Anne Frank Question..

[abhishek_cs27]

How would one compare Anne Frank to the modern teen?:yawnb: :alien:

[Charles Darnay]

you don't

[rabid reader]

.....was anne frank in animal farm?

[The Atheist]

How would one compare Anne Frank to the modern teen?:yawnb: :alien:

Clearly, the difference would be staggering.

Anne grew up with the shadow of Fascism and anti-Semitism hanging over her, followed by a prolonged period of hiding. No friends to speak of, living a solitary, fearful existence. Hopes and dreams were all she had, while teenagers nowadays - in OECD countries, at least - have security, money, freedom, sex and instant communication worldwide.

You should probably have posted the question in General, but I know the story well and have teenage kids myself, so happy to answer.

[bazarov]

.....was anne frank in animal farm?

Indeed...
I mostly agree with The Atheist but let's not forget difference in moral values in '45 and today, no matter of freedom.
To me, the main difference how she, in those relatively young ages(although everyone grows fast in time of war); realized what is everything she's missing and modern teens even don't realize what do they have.

[Logos]

.....was anne frank in animal farm? :p

Mod Note: moved from the Animal Farm discussion forum.

[EAP]

Do your own homework.

[The Atheist]

To me, the main difference how she, in those relatively young ages(although everyone grows fast in time of war); realized what is everything she's missing and modern teens even don't realize what do they have.

Bravo, magnificently put.

[kiz_paws]

Anne Frank was just like the modern teen in the sense that she still had a sense of humor, she still had her hopes and dreams and she still had her ups and downs with her family in such close proximity. She still had an active imagination (she wrote beautiful stuff despite what was going on around her, I am referring to her fairy tales). Her character, portrayed by the journal entries, marked to me that she was very much like any other teenager growing up, in thought processes.

Sadly there was no tomorrow for this teen, who lived in a cramped secret place, her very exisitence a thread by which the home owners delicately looked after.

Anyhow, The Diary of Anne Frank should be a must-read, and 'today's teen' could appreciate more fully their own life by reading the book (I am kind of echoing the sentiment of bazarov, I believe). :)

[Granny5]

When I first read the book as a young teen (about a hundred years ago), I thought that she was just like me in her hopes and dreams and the problems she had with her parents and young men and her feelings. Both my daughters read it as young teens and felt the same way. I think she is still like young women today. Just a young woman trying to grow up. The readers may be younger, but Anne speaks with the same voice.

[abhishek_cs27]

Thank you soo much...!! u guys are awesome!

Oya and sry about putting it in the animal farm section..lloll

[Rolls_Rave]

In my opinion Anne Frank was a girl like each other. She did similar things like other girls do at the age of 13. She adored film stars. If she would live today she would adore boy groups or also famous film stars. She liked wearing or trying on pretty clothes and shoes, she imganines how the first kiss would be. She had her dreams to become a famous actress or writer. All these things girls like even today.

[FalseReality]

What struck me from reading her diary was how much of a typical teenager she was. Her teachers complained about how much she talked and gossiped, she gave her diary the very innocent name of kitty, she wrote much about boyfriends and the boys that showed their interest in her, she was sometimes jealous of her sister--who was the favorite--, she mad her mother cry, in the center of a war her thoughts and complaints were sometimes petty, she hated Mrs. van Dann and many of the people she shared the secret annex thought she was spoiled and ill-mannered.

Before reading the diary I thought of her as the stalwart, the child of war, but I soon found out that though she was incredibly intelligent, and an amazing writer for fifteen, she was still only fifteen.

[Rolls_Rave]

Before reading the diary I thought of her as the stalwart, the child of war, but I soon found out that though she was incredibly intelligent, and an amazing writer for fifteen, she was still only fifteen.´

And when she started writing she was only thirteen! I have the BBC-version of the Movie "The Diary of Anne Frank" on DVD. It also contains an interview with her cousin. He said he was very fascinated after reading her diary. If he had not known that Anne was between 13 and 15 years he would have thought that this diary was written by an adult.

[kiki1982]

Like Darnay said, you don't.

Clearly there is a difference in morals between the 1940s and now, but that did not occur to me when I was reading that diary. She is also Jewish and I am not. I did not notice.

And apart from the occasional mention of 'the war', you'd swear there wasn't one going on. At least not in the beginning. She occasionlly metions the restrictive measures against Jews (no swimming, no going into certain shops)and th fact that she was afraid to do something that was not alowed, but I don't think she realised where it was going. I do have the impression, that as she got older, she realised in what danger she was. Much as her elder sister Margot who was summoned by the Germans, and because of whose hiding they went into hiding just at that time prior to the house being finished in the first place, she realises when she has the same age what would actually be her lot if she were to get discovered. The girl of 13 just lives her life. War, what is that?

Other than that, I do not think there is an actual difference.

I once saw a book as to what 'really happened' in that house. Apparently her description of things (her dislike of Dussel, the dentist) was not really what happened. As she was a hormonal teenager, her vision was warped a little as it seems. They had analysed the letters Dussel wrote to his (non-Jewish) fiancée. Interesting. I believe they used some of that in the BBC-series, because Anne and Dussel's conficts were severely toned down. From a reader's point of view, Dussel was a pillock, but not as it seems. He turned out to be a sportsman who was locked up (poor man) and exceedingly missed his fiancée and son from a first marriage he had sent off to England or America. Anne could not comprehend that obviously and comments on him crying like a baby because he had to give up the room at some point...

[Lynne Fees]

´

And when she started writing she was only thirteen! I have the BBC-version of the Movie "The Diary of Anne Frank" on DVD. It also contains an interview with her cousin. He said he was very fascinated after reading her diary. If he had not known that Anne was between 13 and 15 years he would have thought that this diary was written by an adult.

It truly made me appreciate what I had. The abundance of TV time has made today's teens more jaded, and I think it takes a lot more to move them. I just watched "Blood Diamond" with my 20-year-old; he was very moved by it. I told him it's sad today's teen can't read and feel - he or she has to be bludgeoned by cruelty and sadness visually instead.

[Pecksie]

What's the yawn supposed to mean? That you find the subject boring, and consequently want someone to do your work for you?

I'd say do your own homework, but 1) someone already said it (thanks!), and 2) there are plenty of people who seem happy enough to do students' thinking for them. I think we should help these people approach the issues without giving them the answers.

Sorry if I sound like my Dad :)

[kiki1982]

No, that is actually very right what you say. But, on the other hand it is a stupid question. I would have found it that if I were that age, I then found those questions stupid too... I thought there was many more interesting things to think about than such read-made questions...

But anyway, were there not different opinions as to the answer to that particular question within this thread? So, it could pan out to a very nuanced answer, actually using these answers...