Response Number 3

3. The theme of a work is not its subject or topic, but rather what that subject means – what idea or insight it reveals about human existence – what is the author’s message to the planet? Themes are revealed gradually as we learn about the characters and their predicament. Keep a LIVING post (one which you can keep adding to every time you log on to your blog) about what you think the play’s theme(s) is/are.
I think that the theme of this play/story is peace. The reason is that in Secret Annex, all the people are just longing for peace. Whenever they heard good news telling that they might be free, then they will become really happy and just hug each other and become crazy about it. Also I noticed that in the beginning and at the end of the movie, it shows birds flying around the bright happy blue sky. And I think that the birds means "peace."

Response Number 6

6. Why are there so many books, movies, documentaries, ect. about the Holocaust? Why do we keep retelling this story?
Holocaust was a terrible thing that destroyed lots of people’s life. There was harsh ruling and most people who were Jews who died because of what they beloved in. Even though it was a really sad and harsh story, it’s amazing in one way too. I think they kept on passing this down because they want to show all the suffering Jews had just because of what they believed in. Also I think that it was the time when there was great love shown trough out the people. They cared for each other. Some people how were not Jews helped the Jews to hide because they knew that they were in danger. Even though they will get in to danger too, they let them in and let them hide. I think it was time even though there was lots of death and suffering, it was also time when people show great love and care to each other.

Response Number 5

5. Answer five of the following questions:
(a) Act 1: “But always remember this, Anneke. There are no bolts, no locks that anyone can put on your mind.” Explain what you think this statement means. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?
I think that this statement means that even though people can block you physically by locking you up in some place. However, no one can change how you think. I agree with that statement. The reason is that even though people can force you to do something. However, nothing can change your thinking not even forcing it. No one or nothing can change your thoughts except your self. For example, your parents force you to go into your room and study. They lock you up in your room with out any electronic devices you can play with. However, even thought they make you sit down in your room and lock you up, if you are thinking about chatting with your friends then your parents can’t control that. Even though they want you to be locked up in the room and study, if you think of playing with your friends instead of studying, your parents can’t do anything about it.
(b)Act1, Scenes 1-3: What do you think would be the hardest part of life in the Secret Annex: the fear of discovery, the need to keep silent for hours at a time, the sharing of cramped quarters with strangers, or some other aspect? Explain.
If I was in the shoes of Anne, then the hardest part of life in the Secret Annex would have been the fear of discovery. The reason is that I think that is that sometimes, my fear can have full control of me. Even though needing to keep silent for hours at a time and sharing cramped quarters with strangers might be hard. However, I think that silent hours can be ok if I had a book or anything I can do in silence. It will be hard. I’m not saying that it would be easy. But I think that as time passes, I think I’m going to get more used to it. Living with strangers doesn’t really matter to me. I don’t know why but even though I meet some one new, if I get some time to know them a bit, living with them will not be a big problem. I think that fear has a great power. The reason is that when you are afraid of something that can take total control of you. When I get really afraid, I can’t really get anything done. Whatever I do, the fear just comes to me. I think that if I know that if I get caught then it will mean death, I don’t think I will be able to get over all that fear.
(f) Act 1, Scenes 4, 5: Describe how the Hanukkah celebration in Scenes 5 is interrupted. What does Peter do to make matters worse?
Hanukkah celebration in Scenes 5 is interrupted by people who came in to the building of Secret Annex. All the people think that it’s the Green Police, and all of them are shivering because of fear. However, Peter’s cats runs out and Peter runs after it. Some things drop and most of the people think that now they are going to get captured.
(g) Act 1, Scenes 4, 5: Anne is a dynamic character; that is, she changes in the course of the play. What does Anne’s gift giving reveal about her? How do her gifts to her mother and Peter show that she has changed?
Anne really didn’t like her mother or Peter. Whenever mother said something Anne will say that she doesn’t understand her mother and her mother doesn’t understand her. Also Anne wants to be treated like an adult, which Anne’s mother thinks is not making sense because whenever she treats Anne like an adult Anne will act like a child again. They always got into arguments and Anne said lots of harsh things that hurt mother’s feeling. Also she was really mean to Peter. When they first were together Anne wanted to play with him. However, Peter thought that Anne was acting like a baby. Whenever Anne tries to get close to Peter, Peter would go away from her. So Anne gets really mad and shouts why in the world she has to be stuck in the Secret Annex with a guy like Peter, which was pretty mean. However, during Hanukkah celebration Anne gives out gift to everyone. These presents show how Anne changed through out the story. Anne gives her mother a signed paper. It says that she will do whatever her mother tells her to do. By this we can see that Anne is now caring for her mother and she is becoming really nice to her. To Peter, Anne gives a razor. It was kind of funny. However Anne gave it to him because she cared for him too. Since Peter was getting older, he began to have mustache. Anne cared for Peter and how he looked. Anne was really mean to these two people. She didn’t care if she said mean things to them. However by living with them in Secret Annex, Anne began to find out that she was really mean. By giving them these presents we can see that Anne has developed thorough out the story.
(m) If you could interview survivors of the Holocaust, what would you ask them?
If I get to interview survivors of the Holocaust, I think I will have so many things I would want to ask them. But since it’s an interview I can’t keep them for days and days can I? So I put down some of the question that I want to know about Holocaust. But I am a bit worried that I’m going to make them feel sad and awful about remembering things. But still I will ask some questions. First, how did you feel when you found out that the war was over and you were still alive? How was the concentration camp? How did it feel like when you returned to your home? How did your house look like after the war? Who is the person that you miss the most?

