Anne Frank Summary
Description
Here you will find a Anne Frank summary (Anne Frank's book).
We begin with a summary of the entire book, and then you can read each individual chapter's summary by visiting the links on the "Chapters" section.
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Last Updated: Monday 1 Jan, 2024
Chapters
- Book Summary
- June 12 1942 – June 24 1942
- July 1 1942 – July 10 1942
- July 11 1942 – October 9 1942
- October 14 1942 – November 20 1942
- November 28 1942 – June 13 1943
- June 15 1943 – November 11 1943
- November 17 1943 – January 28 1944
- January 28 1944 – March 11 1944
- March 14 1944 – April 11 1944
- April 14 1944 – August 1 1944
Chapters
- Book Summary
- June 12 1942 – June 24 1942
- July 1 1942 – July 10 1942
- July 11 1942 – October 9 1942
- October 14 1942 – November 20 1942
- November 28 1942 – June 13 1943
- June 15 1943 – November 11 1943
- November 17 1943 – January 28 1944
- January 28 1944 – March 11 1944
- March 14 1944 – April 11 1944
- April 14 1944 – August 1 1944
Anne Frank Summary Overview
In her thirteenth year, a young girl started chronicling her life, discussing her schooldays, friendships, and crushes, all within the Jewish Lyceum in Amsterdam, where she, along with her older sibling, was forced to attend due to anti-Semitic laws. Prior to the outbreak of World War II, her family had relocated from Germany to the Netherlands to avoid persecution. However, the German invasion in 1940 necessitated their move into hiding. Together with another family known as the van Daans and a man called Mr. Dussel, they took refuge in a hidden annex above her father's office, relying on his employees for provisions and news from the outside world. In the annex, war updates from the radio were followed keenly, with bits of information making their way into the girl's journal, serving as a historical backdrop for her personal thoughts. The mood within their hideout often swayed depending on the progress of the war. As the conflict escalated, Amsterdam's inhabitants faced hardship as resources dwindled and criminal activities spiked. Our protagonist often jotted down her personal feelings of seclusion and loneliness, struggling with her relationship with the adults in the annex, particularly her mother whom she thought lacked warmth. She was fond of her father but often came under criticism from the van Daans and Mr. Dussel. Despite admiring her sister, she didn't feel a close bond and refrained from writing much about her. She formed a tight bond with Peter van Daan, causing her father's disapproval, which subsequently lessened her infatuation. Throughout her diary entries, the girl showed significant development, moving from mundane daily activities to more profound contemplations on human nature and her identity. She wrestled with the persecution faced by her people and her own personal identity, feeling a strong affinity with her aggrieved people but also desiring to be recognized as an individual. During her time in hiding, she grappled with confinement, deprivation, and the harsh realities of the Holocaust, striving to maintain her identity amid the oppressive climate. Her diary, brimming with the observations of an imaginative and normal teenager, abruptly ends on a seemingly ordinary day in August 1944. Only days later, they were betrayed, arrested, and tragically, only her father survived. He discovered her diary and decided to publish it, turning it into a testament of the unimaginable atrocities of the Holocaust, narrated from a child's perspective.
june 12 1942 – june 24 1942
Anne Frank starts her journal with the hope of finding solace and a confidant in her diary. She describes receiving the diary on her 13th birthday, on Friday, June 12th, and how she spent the day. Having a condition that disallows her from gym class, she gives a snapshot of her school life and friends at the Jewish Lyceum. Despite having a loving family and many acquaintances, she feels a lack of true friends. She then gives a brief summary of her life. Born in Germany in 1929, her Jewish family moved to Holland in 1933 due to her father's new job. She attended a Montessori nursery school before enrolling in the Jewish Lyceum. With their lives filled with anxiety due to relatives living in Nazi-occupied Germany and the discriminatory laws imposed on Jews, her family's life is far from normal. Anne starts calling her diary “Kitty” and shares about a Ping-Pong club she and her friends have started. Despite the tensions, they enjoy hanging out at the ice cream shop, although Anne admits to being wary of boys’ instant infatuations with her. With the end of the school year nearing, Anne shares her worries about math, a subject she struggles with due to her chattiness. Nonetheless, she manages to maintain a light-hearted spirit, even transforming a punishment into a humorous essay. In the midst of the hot summer, Anne reflects on the luxury of using a streetcar, now forbidden for Jews. She shares how the local ferryman still allows them to ride the ferry. Amidst the persecution, she believes the Dutch are not to blame. She also mentions Hello Silberberg, a boy who has recently begun to show interest in her.
