The poem ‘ Anne Frank Huis ‘ describes how civilians become victims in a violent situation. Describe with close reference to the poem.
Out of the poems in our syllabus Anne Frank Huis by Andrew Motion describes how civilians become victims in a violent situation. This poem brings out information about a young girl who lived in the era of World War 2 called Anne Frank. She was a Jewish and she was been searched to be killed by Hitler’s Nazi Army. With her family she was hiding in a place in Netherland. Now it has become Anne Frank’s museum and the poet is visiting it after 30 years from Anne Frank’s death. This poem gives true picture about how civilians become victims in a violent situation.
The poet uses secret narrative to describe the violent situation met by civilians. The poet is visiting the museum and he describes what he sees and he hears there. From those things he creates an image about Anne Frank’s pathetic life.
Anne Frank had to hide in a small place which was only hidden by a bookcase. All her family members and few friends were hiding in that small place. They had to whisper to each other as the whole street was guarded by Nazi Army. They couldn’t live freely.
” Three years of whispering and loneliness ”
Their freedom was restricted by their fear of being caught. This shows how civilians become victims in a violent situation.
And they have lived very confined lives. Their suffering is symbolized by Westerkirk clock tower. Each stroke of it increased their fear. It tells that they are reaching their death.
And they had a hope that they could survive in this violent situation. They marked the path of Friendly Army because they also like to be free like other people.
” and plotting day by day , the Allied line
in Europe with a yellow chalk ”
But their hopes were scattered. This also shows how civilians suffer in a violent situation.
Anne Frank was a young girl she also had hopes and desires that any other young girl could have. The poet describe it in his own words.
” as pictures of her family , some actors ;
fashions chosen by Princess Elizabeth ”
Although her freedom was restricted and she was hiding in a place like that she could have a hope to survive. But unfortunately she had to suffer and die with all herv hopes and desires. The poet uses irony to show that Anne Frank had to suffer without doing any guilt.
” What hope she had for ordinary love and interest
survives her here ”
She could not survive from the cruelty of Hitler. Though she is not there now , her hopes and desires are there without its owner to fulfill them. This shows how a child has become a victim in a violent situation. Though she waited very patiently to get freedom she was unable to receive it.
” Not only patience missing its reward ”
Here Andrew Motion while describing his visit to Anne Frank’s museum he recreates the incident of Anne Frank.
And he contrasts his freedom with Anne Frank’s confined life.
” Like my own : to leaves as simply
As I do , and walk at ease ”
Andrew Motion can leave the Museum very freely. He doesn’t have a fear that he will be captured. But at that time Anne couldn’t leave that place because the streets were guarded by Nazi Army and if she had caught she would have been killed. Both Andrew Motion and Anne are civilians. But Anne’s freedom was restricted. This also shows how civilians become victims in a violent situation. May be Anne also liked to leave that place and walk in the street. But she was unable to do that ever. The poet uses a metaphor to show how civilians suffered in a war situation.
” A silent barge come clear of bridges
Settling their reflections in the blue canal ”
Here the barges are compared to Jewish people. Some boats clear bridges and some are unable to do that. Anne Frank had to stop her life journey like a barge that could not clear bridges.
Though this is a war poem it doesn’t bring carnages or blood. The poet shows how civilians become helpless in a war situation. Anne Frank had to suffer and die without any fault of herself. She represents all the civilians who suffered in a violent situation. And this is very unfair because civilians are helpless , they don’t have weapons to strike back. So by the poem Andrew Motion shows a different perspective of a war.
Finally I can say Anne Frank Huis by Andrew Motion is the most suitable poem which describes how civilians become victims in a violent situation.