Anthem Thinking Questions - Thoughtfully answer each question on a
separate sheet of paper.
Chapter 1
1.a) Describe the society in which Anthem is set. Some areas to consider are the political
structure, degree of technology, social relationships, quality of life, and education.
b) Would you want to live in this society? Explain why or why not.
2. In this chapter, Equality states that it is very unusual for men to reach the age of 45. Offer
several possible explanations as to why life expectancy is so short in his society.
3. Clearly, Ayn Rand intended Equality to stand out from his "brothers". Explain how she
accomplishes this by contrasting Equality's physical qualities and character traits to those of his
fellow men.
4.
When does this novel take place -- in the past, the present, or the future? How do you
know?
5.a) How would your teachers react if you had Equality's "curse"?
b) Why do Equality's teachers disapprove of his quick mind?
6. At this point in the novel, does Equality accept the moral teachings of his society? If so, why
doesn't he feel shame or remorse when he knows that he's committing a crime? Find textual
evidence to support your answer.
7. Would you want to be friends with someone like Equality 7-2521? Why or why not?
Chapter 2
1. Re-read the account of Liberty 5-3000 on page 38. Which character traits are revealed in this
brief description?
2. Find several examples of the ways in which this society tries to obliterate each individual's
mind (and self!). What personal choices are eliminated? What desires and values are
squashed?
3. Contrast Equality 7-2521 with the rest of the men living in this society (pg. 46).
4. Of the whole range of feelings possible to people (joy, excitement, anger, embarrassment,
etc.) why is fear the most common emotion in this society?
5. a) What word is Equality struggling to recapture on page 49?
b) In your opinion, why is mentioning this word the only crime punishable by death in this
society? How does this word conflict with the ideals of this society? What could its rediscovery
possibly lead to?
Chapters 3-5
1. a) What does Equality discover in this chapter?
b) How important is this discovery? Describe 4--5 ways in which it would help society, and
make life easier or more enjoyable.
2. Outline some of the Council of Scholars' beliefs, and Equality's refutation of those beliefs.
3. Discuss the appropriateness of Equality's new name, "Unconquered".
4. Equality understands that his invention will benefit mankind greatly; however, this was not his
main motivation in conducting his experiments, and it is not the primary source of the great
joy he experiences. Discuss.
5. In your opinion, why is Equality so interested in seeing his own image at this point in the
novel? What emotion is he feeling?
Chapter 7
1. Outline four of the Council's reasons for rejecting Equality's invention.
2. What are the real reasons behind the Council's rejection and fear of the gift?
3. What does Equality mean, at the beginning of the chapter, when he says, "We are old now,
but we were young this morning" (p. 68)?
Chapters 8-9
1.
What is Equality experiencing for the first time in this chapter, and what does he feel
as a result?
2.
Explain why Equality laughs when he remembers that he is "the Damned".
3.
What does the Uncharted Forest symbolize in Anthem?
4.
On pages 93--94, Liberty contrasts Equality to his fellow men. Paraphrase this
passage.
5.
In this chapter, Equality questions the morality of his former society. Contrast what
he was previously taught about solitude, good, evil, and joy to what he now
believes.
Chapters 10-11
1. Describe the house and its contents in your own words, and explain why Liberty and Equality
find it so strange and unique.
2. What great discovery does Equality make in this chapter?
3. Explain the following quotes in your own words, and discuss how they can be applied to your
life: a) "Whatever road I take, the guiding star is within me". b) "For the word "We" must
never be spoken, save by one's choice and as a second thought."
4. What does Equality now realize is the proper goal and purpose of his life?
5. In what ways is "I" like a God?
6. Re-read the incident with the Saint of the pyre (pg. 50). What was he trying to
communicate to Equality?
Chapter 12
1.
Why do the main characters take the names Prometheus and Gaea? Why weren't they
allowed to choose their names in their old society?
2.
What does Prometheus plan to do in the future?
3.
Prometheus reaches the important realization that, "To be free, a man must be free of
his brothers" (118). Cite several examples from Anthem that illustrate the truth of
this statement.
Similes and Anthem
Figurative language is employed effectively, if sparingly, in this novel.
Often, a well-chosen simile captures the essence of a character, or the
significance of an event. Discuss the meaning and significance of the
following similes in Anthem.