july 1 1942 – july 10 1942
Anne's friendship with Hello deepens, though his grandmother disapproves due to Anne's age. Hello, unable to return to his parents in Belgium, resides with his grandparents in Amsterdam. He shares with Anne that he enjoys her company more than his ex-girlfriend Ursul. He also informs her about his newfound availability on Wednesday evenings, and parts of the weekends, having stopped attending his Zionist group meetings. After meeting Anne's parents, he and Anne spend an evening together, returning home late, which angers Anne's father. She assures him she will be home earlier henceforth, but reveals to her diary that her heart longs for a boy named Peter, despite his involvement with other girls, and sees Hello merely as a companion. On receiving her report card, Anne notes her satisfactory grades, further mentioning that her parents are less grade-driven than those of her peers. Her father, however, discloses their impending necessity to go into hiding and the steps being taken to ensure their belongings are safely stored. He assures Anne that they plan on "leaving of [their] own accord" before the Germans could get to them. Anne expresses her distress about her father's plans. Days later, her sister Margot reveals that the call-up notice received was actually for her, not their father. The sisters begin packing in haste. The next day, heavily layered in clothes to avoid suspicion, they leave their house separately, with Margot leading, carrying her school bag filled with books. Eventually, the family safely reaches their hideout - an annex in Otto Frank's office at 263 Prinsengracht. The secret location, known to just four office employees, is tucked away behind a grey door. Margot waits for the family in the annex, surrounded by cardboard boxes filled with their belongings. Anne and her father start unpacking, while her mother and sister rest. Anne realizes the enormity of the life change only on Wednesday, when she finally has a moment to confide in her diary about "what had happened to [her] and what was yet to happen."
july 11 1942 – october 9 1942
The chiming clock in the annex initially troubles Margot, Mr. Frank, and Mrs. Frank, while Anne finds comfort in it. She likens living in the annex to vacationing in a peculiar boarding house, even naming it the most snug hideout in Holland. Having pre-arranged movie posters in the attic, Anne adorns her bedroom walls with them. She eagerly anticipates the arrival of the van Daans, their soon to be co-inhabitants. Yet, in a later insertion, Anne discloses her frustration at being confined and her fear of discovery and execution. Arguments with her mother become more frequent for Anne, who feels alienated from her sentimental mother and sister. She believes only her father comprehends her. She is aware of the war-imposed confinement and the limited visitors, but remains hopeful and dreams abundantly. The van Daan family arrives early on July 13, 1942, due to escalating German call-up notices sparking panic. Mr. van Daan reveals the deceptive rumors the Franks spread to mislead the Gestapo, leading most acquaintances to believe they fled to Switzerland. Mr. Voskuijl, a coworker's father, constructs a bookcase to hide the annex's entrance. Frequent arguments occur between Anne's mother and Mrs. van Daan while Peter van Daan's hypochondria proves annoying. Despite not being her mother, Mrs. van Daan often reprimands Anne, who in the meantime is studying French and diligently logging five irregular verbs daily. Bathing turns into a rotational activity due to limited hot water. They freeze in place when the plumber visits. Anne's fear peaks every time the doorbell rings, fearing it might be the Gestapo. She later fantasizes about being in Switzerland with 150 guilders. The constant receipt of grim news regarding their Jewish friends leads Anne to explore her dual identity as a German Jew.