Response Number 4

4. Answer one of the following questions:
(b) Irony: Irony is a contrast between expectation and reality. What is ironic about these references to the outside world? P.384- Mr. Frank. I think there’s nothing the matter with our Anne that a ride on her bike or a visit with her friend Jopie de Waal wouldn’t cure. Isn’t that so, Anne? [Mr. Van Daan comes down into the room. From outside we hear faint sounds of bombers going over and a burst of ack-ack].
Mr. Frank is saying things that Anne would love to do and things that she enjoyed doing before she lived in Secret Annex. Anne used to love to play with her best friends Jopie de Waal and ride her own bike and have fun. She liked to play with other kids in school. She was a normal girl. So her father is telling how Anne has no problem if she does those things. However, the sound of bomb reminds Anne and others that they are in war. I also think that it kind of reveals that Anne is really wanting to go out to "real world" not in her Secret Annex.

Response Number 2

2. What is prejudice? Where in the world have you seen prejudice? What are the effects of prejudice?
The dictionary definition of prejudice is: an unreasonable dislike and distrust of people who are different from you in some way, especially because of their race, sex, religion, ect. I have faced prejudice. When I first met one of my best friends, I thought that we will never become friends because she was really pretty and popular. However, she came to me and we started to get to know about each other. Prejudice blocks people from getting to know each other better. If my best friend didn’t come to me, then I wouldn’t have her as my best friend, but one who is really popular and the one I can’t go near.

Response Number 1

1. What do you know already about the Holocaust?
I really didn’t know much about Holocaust. I read one “comic book” about Anne Frank. However, since it is a comic book, it didn’t give me much information. Before I learned about Holocaust in class, I didn’t know lot about Holocaust. All I knew was that there was Nazis who were killing tons of Jews. Also I knew about the concentration camps. That was all I knew about Holocaust.

So Far From the Bamboo Grove

I strongly want to recommend this book. I think that it is such a great book. No offense but I kind of want to recommend this book to Koreans. Most of the Koreans don’t like Japanese. Mostly because of Japanese occupied Koreans and it wasn't happy. Well, this is written in Japanese point of view. Before reading this book our teacher told us this book may contain something that Korean would not agree with if you know about Korean. Yes I found some of those problems. However, you got to know that if you look in different point of view you might have some things that you don't like. It is just like putting your foot into someone else's shoes. Yes it will feel uncomfortable because it is not your shoes. I think that it is the same way with looking at stories from different point of view. It is a great book. Read Read and Read! :)