Anthem Paragraph/Essay
Freshman Humanities
Now that you have finished reading Anthem, you will write either one-paragraph or a fiveparagraph essay. **We strongly suggest you challenge yourself by writing the five-paragraph
essay. ** The topics are listed below and you will be given a rubric separately. The topics come
directly from the Ayn Rand Institute as they are part of a national essay contest. We will submit
your essay to this national contest as long as it is a minimum of 600 words. You can find out the
particulars – like how many millions of dollars you’ll win - at (www.aynrandeducation.com)
Due dates:
You must have a COMPLETED rough draft with you in class on Tuesday, December 7th.
You must have a typed, double-spaced final draft WITH YOU IN CLASS on Friday,
December 10th. THIS DRAFT SHOULD LOOK DIFFERENT THAN YOUR ROUGH
DRAFT.
For this assignment, you must have a stapled cover sheet that includes: your name and
address; your e-mail address (if available); the name and address of your high school; topic
selected (#1, 2 or 3 from list below); your current grade level and the name of the teacher who
assigned the essay. THIS COVER SHEET WILL REPLACE YOUR HEADING ON THE
FIRST PAGE.
Select ONE of the following three topics:
1. Contrast Equality’s view of morality at the end of the novel to the morality exemplified
by his society’s institutions, practices, and officials.
2. Anthem’s theme is, in Ayn Rand’s own words, “the meaning of man’s ego.” Explain the
ways in which the characters and story in Anthem illustrate this theme.
3. To fully control a man, dictators must not only enslave his body, but also destroy his
mind. Discuss how the leaders and society in Anthem seek to accomplish this tyrannical
end.