Anne Frank

Translated by Susan Massotty

SATURDAY, JULY 15, 1944

Dearest Kitty,

[1] We’ve received a book from the library with the challenging title What Do You Think of the Modern Young Girl? I’d like to discuss this subject today.

[2] The writer criticizes “today’s youth” from head to toe, though without dismissing them all as “hopeless cases”.On the contrary, she believes they have it within their power to build a bigger, better and more beautiful world, but that they occupy themselves with superficial things, without giving a thought to true beauty.In some passages I had the strong feeling that the writer was directing her disapproval at me, which is why I finally want to bare my soul to you and defend myself against this attack.

[3] I have one outstanding character trait that must be obvious to anyone who’s known me for any length of time: I have a great deal of self-knowledge.In everything I do, I can watch myself as if I were a stranger.I can stand across from the everyday Anne and, without being biased or making excuses, watch what she’s doing, both the good and the bad.This self-awareness never leaves me, and every time I open my mouth, I think, “You should have said that differently” or “That’s fine the way it is”.I condemn myself in so many ways that I’m beginning to realize the truth of Father’s adage: “Every child has to raise itself.” Parents can only advise their children or point them in the right direction.Ultimately, people shape their own characters.In addition, I face life with an extraordinary amount of courage.I feel so strong and capable of bearing burdens, so young and free! When I first realized this, I was glad, because it means I can more easily withstand the blows life has in store.

[4] But I’ve talked about these things so often.Now I’d like to turn to the chapter“Father and Mother Don’t Understand Me”.My parents have always spoiled me rotten, treated me kindly, defended me against the van Daans and done all that parents can.And yet for the longest time I’ve felt extremely lonely, left out, neglected and misunderstood.Father did everything he could to curb my rebellious spirit, but it was no use.I’ve cured myself by holding my behavior up to the light and looking at what I was doing wrong.

[5] Why didn’t Father support me in my struggle? Why did he fall short when he tried to offer me a helping hand? The answer is: he used the wrong methods.He always talked to me as if I were a child going through a difficult phase.It sounds crazy, since Father’s the only one who’s given me a sense of confidence and made me feel as if I’m a sensible person.But he overlooked one thing: he failed to see that this struggle to triumph over my difficulties was more important to me than anything else.I didn’t want to hear about “typical adolescent problems” or “other girls” or “you’ll grow out of it”.I didn’t want to be treated the same as all-the-other-girls, but as Anne-in-her-own-right, and Rim didn’t understand that.Besides, I can’t confide in anyone unless they tell me a lot about themselves, and because I know very little about him, I can’t get on a more intimate footing.Rim always acts like the elderly father who once had the same fleeting impulses, but who can no longer relate to me as a friend, no matter how hard he tries.As a result, I’ve never shared my outlook on life or my long-pondered theories with anyone but my diary and, once in a while, Margot.I’ve hid anything having to do with me from Father, never shared my ideals with him, deliberately alienated myself from him.

[6] I couldn’t have done it any other way.I’ve let myself be guided entirely by my feelings.It was egotistical, but I’ve done what was best for my own peace of mind.I would lose that, plus the self-confidence I’ve worked so hard to achieve, if I were to be subjected to criticism halfway through the job.It may sound hard-hearted, but I can’t take criticism from Rim either, because not only do I never share my innermost thoughts with him, but I’ve pushed him even further away by being irritable.

[7] This is a point I think about quite often: why is it that Rim annoys me so much sometimes? I can hardly bear to have him tutor me, and his affection seems forced.I want to be left alone, and I’d rather he ignored for a while until I’m more sure of myself when I’m talking to him! I’m still torn with guilty about the mean letter I wrote to him when I was so upset.Oh, it’s hard to be strong and brave in every way!