Directions: Read the passage and follow steps A, B, C, and D to complete
the charts.
A. Write the first item of the comparison
B. Write the second item of the comparison
C. Write a description of the second item
D. Explain how item A is like item B. Use the back side if more space is
needed.
Example: Life is like a rollercoaster ride.
A. Life
B. rollercoaster ride
C. Begins slowly and then moves fast; has uphills, downslopes, curves; exciting,
fun fearful; makes you ill, dizzy, out of control, can’t get off until it stops.
D. Life seems to move at different paces, too fast when having a good time and
too slow in the boring times. Life is a mixture of joy and sorrow, simple pleasures
and complex trials. At times it is and exciting adventure that is enjoyable; at
other times it can be frightening and sickening. Life can seem so out of control
and confusing that you do not know in what direction you are going or where you
will end up. There is no way to get away from life until it stops.
1. "But International 4-8818 are different. They are a tall, strong youth and
their eyes are like fireflies . . . "(26).
2. "[Liberty's] body was straight and thin as a blade of iron . . . Their hair was
golden as the sun; their hair flew in the wind, shining and wild, as if it
defied men to restrain it. They threw seeds from their hand as if they
deigned to fling a scornful gift, and the earth was a beggar under their feet"
(38).
3. "The shoulders of our Brothers are hunched, and their muscles are drawn,
as if their bodies were shrinking and wished to shrink out of sight" (47).
4. "We blew out the candle. Darkness swallowed us. There was nothing left
around us, save night and a thin thread of flame in it, as a crack in the wall
of a prison" (64).
5 Different Points-of-View (POV)
First Person Major: Main character simply tells his own story.
(Huckleberry Finn)
First Person Minor: A minor character, who "happens to be
there", tells the story. (Dr. Watson in the Sherlock Holmes stories,
or Nick in The Great Gatsby).
Third Person Omniscient: Narrator recounts the story, and
knows the thoughts of all the characters in the story.
Third Person Limited: Narrator recounts the story, but tells the
reader only what he perceives; he does not know the thoughts of
the characters.
Third Person Central Character: Narrator recounts the story,
and knows the thoughts of only the central character.
“I Saw Mama Kissing Santa Claus”
Chorus:
Christmas toys all over the place
Little Shelby wears a funny smile on his face
Shelby has a secret
And the secret he must share
He wants to tell somebody
So he tells his teddy bear
I saw Mama kissing Santa Claus
Underneath the misteltoe last night
She didn't see me creep
Down the stairs to have a peek
She thought that I was tucked up in my bedroom fast asleep
Then, I saw Mama tickle Santa Claus
Underneath his beard so snowy white
Oh, what a laugh it would have been
If Daddy had only seen
Mama kissing Santa Claus last night
1. How many different points-of-view are present in this song? What are they (use your notes)?
2. Re-write the scene described in the Chorus from either the perspective of a teenaged older sibling, OR from
that of the mother, OR from the dad.
3. How did the meaning change?
Discuss and record the answers to the following questions:
1. From which point-of-view did Ayn Rand write Anthem?
2. Why is the diary form crucial to plot and character development in Anthem?
3. How does it help to reveal the setting and establish the nature of this society?
4. How does it contribute to the mystery surrounding the Unspeakable Word?
5. How would using first person minor or third person omniscient point of view weaken the novel?
Poetry Terms
Stanza is _____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Rhymed verse is ______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Hickory Dickory Dock,
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck one,
The mouse ran down.
Hickory Dickory Dock.
a
a
b
b
a
Hickory Dickory Dock,
The bird looked at the clock,
The clock struck two,
Away she flew,
Hickory Dickory Dock.
a
a
c
c
a
Blank verse is ________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
“Mending Wall” by Robert Frost
Something there is that doesn’t love a wall,
That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it,
And spills the upper boulders in the sun;
And makes gaps even two can pass abreast.
Meter (or verse) is ____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
(See “Hickory Dickory Dock”)
Free verse is __________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
“Metaphor” by Eve Merriam
Morning is
a new sheet of paper
for you to write on.
Whatever you want to say,
all day,
until night
folds it up
and flies away.