october 14 1942 – november 20 1942
Anne keeps herself engaged with her studies in French, math, history and shorthand. She experiences improved relationships with her mother and sister, Margot. Both sisters decide to share their diaries. Anne's curiosity about Margot's future plans is met with ambiguity. A panic seizes the annex when an unexpected visit from a carpenter to service the fire extinguishers occurs. The pounding on the bookcase leads them to fear discovery, but it turns out to be Mr. Kleiman, a helper, unsticking the door. Miep Gies, an employee of Mr. Frank, along with her husband Jan, spend a night at the annex, much to Anne's delight. Mr. Frank falls sick midweek, a doctor's visit is impossible. Bep Voskuijl, another of Mr. Frank's employees, spends the weekend at the annex. Anne anticipates her first menstruation cycle eagerly, reflecting on this anticipation in a later note from 1944, she marvels at her "childish innocence" and labels her descriptions as "indelicate". She also expresses her yearning for "trust, love and physical affection" during her time in hiding. Anne discusses the British victories in Africa and contemplates Churchill's famous phrase, "the end of the beginning." Mr. Frank recovers from his illness and Peter celebrates his sixteenth birthday. The annex residents agree to accommodate an eighth person, which Anne finds exciting. The new arrival is Albert Dussel, a married dentist. Dussel is delighted when Miep informs him of the hiding spot, although he requests additional time to sort out his affairs. Miep escorts him to the annex at a prearranged time; he's surprised to find the Frank family as he believed they were in Belgium. The van Daans provide Dussel with a humorous set of rules upon his arrival. He shares a room with Anne and informs her about the horrors unfolding outside, including the murder of women and children. This leads Anne to feel grateful for their hideaway and sorrowful for her friends who suffer simply because they are Jewish. Despite being disturbed by the news, Anne is determined not to spend her days crying. The isolation of the attic dampens her spirits.
november 28 1942 – june 13 1943
Overuse of electricity leads to exceeding the ration in the annex, causing tension. Anne finds Mr. Dussel's strictness and numerous etiquette opinions bothersome, describing herself as "the badly brought-up center of attention in a family of nitpickers." They celebrate both Hanukkah and St. Nicholas Day, with minimal candle lighting due to shortages. A surprise basket with presents appears for St. Nicholas Day. Mr. van Daan makes sausages to prolong their meat supply, while Mr. Dussel amusingly sets up a pretend dental clinic, and tries fixing Mrs. van Daan's dental issues. Anne grows tired of Mrs. van Daan’s constant grumbling and Mr. Dussel's hypocritical demands for silence. She notes a rise in her diplomacy skills since living in the annex. Mr. Kugler entrusts them with filling gravy packets, a task Anne considers fit for prisoners. She pens her thoughts about the horrifying occurrences outside the annex - Jews forcefully separated from their families, and non-Jewish kids scavenging for food. She believes everyone, regardless of faith, wishes for the war to end. Despite the turmoil, Anne feels they are somewhat fortunate compared to those outside. Still, she is continuously reprimanded, deemed "exasperating," leading her to wish for a more pleasing personality. The annex's anxiety level rises as they expect the war's end. Anne, terrified by the sound of gunfire, seeks comfort in her father’s bed. One night, Peter suffers a rat bite. Mr. Frank insists Mr. Dussel stop writing letters to outsiders. They experience another fright when they suspect burglars, followed by the stressful silence of a stopped clock. The news that all Jews will be deported from Utrecht and other Dutch provinces by July adds to their stress. Mr. Dussel receives a birthday package from his wife but refuses to share his generous personal food supply. Anne predicts they will marvel at how they survived such harsh conditions. Mr. van Daan anticipates the war ending in 1943. On Anne's fourteenth birthday, her father gifts her a poem, which Margot translates into Dutch.
june 15 1943 – november 11 1943
Mr. Voskuijl is found to have cancer, and his days are numbered. Anne stops learning shorthand due to her worsening eyesight, but she can't get glasses. The group mulls over sending her to an eye doctor, but hope for the war's end dims this thought as Mr. Frank hears about the British landing in Sicily. Saturdays are Anne's favorite because Bep brings library books. A clash between Anne and Mr. Dussel about using the table for afternoon studies leads to Mr. Frank's intervention, granting Anne table access twice a week. A burglary at the office results in the loss of cash and sugar ration coupons. Anne writes about her aspirations after leaving the annex, with school being her priority. Amsterdam faces bombings and air-raid sirens, instilling fear in the annex dwellers. However, Anne stays courageous. They hear about Mussolini's overthrow on the radio, which they later have to relinquish, angering Mr. Dussel. Anne shares the annex's irregular daily routine humorously and critiques the other inhabitants. Anne gets new shoes, while Mr. Dussel almost stirs trouble by asking for a prohibited book. Italy's surrender is marred by Mr. Kleiman's need for a critical stomach operation, and the suspicious Mr. van Maaren makes Anne nervous. She's medicating for depression daily. Bep's fatigue with constant errands and the prevalent abruptness in the annex leave Anne feeling like a crippled bird yearning for freedom. Margot plans a Latin correspondence course, but Anne finds it too tough. Mr. Frank secures a children's Bible for Anne to study the New Testament. Miep's envy of the annex's peace and quiet contrasts with Anne's fear of discovery, which she likens to a tiny expanse of blue sky amidst stormy clouds. Anne pens a tribute to her fountain pen of many years, accidentally destroyed in the stove. She finds solace in the fact that it was reduced to ashes, just as she wishes to be when her time comes.
