her circumstances compared to her
grandparents. Explain.
2 What is Anne’s career ambition? Is it an appropriate ambition? Why?
3 On May 26, 1944, Anne wonders about whether they should have gone into hiding. Why do you
think she voices such a thought?
4 On Friday, 16 June, 1944, Anne states her golden rule. What is it? What other golden rules do
you know?
5 In the entry on May 22, 1944, Anne discusses the nature of prejudice and says that “what one
Christian does is his own responsibility, what one Jew does is thrown back at all Jews.” How does
that saying explain prejudice? What other examples of prejudice can you think of?

6 Anne often talks about the differences and difficulties between young people and their parents.
Her views on the generation gap relate to one of the themes of the diary: human growth involves
pain (see entry for July 15, 1944). What does Anne mean when she says “youth is lonelier than old
age”? How has this pain of youth helped Anne grow?

3
 E.L.I- English Language Institute
Book Analysis
4th teens-2014

Afterward
1 What happened to the “Secret Annexe” on August 4, 1944?
2 Why do we have Anne’s diary today?
3 What was the fate of those imprisoned?

 Summarizing and Thematic Questions

1 How do Anne’s changing relationships with some of the others in hiding show that she is
maturing? What changes are there in Anne’s attitudes? What kind of person is she becoming?
2 Anne says that her own atmosphere keeps shifting from great happiness and thankfulness to
great despair. How do events in the outside world and relationships in the “Secret Annexe”
contribute to these ups and downs? Do you think Anne’s responses are appropriate? Explain.
3 One of the themes of the diary is that human growth involves pain. How is this theme illustrated
by Anne’s relationship with her mother? How does the plight of those outside the “Annexe”
contribute to the theme?
4 Another theme of the diary is that everyone needs someone to share life’s experiences with.
How does Anne’s relationship with Peter illustrate this theme? How does Anne’s relationship with
her diary illustrate this theme?
5 Another theme of the diary concerns responsibility for evil in the world. This theme is expressed
most clearly on May 3, 1944. Reread the eighth paragraph of that entry. How does Anne explain
the evil in the world? Do you agree with her? Why or why not? Cite examples and support your
position.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

1. How does the opening scene of Bruno and his friends represent their innocence?
2. Can adults be naïve? In what ways can they be naïve? What adults in the movie seemed
naïve?
3. Does Bruno and Gretel’s tutor take advantage of the children’s innocence in what he teaches
them? How? What were these ideas?
4. Although the story takes place during a tragic time in history, there are moments of humor in
the story. One occurs when Bruno tells Pavel that he could not be a very good doctor because he
had to “practice” it. How does this example and others in the movie demonstrate Bruno’s naïveté?
Can you give other examples from the movie of misinterpretation as a result of innocence?
5. Although Bruno and his family have moved to a desolate place, Bruno continues to display his
strong sense of adventure and creativity. What are some examples of this in the movie?
6. What events and experiences lead Bruno to gradually give up some of his innocence and see
things differently?
7. Why was it so hard for him to believe that his father could be involved in hurtful acts?
8. Neither Bruno nor Shmuel really know going on at the concentration camp. Why is that, and
what allows them to keep their innocence?
9. How do the friendships that Bruno has in Berlin at the beginning of the movie compare with his
friendship with Shmuel?
10. Does the friendship between Bruno and Shmuel evolve in the story? How?
11. Why doesn’t Bruno try to protect his friend when Shmuel is attacked by Lieutenant Kotler?
12. How does shame and remorse figure into the friendship between Bruno and Shmuel? How
does Bruno show his remorse?
4
 E.L.I- English Language Institute
Book Analysis
4th teens-2014

13. Why does Shmuel forgive Bruno? How?

14. How is it possible for Bruno and Shmuel to have fun together and maintain their friendship in
the midst of their circumstances?
15. How does Bruno justify continuing his friendship with Shmuel despite what his father, sister,
and tutor have said about Jews?
16. The barbed wire fence is a physical separation between Bruno and Shmuel. What other types
of separation does the fence represent in this story?
17. How do Bruno and Shmuel demonstrate the essence of friendship despite their many
differences? What are their differences?
18. How can people use the power of friendship to cross boundaries of race, religion, and culture?
19. How do the friendships that Bruno has in Berlin at the beginning of the movie compare with
his friendship with Shmuel?
20. What is a stereotype? Why do people stereotype groups that are different from them? How
does the movie depict Nazis stereotyping Jews?
21. A scapegoat is blamed for things they are not responsible for. During the Holocaust, Jews
became scapegoats, blamed for all the troubles in Germany. Why were they made scapegoats?
22. Gretel becomes prejudiced against Jews. Who influenced her? How does she show her
prejudiced views?
23. What is Mother’s reaction when she sees Gretel’s room decorated with Nazi posters?
24. What happens to cause Mother to question her own prejudice against Jews?
25. When Bruno first finds out that Shmuel is Jewish, he says: “You’re a Jew. You can’t be. I think I
should go now.” Why does Bruno react that way at first?
26. When you hear someone make a biased comment about a group of people, what do you
usually do? How hard is it to stand up to prejudice and discrimination? Why?
27. In the story, who fights against prejudice and discrimination? Give examples of people in
history who fought against prejudice and discrimination.
28. What conflicts around the world today are the results of prejudice? What are its effects on
innocent people, including children?
29. In your opinion, what does the end of story symbolize? Why?

Comparison and opinion

1. Write a composition comparing and contrasting the two books. You have to include the
following topics:
 Children’s innocence
 Discrimination and loneliness
 Anne and Bruno

2. Write a final paragraph giving your opinion on the whole paper and your thoughts of the two
books.