The bright words and the dark words
are gone
until dawn
and a new day
to write on.
"Invictus"
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gait,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul.
-William Ernest Henley
1. How many stanzas are present in this poem?
2. Is this blank verse or rhymed verse?
3. Explain both of the reasons that this poem is not free verse.
4. What is the rhyme scheme?
Connecting:
Liberty chooses "Unconquered" as a fitting name for Equality. Similarly, William Henley's
most famous poem is entitled "Invictus", which is Latin for "Unconquered". List 3 specific
similarities between the hero in the poem and Equality 7-2521.
Your Assignment:
Look at your list of similarities between the subject of Henley’s Invictus and
Equality 7-2521.
Write a 2-chunk paragraph in which you compare one characteristic of the hero in
Invictus and Equality 7-2521. Make sure to use specific CDs, and cite your
page/line numbers.
Fishbowl Discussion Preparation
To prepare for your final discussion, choose 4 questions to respond to each
one with 100 words and 2 text or life examples.
1. In many real and fictionalized totalitarian societies, children live apart from their
families. Why would dictatorial leaders enforce this living arrangement?
2. Contrast Equality's view of morality (what’s right and wrong) at the end of the
novel to that of his society.
3. Many people blame their hardships, poverty, or unhappiness on external
conditions. "It's not my fault," they cry, "it's because of the family, class, race,
society, or culture into which I was born!" They believe that outside factors control
and determine their lives. How do you think Rand would respond to these people?
Would you agree or disagree with her?
4. To fully control a man, dictators must not only enslave his body, but also destroy
his mind. Discuss how the leaders in Anthem seek to accomplish this tyrannical
end.
5. Which of these concepts does our society value the most: Altruism, Egoism,
Conformity, or Independence? Do the actions of people always reflect this value?
Explain.
6. What does the Uncharted Forest symbolize?
Anthem Study Guide
I. Similes
What is a simile? _________________________________________________________
First: Underline the 2 items being compared. Second: Explain why the author makes this particular
comparison.
1. "We blew out the candle. Darkness swallowed us. There was nothing left around us, save night and a thin
thread of flame in it, as a crack in the wall of a prison" (64).
________________________________________________________________________
2. "[Liberty's] body was straight and thin as a blade of iron . . .” (38).
________________________________________________________________________
II. Point-of-View
List the 5 different points-of-view and their definitions.
1. What is the difference between 1st and 3rd person points-of view?___________________
________________________________________________________________________
2. From what point-of-view does Ayn Rand write Anthem? Why does this choice fit the story? Give 2
examples to support your statement._____________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
-
III. Poetry
1. What is rhymed verse?
2. What’s the difference between free verse and rhymed verse?
3. What’s the difference between free verse and blank verse?
4. What is meter?
"Invictus"
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
1. How many stanzas are present in this
poem?
2. Is this blank verse or rhymed verse?
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
3. Explain both of the reasons that this
poem is not free verse.
4. What is the rhyme scheme?
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gait,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul.
-William Ernest Henley
5. How is Equality (aka Unconquered)
similar to the hero in “Invictus”? List an
example from the book and a line from the
poem to prove your point.
6. Identify one simile from the poem.
__________________________________
IV. Allusions
1. What is an allusion (in your own words) - ______________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2. What is the significance to the allusion to Prometheus? ___________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3. What is the significance to the allusion to Gaea? ________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
V. Philosophy
Write the definition of each of these concepts IN YOU OWN WORDS, followed by a real-life example for each
one.
Conformity –
Independence –
Altruism –
Egoism –
Collectivism –
What’s a theme?
A theme is a central message or insight into life revealed through a literary work.
Examples:
Star Wars – Good is more powerful than evil
Finding Nemo
- Children need freedom and trust to grow strong
- Friendship helps make the impossible possible
A theme is NOT:
-plot summary
-a motif (usually a one-word description)
Constructing a Theme
Theme = A Subject + The Author’s comment on that subject
(Naturally the subject will be a major
motif/concept evoked by the whole literary work.)
(The comment will state the author’s opinion of
the subject, the author’s findings or conclusions.)
Using this formula will yield a complete sentence about a major idea in the work.
Your Turn:
A major theme in Ayn Rand’s work, Anthem, is
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________.