november 17 1943 – january 28 1944
Bep has to avoid the annex for over a month due to a diphtheria outbreak at her home. Margot continues her Latin course under Bep’s identity. Mr. Dussel has a disagreement with Mrs. van Daan about having a dinner to celebrate his first year at the annex, and it's clear to Anne that he never expressed gratitude for their hospitality. Anne has a recurring dream about Hanneli, invoking feelings of guilt and regret for her past behavior and the realization of her comparative safety. St. Nicholas Day is celebrated again in the annex, with Anne and her father exchanging verses placed in shoes. Anne falls ill with the flu, leading to an array of suggested treatments. With the war stalling, the holiday season is gloomy despite gift exchanges. Anne acknowledges her fortunate circumstances compared to other Jewish children but has bouts of envy towards Mrs. Kleiman’s children who enjoy the freedom that her family is denied. Anne's dreams continue to feature Hanneli and now her grandmother, leading her to ponder Hanneli's fate. Upon revisiting her diary, she realizes her previous harsh view of her mother and believes she has matured since then. She identifies as an adolescent and refers to her menstruation as a “sweet secret.” She reveals her admiration for the female form and her longing for female companionship. This leads her to confide in Peter van Daan and reminisce about her intense feelings for a former friend, Peter Schiff. Engaging in a frank conversation with Peter, Anne discusses cat's genitalia and reveals her knowledge of the female body but her ignorance about the male counterpart. Peter promises to seek information from his parents. Anne appreciates their open dialogue about such topics.
january 28 1944 – march 11 1944
Anne is increasingly weary of life in the annex and the repeated stories the adults share about Jews in hiding. She admires the Dutch citizens risking their lives to protect Jewish people. A particular night has her feeling alone and unsupported, a fear that dissipates as she gazes at the sky and finds solace in faith. Her wish for solitude conflicts with an unsettling premonition of loneliness. A new dynamic arises between Anne and Peter, who reveals his nervousness around people and past tendencies to resort to physical violence. They converse further on Margot's birthday, discussing war and Peter's regret at being Jewish. Despite not wanting to convert to Christianity, Peter discloses his intention to hide his Jewish identity post-war. This information disheartens Anne, who hopes for a positive shift in Jewish people's fate. Anne's visits to Peter become a source of joy, improving her overall mood. She clarifies, however, that she is not in love. Her mother does not approve of these visits. Anne's thoughts soon become occupied by Peter, merging her current companion with memories of Peter Schiff. The delight of their companionship is marred by another burglary, alarming given the intruder's possession of a duplicate key. Expounding on love, Anne shares her belief in the progression from emotional to physical love, seeing it as a natural process that doesn't threaten her purity. She senses the protective presence of her departed grandmother. Anne endures teasing from Mrs. van Daan about Peter while introspecting about her pre-annex life, acknowledging her superficiality then. She concedes that her carefree schoolgirl days are irretrievably lost but doesn't mourn them. Anne retrospectively analyzes her time in the annex, identifying phases of her evolving maturity. The shift from a cheerful life to a conflict-ridden one in 1942 made her defiant. A year later she was melancholic and critical of herself, but also growing into adolescence and acquiring a deeper understanding of her family and the annex inhabitants. In 1944, she discerns her desire for a male companion and experiences a maturing sense of self. But the arrest of a benefactor and an unexpected knock on the neighboring wall reignites fears among the annex residents.
