Am Ende hat es mir das Herz zerrissen“. Polonskys Adaption des Tagebuchs der Anne Frank als Graphic Diary

Folman’s and Polonsky’s Graphic Diary based on the Diary of Anne Frank is the first adaptation authorised by the Anne Frank Fund. The rationale for the genre choice was the intention of instigating a discussion among young people about the story of Anne Frank by means of employing a medium more compatible with contemporary trends in the reception of literary works. Due to the diary‘s relevance for the examination of the devastating events of the Second World War and the difficulties inherent in adapting this multifaceted source of high literacy value, the article addresses strategies of adaptation as well as similarities and differences to the original text. The graphic diary is characterized by abbreviations, which facilitate a better understanding of the core plot, an exaggerated and sometimes comical depiction of characters as well as intra- and intermedial references. These transport multi-layered contents in terms of historicization and figure representation. A focus on the empathic portrayal of emotions, together with a graphic design that supports the content, makes accessing the subject matter easier for young recipients. Thus, the Graphic Diary also offers opportunities for use in schools and universities, where the original diary is part of the literacy canon. Here it can be used to enrich the original diary by, for example, creating new possibilities for interpretation.