MP Board · Class 10 · English · First Flight: From the Diary of Anne FrankWhat was the significance of the third essay Anne wrote for Mr. Keesing?

The third essay, "Quack, Quack, Quack, Said Mistress Chatterbox," was a turning point in Anne’s relationship with Mr. Keesing. Anne wanted to come up with something original and funny to ensure the joke was on the teacher. With the help of her friend Sanne, who was good at poetry, Anne wrote the entire essay in verse. It told the story of a mother duck and a father swan with three baby ducklings who were bitten to death by the father because they quacked too much. This was a satirical take on Mr. Keesing’s punishments. Fortunately, Mr. Keesing took the joke the right way; he read the poem to the class and other classes, adding his own comments. After this, he allowed Anne to talk in class and stopped assigning her extra work. This essay transformed their relationship from one of conflict to one of mutual understanding and humor.