The Diary of Anne Frank
The Diary of Anne Frank Theme of Religion
Anne Frank’s non-fiction account of her time in hiding doesn’t give us much information on Judaism as a religion. In fact, religion plays a somewhat subtle role in Anne’s story. “Christian” and “Jew” are more political than religious categories. While Anne identifies herself as a member of the Jewish religion, she reads avidly about a variety of religious perspectives, and is in the process of deciding what God and religion mean to her on a personal level.
Questions About Religion
- Does Anne’s increased awareness of her mortality and the suffering of others influence her religious outlook? If so, in what ways? If not, why not?
- To what extent is religion a part of life in the Secret Annex?
- What are some of the relationship between Christians and Jews in Holland, according to Anne?
- In what ways could Anne be considered a religious person? What about the other people in the Annex?
Chew on This
Anne is not a particularly religious person when she begins the diary, but religion becomes more and more important to her as time passes.