march 14 1944 – april 11 1944
Their food coupon providers get arrested, leaving the annex residents with grim black-market ration books and unpleasant food. Miep falls ill with flu and can't see a doctor. Anne, sharing a room with Mr. Dussel, feels more restless than Peter. Both Anne and Margot are increasingly frustrated with their parents. Anne feels they lack openness about sexual matters. She and Margot exchange letters, where Margot admits a slight envy of Anne's relationship with Peter, wishing for a confidante. Anne enjoys her bond with Peter but can't imagine marrying him. Anne approaches Peter about sex, convinced he's knowledgeable. Later, speaking with Margot in the bathroom, Peter overhears and mistakenly thinks Anne was mocking him. Anne rebuffs this and expresses her desire to discuss female anatomy with Peter. She describes her own body in her diary. Mrs. Frank, in response to Mrs. van Daan's jealousy, bars Anne from visiting Peter. Peter invites Margot to join them upstairs. They listen to a radio broadcast at the end of March where a Dutch government exile suggests collecting diaries and letters post-war. Anne considers the possibility of her diary being part of this and imagines publishing a story about the annex. She continues to write stories and discuss her interests, like genealogy and mythology, in her diary. Food shortages worsen, leaving no vegetables. A break-in occurs during a conversation between Anne and Peter. Mr. van Daan shouts “Police!” to scare the intruders, but they hear the patter of retreating footsteps. They see a flashlight beam peeking through the wall crack and fear the Gestapo's arrival. They lie motionless, hearing footsteps and the rattle of the bookcase concealing the annex entrance. The sounds cease, but the light in front of the bookcase stays on. Mrs. van Daan frets about the police discovering their radio; Otto Frank fears they will find Anne's diary. Anne asserts, “If my diary goes, I go too.” After an agonizing wait, they find it's only Jan and Miep at the door, not the police. Anne philosophizes about the Jews being singled out for extermination and resolves to become a Dutch citizen post-war, due to her love for the nation and its people. She aspires to make her voice heard, writing, “If God lets me live…”
april 14 1944 – august 1 1944
The occupants of the annex are on edge following the break-in, their apprehension deepened by Peter's mistake of leaving the front door locked, forcing Mr. Kugler to shatter the window for access. They are also rattled due to relentless air-raid attacks on the city, the bombing of The Hague's Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages leading to the necessity of new ration cards. Anne receives her inaugural kiss on April 15, 1944, from Peter. Although it was only "half on [her] left cheek, half on [her] ear", it makes Anne feel mature beyond her years. She struggles to envision liberation with the war prolonging. Anne converses with Peter about female anatomy, a topic she has hoped to discuss with him, and dreams of getting a fairy-tale she wrote published in a periodical. She notes down her scholastic progress and her family's war-era potato kugel recipe in her diary. She contemplates telling her father about her relationship with Peter and is met with resistance when she does. Mr. Frank cautions her against annex romance and advises her to be the one to exercise restraint. The war's purpose perplexes Anne. She rues that resources are wasted on warfare instead of allocating them for medicine, supporting the less fortunate, and promoting the arts. She opines that unless a fundamental transformation in human nature occurs, propensity for violence will continue to breed wars and havoc. Anne confesses that despite being "young and strong and living through a big adventure", her frequent visits to Peter lead to her father's distress. A heartfelt letter she pens to her father to explain her actions causes him sorrow, prompting Anne to strive for self-improvement. Anne records her family's history in her diary and aspires to become a renowned journalist and writer. Mr. Frank loses a bet against Mrs. van Daan about the war's duration and owes her five jars of yogurt. Anne is dispirited when she learns about rising anti-Semitism among the Dutch, leading her to question whether a swift death would have been preferable over hiding. She overcomes her despair by acknowledging their love for life. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, the BBC reports the commencement of the Allied invasion of France, instilling hope in the annex dwellers. Anne's spirits lift and she ponders gender equality and her love for nature. By the close of July, she reflects on an assassination attempt on Hitler as a potential sign of the Germans desiring to end the war. On August 1, 1944, Anne delves into self-analysis and wonders whether she could transform into the person she yearns to be "if only there were no other people in the world". Anne's diary abruptly concludes here.