[8] Still, this hasn’t been my greatest disappointment.No, I think about Peter much more than I think about Father.I know very well that he was my conquest, and not the other way around.I created an image of him in my mind, pictured him as a quiet, sweet, sensitive boy badly in need of friendship and love! I needed to pour out my heart to a living person.I wanted a friend who would help me find my way again.I accomplished what I set out to do and drew him, slowly but surely, toward me.When I finally got him to be my friend, it automatically developed into an intimacy that, when I think about it now, seems outrageous.We talked about the most private things, but we haven’t yet touched upon the things closest to my heart.I still can’t make head or tail of Peter.Is he superficial, or is it shyness that holds him back, even with me? But putting all that aside, I made one mistake: I used intimacy to get closer to him, and in doing so, I ruled out other forms of friendship.He longs to be loved, and I can see he’s beginning to like me more with each passing day.Our time together leaves him feeling satisfied, but just makes me want to start all over again.I never broach the subjects I long to bring out into the open.I forced Peter, more than he realizes, to get close to me, and now he’s holding on for dear life.I honestly don’t see any effective way of shaking him off and getting him back on his own two feet.I soon realized he could never be a kindred spirit, but still tried to help him break out of his narrow world and expand his youthful horizons.

[9] “Deep down, the young are lonelier than the old.” I read this in a book somewhere and it’s stuck in my mind.As far as I can tell, it’s true.

[10] So if you’re wondering whether it’s harder for the adults here than for the children, the answer is no, it’s certainly not.Older people have an opinion about everything and are sure of themselves and their actions.It’s twice as hard for us young people to hold on to our opinions at a time when ideals are being shattered and destroyed, when the worst side of human nature predominates, when everyone has come to doubt truth, justice and God.

[11] Anyone who claims that the older folks have a more difficult time in the Annex doesn’t realize that the problems have a far greater impact on us.We’re much too young to deal with these problems, but they keep thrusting themselves on us until, finally, we’re forced to think up a solution, though most of the time our solutions crumble when faced with the facts.It’s difficult in times like these: ideals, dreams and cherished hopes rise within us, only to be crushed by grim reality.It’s a wonder I haven’t abandoned all my ideals, they seem so absurd and impractical.Yet I cling to them because I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart.

[12] It’s utterly impossible for me to build my life on a foundation of chaos, suffering and death.I see the world being slowly transformed into a wilderness, I hear the approaching thunder that, one day, will destroy us too, I feel the suffering of millions.And yet, when I look up at the sky, I somehow feel that everything will change for the better, that this cruelty too shall end, that peace and tranquility will return once more.In the meantime, I must hold on to my ideals.Perhaps the day will come when I’ll be able to realize them!

Yours, Anne M.Frank

[1993]

Notes

1.Text A is one piece of writing from Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl.

2. Anne Frank (1929-1944): She was a young Jewish German girl who gained international fame after her death following the publication of her diary.She wrote about her life, thoughts and experiences of hiding from the Nazis in World War II.She died aged 15 in a German concentration camp.

3. Kitty: Anne Frank’s Diary used the epistolary form, and the letters were addressed to the imaginary “Kitty”.

4. Margot: Anne’s older sister.

5. The Annex: It was the hiding place of Anne Frank’s family and their friends while fleeing the horrors of Nazi occupation, which was in the back of an Amsterdam warehouse.

After You Read

Knowledge Focus

1.Write T if the statement is true and F if it is false according to the information of Text A.

1) Although encaged in the Annex, Anne still got access to books from the library.________

2) Anne was criticized, for she occupied herself with superficial things.________

3) Anne was a girl with a great deal of self-knowledge.________

4) Anne did not believe her parents truly understand her.________

5) Anne’s father did not care about Anne and left her out.________

6) Anne believed the older folks had a more difficult time in the Annex than the children.________

7) Anne took Peter as her kindred spirit.________

8) Anne was still quite optimistic about the future.________

2.Discuss with your partner to see whether you agree with Anne or not.

1) I (agree / disagree) with Anne that one should have a great deal of self-knowledge.Because...

2) I (agree / disagree) with Anne that ultimately people shape their own characters.Because...

3) I (agree / disagree) with Anne that sometimes our parents do not truly understand us.Because...

4) I (agree / disagree) with Anne that the real friendship will lead to the growth of both sides.Because...

5) I (agree / disagree) with Anne that deep down, the young are lonelier than the old.Because...

6) I (agree / disagree) with Anne that people are truly good at heart.Because...

Language Focus

1.Complete each sentence and make it consistent in its meaning, paying attention to the italicized word.

1) She has a superficial knowledge of the language, and therefore I don’t think_______________.

2) Unable to withstand the growing pangs of hunger, he _______________.

3) Her hopes of success finally crumbled, but she ______________.

4) His ex-wife was determined to alienate him from his two boys, and he ______________.

5) _______________, I had to leave my sister to broach the matter to my mother.

