“The Diary of Anne Frank”
Elements of Drama - The Basic Dramatic Principles
· Conflict - when a character struggles with an outside force, which may be another character, society as a whole, or a natural force
· Complications - additional problems that arise
· Climax - the point in the story that creates the greatest suspense or interest
· Resolution - the final part of the play, where the conflict is resolved and the story is brought to a close
· Crisis - this centers around a situation of danger or difficulty that places at risk something of great value to the characters: life, love, family pride, anything that is precious to them
· Change - both in the characters and in their relationships. These changes come about as the characters work out their conflicts.
Literary Terms
1. flashback - interruption in the present action of a plot to show events that happened at an earlier time.
Ex. The play opens with Mr. Frank returning from the war. He opens Anne’s diary and begins to read. The play continues as a flashback (Act I, Scene i).
2. dramatic irony - occurs when the audience or the reader knows something a character does not know.
Ex. Anne Frank is a play with dramatic irony because we know that only Mr. Frank will survive the war, but the characters in The Secret Annex don't know their own fate.
3. dynamic character - a character who changes as a result of the story's events.
Ex. The main characters: Anne, Margot, Mrs. Frank, Mr. Frank, Mrs. Van Daan, Mr. Van Daan, Peter, and Dussel.
4. static character - a character who does not change much in the course of a work
Ex. The supporting characters: Mr. Kraler and Meip
5. idioms -an expression peculiar to a particular language that means something different from the literal meaning of the words.
Ex. Peter says, "I'm sort of a lone wolf."
Ex. Anne says, "...I'm the goat around here!"
6. theme - the general idea or insight about life that a work of literature reveals.
Ex. The theme of the play is the Holocaust and survival.
7. foreshadowing - the use of clues or hints to suggest events that will occur later in the plot.
8. plot - the series of related events that make up a story.
Ex. Margot is "called up" by the Nazis so the Franks decide to go into hiding
Ex. Anne plays tricks on the others which cause tension among the two families.
Ex. Dussel is called up and has to go into hiding. He is invited to The Secret Annex (Act I, Scene iii)
9. mood - the overall feeling of a work of literature.
Ex. The overall mood is sadness and tension.
10. onomatopoeia - the use of words whose sounds imitate or suggest their meaning.
Ex. The sounds of bombs (B-O-O-M)
11. tone - the attitude a writer takes toward his or her subject, characters, and audience. Anne is our writer so the tone and wording is that of a child:
Ex. The Holocaust: unfair and wrong
Ex. Hiding: like being at a summer boarding school (Act I)
Ex. How does she feel about each character?
12. verbal irony - involves a contrast between what is said or written and what is really meant.
Ex. Mrs. Van Daan warns Mr. Frank that if the war last longer they will be related. Mr. Frank responds, "Mazel tov." Mr. Frank's response is verbal irony because he isn't trying to be rude, but he isn't really passing along his congratulations.
13. metaphor - an imaginative comparison between two unlike things in which one thing is said to be another thing.
Ex. Mrs. Van Daan says, "Our house was always swarming with boys."
14. dialogue - conversation between two or more characters.
15. suspense - the uncertainty or anxiety that a reader feels about what will happen next in a story, novel, or drama.
Vocabulary
Act I
1. Conspicuous – obvious; noticeable
2. Unabashed – unembarrassed; unashamed
3. Loathe – hate
4. Indignantly – with anger caused by something felt to be unjust
5. Fortify – strengthen
6. Zeal – great enthusiasm; devotion to a cause
7. Tyranny – cruel and unjust rule or use of power
8. Gingerly – carefully; cautiously
9. Ostentatiously – in a showy or exaggerated way
10. Appalled – horrified; shocked
Act II
- disgruntled - displeased; annoyed
- inarticulate - unable to speak; unable to speak understandably or effectively.
- forlorn - abandoned and lonely
- animation - liveliness
- remorse - deep feeling of guilt
- meticulously - very precise; careful; concerned with small details.