Honors Language Arts 9 – Anthem
Guided Reading Questions
Below you will find questions over each chapter of Antem. They will not be collected or graded,
but all of these questions are fair game for a quiz, class discussion, writing assignment or final
exam. (Hint, hint!) It is in your best interest to be sure you can answer them thoroughly. These
questions should act as a reading guide and are not intended to replace careful examination of
the novel's themes and development.
Chapter I.
1. Who is Equality 7-2521?
2. Describe how Equality 7-2521 feels about his world and its society.
3. What is the Great Truth?
4. Where did Equality 7-2521 wish to be sent by the Council of Vocations? Where
was he sent?
5. What is his curse & how does this serve as foreshadowing?
6. Who are Union 5-3992 and International 4-8818?
7. Describe Equality’s secret place.
8. What word is “missing” from 7-2521’s vocabulary?
9. Look @ the use of dark vs. light.
10.
List the laws as discussed in this chapter - Do’s & Don’t’s
11.
Describe E-7’s feelings in the last paragraph.
Chapter II.
1. Who is Liberty 5-3000?
2. Describe how the population is controlled?
3. What do you think the “Unspeakable Word” is? Why is speaking it punishable by
death?
Chapter III.
1. What does Equality discover?
2. How important is this discovery? Describe 4-5 ways in which it would help society,
and make it easier or more enjoyable.
3. Why would a society profess, “no single one can possess greater wisdom than the
many Scholars . . .”
Chapter IV.
1. Who is “The Unconquered”? Discuss the appropriateness of this name.
Chapter V.
1. What is Equality’s plan for his invention?
2. Why don’t they have mirrors?
3. Identify at least one emotion Equality feels in this chapter and what this reveals
about him and the society.
Chapter VI
1. How does Equality get caught?
2. Do you think he is the first person to betray the laws? Support your answer.
3. What were your predictions for “Tomorrow…”?
Chapter VII
1. Outline four of the Council’s reasons for rejecting Equality’s invention.
2. What does Equality mean, at the beginning of the chapter, when he says, “We are
old now, but we were young this morning”?
Chapter VIII
1. Describe Equality’s day in the Uncharted Forest.
2. What is ironic about Equality being “the Damned”?
3. What does the Uncharted Forest symbolize in Anthem?
Chapter IX
1. On pages 82-83, Liberty contrasts Equality to his fellow men. Paraphrase this
passage.
2. 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.
Chapter X.
1. Describe the house and its contents in your own words, and explain why Liberty
and Equality find it so strange and unique.
2. Why does Equality end up doing gathering work alone?
3. Respond to the question, “ What is the secret . . .”
Chapter XI.
1. Do you agree with the answer?
2. What is meant by “I am done with the monster of “We”?
3. Re-read the incident with the Saint of the pyre(pg. 50). What was he trying to
communicate to Equality?
Chapter XII.
***Start by reading “The Myth of Prometheus”****
1. Who’s Prometheus?
2. What’s the moral of this story?
3. Why does Ayn Rand use this allusion (reference to a piece of literature)?
4. Why do the main characters take the names Prometheus and Gaea?
5. What are Prometheus’ plans for the future?
6. What is the sacred word to be cut into the stone? What is importance of this
word?