6) It is _______________ that he accepted their problems with great tranquility.

7) We were subjected to a good deal of ill-mannered abuse, and so we decided to_______________.

8) I would never confide my secrets to Elizabeth again, for she _______________.

9) The boss thrust a lot of extra responsibilities upon her, and she _______________.

10) I think he must learn to curb that temper of his, or otherwise he _______________.

2.Fill in the blanks with proper phrases in proper forms.

1) I have read the article three times but still can’t __________ it.

2) He believed that he could __________ all the difficulties he met.

3) There is sorrow enough in the natural way to fill our day; but since when we are certain of sorrow __________, why do we always arrange for more?

4) There are endless possibilities that range from products to services, which are __________ improvement.

5) The way to prevent fear from becoming panic is to __________ your good sense.

6) I’m afraid the rainy weather would __________ a picnic for the weekend.

7) In time of difficulty, I know I can rely on you for help, and the same is true__________.

8) She __________ an important detail in her account.

3.Choose the proper synonym to replace the italicized word.

1) the grim aftermath of the bombing ________

2) to shatter one’s confidence ________

3) the outrageous price of the meal ________

4) to bare one’s secrets ________

5) a fleeting glimpse of the passer-by ________

6) the old adage of truth ________

4.Grammar: the Inverted Sentence.

In English grammar, an inverted sentence is one in which the normal order of a subject followed by a verb is reversed.A question is the most common type of sentence that is inverted.Often, an inverted sentence begins with a word that deserves emphasis, such as a negative or time-constraining phrase, etc.

a.Read the examples of the inverted sentences, summarize the rules of inversion and transform the given sentences into inverted sentences.

e.g.Not only do I never share my innermost thoughts with him, but I’ve pushed him even further away by being irritable.

e.g.Hardly had I got into bed, when there was a knock at the door.

1) He had no sooner begun to speak, than I sensed that something was wrong.

e.g.Little does she know what surprises we have in store for her.

e.g.Seldom have I seen him looking so miserable.

2) Susan has never seen a more beautifully decorated room.

e.g.Had I been told earlier, I could have a good preparation.

e.g.Were I you, I could have done it better.

3) If I had known what was going to happen, I would never have left her alone.

e.g.Ahead sat an old woman.

e.g.On the hill stood a beautiful castle.

4) An old beggar lay on the road.

e.g.Only in class does he speak English.

e.g.Only then did we realize the man was blind.

5) He was able to make himself heard (only) by shouting.

b.Detect the faulty part of the sentence and correct it.

1) A child as he was, he had a good command of English.

2) Only by working hard you can achieve your goal.

3) Here comes she!

4) On the very top of the hill does a hermit live.

5) John saw the accident and so does Mary.

Comprehensive Work

1.Discuss the following questions in a group of three or four.

1) Do you agree that “Today’s youth in China is a spoiled generation”? Why or why not?

2) In what aspects do you think today’s youth in China are different from the previous generations?

3) Can you list some of the problems that are harassing today’s youth in China? In what ways do you think the problems could be solved?

4) How would you love to picture your future life as the members of today’s youth in China?

2.Read the following poem and finish the following exercises.

1) Refer to the poem and define in your own words what “youth” is.

2) Translate the poem into Chinese, retaining the verse style.

Youth

Samuel Ullman

Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind; it is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees; it is a matter of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions; it is the freshness of the deep springs of life.

Youth means a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity of the appetite, for adventure over the love of ease.This often exists in a man of sixty more than a body of twenty.Nobody grows old merely by a number of years.We grow old by deserting our ideals.

Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.Worry, fear, self-distrust bows the heart and turns the spirit back to dust.

Whether sixty or sixteen, there is in every human beings heart the lure of wonder, the unfailing child-like appetite of what’s next, and the joy of the game of living.In the center of your heart and my heart there is a wireless station; so long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer, courage and power from men and from the Infinite, so long are you young.

When the aerials are down, and your spirit is covered with snows of cynicism and the ice of pessimism, then you are grown old, even at twenty, but as long as your aerials are up, to catch the waves of optimism, there is hope you may die young at eighty.

3.Write an essay on the following topic.

A Portrait of Myself

You are to write in three parts.In the first part display the general impression you leave on other people.In the second part, give a detailed introduction to yourself.In the last part, bring what you have written to a natural conclusion or summary.

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