CBSE Class 10 English NCERT Solutions: From the Diary of Anne Frank

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NCERT Solutions PDF Class 10 PDF

CBSE Class 10 English, Chapter 4, "From the Diary of Anne Frank," offers a deep dive into Anne's personal narrative. This chapter explores the significance of diary writing, differentiating it from journals, logs, and memoirs. Students will engage with Anne's reflections on her life, her decision to confide in her diary, and her feelings about people versus paper. The solutions also highlight her family context and her cherished memories of her grandmother. The aim is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of Anne's experiences and the literary aspects of her diary, aiding in their preparation for exams with clear, insightful explanations.

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BoardCBSE
ClassClass 10
SubjectEnglish
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
Chapter4. From the Diary of Anne Frank

Chapter summary

This chapter's NCERT Solutions focus on understanding the concept of a diary and its distinction from other forms of personal records like journals, logs, and memoirs. It explores Anne Frank's motivations for writing a diary, her feelings about it being a confidante, and the context of her life she provides for the reader. The solutions also highlight her emotional connection to her grandmother, offering insights into the chapter's narrative and themes.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the differences between a diary, journal, log, and memoir.
  • Analyze Anne Frank's reasons for keeping a diary.
  • Explain Anne's perspective on confiding in her diary versus people.
  • Identify details about Anne Frank's life and family from the text.
  • Recognize Anne's affection for her grandmother.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • Diary Writing
  • Journal vs. Diary
  • Log Entries
  • Memoirs
  • Anne Frank's Experiences
  • Confiding in a Diary
  • Personal Reflections
  • Family Relationships
  • Grandmother's Influence
  • Character Analysis

Important topics

  • Distinguishing Diary, Journal, Log, Memoir
  • Anne's Reasons for Diary Writing
  • Paper vs. People as Confidantes
  • Anne's Personal Background
  • Emotional Connections in the Diary

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Questions and Solutions

Question 1

Do you keep a diary? Given below under A are some terms we use to describe a written record of personal experience. Can you match them with their descriptions under 'B'? (You may look up the terms in a dictionary if you wish.)

A B

  1. Journal
  2. Diary
  3. Log
  4. Memoir(s)
Solution:

Here is the matching of the terms with their correct descriptions:

  1. Journal - A full record of a journey, a period of time or an event, written every day
  2. Diary - A book with a separate space or page for each day, in which you write down your thoughts and feelings or what has happened on that day
  3. Log - A written record of events with times and dates, usually official
  4. Memoir(s) - A record of a person's own life and experiences (usually, a famous person)

Question 2

Here are some entries from personal records. Use the definitions above to decide which of the entries might be from a diary, a journal, a log or a memoir.
  1. I woke up very late today and promptly got a scolding from Mum! I can't help it — how can I miss the FIFA World Cup matches?
  2. 10:30 a.m. Went to the office of the Director 01:00 p.m. Had lunch with Chairman 05:45 p.m. Received Rahul at the airport 09:30 p.m. Dinner at home
  3. The ride to Ooty was uneventful. We rested for a while every 50 km or so and used the time to capture the magnificent landscape with my HandyCam From Ooty we went on to Bangalore. What a contrast! The noise and pollution of this once-beautiful city really broke my heart.
  4. This is how Raj Kapoor found me – all wet and ragged outside RK Studios. He was then looking for just someone like this for a small role in 'Mera Naam Joker and he cast me on the spot. The rest, as they say, is history.
Solution:

Based on the definitions provided in Question 1, the entries can be classified as follows:

  1. Diary - This entry expresses personal feelings and a specific daily event (missing matches due to waking up late), typical of a diary.
  2. Log - This entry lists activities with precise times, characteristic of a logbook recording official or scheduled events.
  3. Journal - This entry describes a journey, including travel details and observations about places, fitting the description of a journal.
  4. Memoir - This entry recounts a significant personal experience related to a career event (being discovered for a film), which is typical of a memoir.

Question 3

What makes writing in a diary a strange experience for Anne Frank?
Solution:

Writing in a diary was a strange experience for Anne Frank primarily because she had never owned or written in one before. Receiving it as a gift on her 13th birthday marked the beginning of this new practice. She found it unusual but also embraced it as a way to express herself, eventually considering it her best friend.

Question 4

Why does Anne want to keep a diary?
Solution:

Anne wants to keep a diary because she often feels lonely and distressed. She sees the diary as a confidante, a true friend where she can pour out her burdens and pains. She feels she has very few people in her life whom she can truly confide in, making the diary a necessary outlet for her emotions.

Question 5

Why did Anne think she could confide more in her diary than in people.
Solution:

Anne believed that paper possessed more patience than people. She felt that she could express all her thoughts and feelings in her diary without being judged or interrupted. Since the diary was a private space, she found it easier to be completely open and honest with it, unlike with people who might not listen or understand her plight.

Question 6

Why does Anne provide a brief sketch of her life?
Solution:

Anne provides a brief sketch of her life to give her readers context about her family, her relatives, and her age. This background information helps the reader to better understand her perspective, her experiences, and to develop a connection with her as an author and a person.

Question 7

What tells you that Anne loved her grandmother?
Solution:

The text indicates Anne's love for her grandmother through her emotional response upon her grandmother's death. Anne mentions that her grandmother's passing deeply affected her, suggesting a strong bond. She also notes that her grandmother was the only one who truly understood her, highlighting the special and loving relationship they shared.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing the definitions of diary, journal, log, and memoir.
  • Misinterpreting Anne's feelings about people versus her diary.
  • Overlooking the significance of the brief life sketch provided by Anne.

Revision tips

  • Create a table to compare the definitions of diary, journal, log, and memoir.
  • Summarize Anne's main reasons for writing in her diary in your own words.
  • Note down specific quotes or instances that show Anne's feelings about her diary.
  • Practice explaining the difference between Anne's trust in paper and people.

Practice MCQs

Q1. Which of the following best describes a diary?

Q2. According to the definitions provided, what is a 'log'?

Q3. Why did Anne Frank find writing in a diary a strange experience initially?

Q4. What does Anne consider her diary to be?

Q5. According to Anne, why did paper have more patience than people?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main difference between a diary and a journal?

A diary is primarily for recording personal thoughts, feelings, and daily events, often in a more informal way. A journal can be broader, recording observations, experiences, or reflections over a period, and might be less strictly daily.

Why did Anne Frank start writing a diary?

Anne started writing a diary because she felt lonely and distressed, and she wanted a trusted friend to whom she could confide her thoughts and feelings, as she found it difficult to open up to people.

What does Anne mean when she says paper has more patience than people?

She means that a diary (paper) will listen to everything she writes without interrupting, judging, or forgetting, unlike people who might get tired of listening or react negatively.

Why does Anne include a brief sketch of her life in the diary?

Anne provides a brief sketch of her life to give her readers (and perhaps herself) context about her family, background, and age, helping them to understand her better and connect with her narrative.

How can these NCERT Solutions help Class 10 students?

These solutions provide clear, rewritten answers to all questions in Chapter 4, helping students understand the concepts of diary writing, Anne's motivations, and the chapter's themes, which is crucial for exam preparation.

Important links

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