Learning Log 15

Date: 2/19-20

Part: Page316-Afterword

Reflection:

“My blood runs cold when Peter talks about becoming a criminal.” It was approaching the end of Anne’s diary; she had no idea that the eight of the Annex family would be arrested. In the novel, how they had suffered after being found was not told.

Learning Log 14

Date: 2/17-18

Part: Page295-316

Reflection:

Even though the Annex Residents were in hiding, they didn’t miss any festival, anniversary, and birthday. I think it’s the way that they made themselves feel better and happier. They were stuck in the Annex like jailbirds, so they had to find some way to amuse themselves with. Otherwise, the atmosphere there would grow deathly still. Also, I think that they wanted to live ordinarily just like the other people outside. For this reason, they even took classes during the hiding time. Thus it can be seen that they indeed yearned for getting back to normal life after the war. 

Learning Log 13

Date: 2/15-16

Part: Page273-295

Reflection:

Anne was curious about sex. She wrote a lot of things about this subject in her diary. She even narrated baldly about how female sexual organ looked like. First, she raised the concern why her parents were unwilling to talk and teach them about sex. I can answer for their parents, “Because of conservative thoughts.” It is a common phenomenon in Taiwan; my parents also talk nothing about sex to me. Second, since she couldn’t get the answer from parents, she went for Peter. But this time, there was a slight embarrassed. 

Learning Log 12

Date: 2/13-14

Part: Page249-273

Reflection:

From the beginning till now, Anne was always pretend to be brave and confident. However, she cried so often in the night to herself since they had moved into the Secret Annex. She didn’t even dare to cry in front of all the other (except her father), because she was afraid that they would tease that she was childish and weak. Because her self-respect didn’t allow her to concede, she put on a false mask on her face. How could the adults treat Anne like that? I feel awful that an innocent girl had changed into a girl who believed no one. Now her only comfort she had was Peter, whom she talked everything (Mother, Father, and Margot) to. 

Learning Log 11

Date: 2/11-12

Part: Page231-249

Reflection:

“I firmly believe that nature can bring comfort to all who suffer.” Recently, Anne liked to go upstairs to the attic, because she could not only take a long, deep look at God and nature outside through the window, but also Peter was there. The only window without curtains was right in the loft. Anne simply stood or sat beside the window, and looked intently at the luxuriant green trees and the spotless white shy. Anne’s long for going outside grew fast, but she could only stand by the window and imagine there was fresh leaking in to the Annex. 

Learning Log 10

Date: 2/9-10

Part: Page208-231

Reflection:

Anne once wrote, “I take a leisurely look at the person called ‘Anne Frank’ and browse through the pages of her life as though she were a stranger.” I think she was trying to objectively examine herself by this way. There’s a saying: “No one is wise in his own affairs.” It is always easier to see things clear as a bystander. Instead of acting like Anne, I love to put myself in the protagonists’ shoe. Whenever I read a novel or watch a film, I always feel the same as those protagonists feel. I realize the innermost of Anne by this way. Outwardly, Anne and I are doing two exactly different things; nevertheless, we are actually doing the same thing: being another person. 

Learning Log 9

Date: 2/7-8

Part: Page186-208

Reflection:

A year and a half had passed, Anne could no more satisfy with such condition. “My longing for someone to talk to has become so unbearable that I somehow took it into my head to select Peter for this role.” Why did she say that? Anne could share whatever in her head with her dearest Kitty; however, the only problem was that Kitty couldn’t reply her. I had once kept a diary like the way Anne did, but the only thing I can feel was “I’m soliloquizing.” I think what Anne really needed was to talk to a living person who could give her response or suggestions. Obviously, it was unlikely for her to choose her parents or Margot, because they just had a fight. So, there was only Peter, whom Anne once thought he was a dope, left. Yet, Anne still felt wronged, “No one could hear me…I had to beg Peter for favors.” You never know what a woman thinks, because woman is capricious. 

Learning Log 8

Date: 2/5-6

Part: Page 155-186

Reflection:

In about one month, Anne occasionally dreamed of her grandma and her best friend, Hanneli. She must miss them very much. War always brought about breakups and deaths. “Thinking about the suffering of those you hold dear can reduce you to tears.” Anne was worried about Hanneli, and she could do nothing but pray for God to perform a miracle on her girlfriend. Actually, Hanneli to Anne was a symbol of the Jews; the entire Jews who were suffering outside. 

Learning Log 7

Date: 2/3-4

Part: Page137-155

Reflection:

Recently, there was some good news from the broadcast, but relationships there in the Annex was getting worse. Mr. and Mrs. Van Daan had more battles because Mr. Van Daan lost his wallet at the warehouse; and they were broke. The incidence of air raids increased. What’s worse was that their friend Mr. Kleiman was terminally ill. “We’ve almost forgotten how to laugh…Let me out, where there’s fresh air and laughter.” 

Learning Log 6

Date: 2/1-2

Part: Page106-137

Reflection:

There was another small interlude between Anne and her mother. One night, Anne’s father was too busy to listen to her prayers, so he sent Anne’s mother to do it. However, when her mother asked for Anne’s permission, she simply rejected; so Mother cried. Everyone asked Anne to apologize, but she refused. I am surprised by the reason why Anne refused to say sorry. “I seem to be indifferent to Mother’s tears and Father’s glances, and I am, because both of them are now feeling what I’ve always felt.” She wanted both her parents to feel what she had felt when Mother treated her bad. I think this kind of behavior is called “An eye for an eye.” Only the reason why Anne did so was not for retaliating. She merely hoped her parents could understand her true heart. 

Learning Log 5

Date: 1/30-31

Part: Page78-106

Reflection:

Today I read nearly seven months of Anne’s diary, and Anne had her first birthday celebration in the Secret Annex. Hiding in a hermetical place was boring. Things Anne did in her pastime were reading books, chatting or arguing with other members, and observing people outside (peeking through the curtains) and the other seven people inside; I think the last item is the most interesting, and Anne really did well at describing what she saw. Provided she was a novelist, she must be a fantastic one. I like to observe people as well, especially on the train. I can see men from all walks of life and analyze them on the quiet. That’s really a lot of fun for me while traveling. The only a fly in the ointment is that I’m bad at writing it down. Anne could always give a vivid description, and I should take her as a model.