Anthem
By Ayn Rand
Study Guides
Directions: Please answer in complete sentences. Use quotes to support your
reasoning whenever possible. Answer thoughtfully and completely.
Part One
1. “It is a sin to think words no others think and to put them down upon a paper no others
are to see… There is no transgression blacker than to do or think alone.” (p. 11) What did
Rand mean by this? What could motivate such an idea?
2. “The walls are cracked and water runs upon them in their threads without sound, black
and glistening as blood.”(paragraph 4) (p. 12) What image is created through this simile?
What mood is set?
3. Reread the words that were cut into the marble over the portals of the Palace of the
World Council. What strength does the concept of “we” have? What weakness does it
have? (p. 14)
5. What word is oddly missing from this novels 1st person P.O.V.? Consider your answer
to this question. Why might Rand have done this?
6. Why would it be a great sin “to be born with a head which is too quick?” (p. 16)
7. Why might teachers forbid questions? (p. 18)
8. Why do you think he was not sent to the Home of the Scholars? What were his
scholarly strengths? What were his scholarly weaknesses? What about his strengths and
weaknesses as a Street Sweeper?
9. List three to five adjectives to describe Equality –72521‟s life as a street sweeper.
10. What do you think about the Home of the Useless? Is it good or bad? Explain your
reasoning.
11. Reread the description of the place Equality 7-2521 found. Clarify. What is it?
12. What is the significance of the sentence, “This place is ours. This place belongs to us,
Equality 7-2521, and to no other men on earth.”? (p. 32)
Part Two
13. What brings him his first peace in twenty years? (p. 36)
14. What do you think attracts the narrator to Liberty 5-2000? Hint: Look carefully at the
paragraph which begins, “And there it was that we saw…” (p. 38)
15. What is the significance of the narrator naming Liberty 5-3000 “The Golden One?”
Think about the symbolic bond created between someone who names someone and
whom he or she names. (p. 41)
16. Why would it be a transgression “to speak to men of other trades?” That is, how
would forbidding men to speak together benefit the government? (p. 40)
17. What has happened to the concept of romantic love in this society? (p. 41) What
about familial love? What might be some social and/or emotional repercussion of this?
18. Evaluate the paragraph that begins “And now, setting…” Is the reasoning sound?
(p. 46) Why or why not?
19. Analyze the names used in this novel: Equality, Liberty, Fraternity, Solidarity, and
Union. What do they mean and how does this connect with the life they lead? Is there any
irony here? If so, what kind? Why do you think Rand choice to use numbers like 7-2521
attached to the names? What do they suggest?
20. What do you think the reference to the “Uncharted Forest” will foreshadow? (p. 49)
21. Why do people in certain societies burn books? (p. 50)
22. What “unspeakable word” has been lost? How do you know? (p. 51) Why would
speaking this word be the only crime punishable by death?
23. Consider the physical and emotional description of the Transgressor who is put to
death for knowing the Unspeakable Word. What are some words you would use to
describe the Transgressor? What do you think Rand is saying through this description?
Part Three
24. “The council of scholars has said that we all know the things which exist and
therefore the things which are not known by all do not exist.” (p. 54) Reason this out.
What is wrong with this idea?
25. What is the new power that Equality 7-2521 has discovered? How do you know that?
(p. 57)
Part Five (yes, I know, there are no questions for Part Four)
26. What important energy source has Equality 7-2521 reinvented? (p. 64)
27. Considering how well Equality is suited to be a street sweeper. How suited do you
think the scholars will be for their life jobs? With that in mind, what kind of reception do
you anticipate Equality receiving when he speaks to the council of scholars? (p. 67)
Part Six
28. Why was it easy of Equality to escape the prison? (p. 73) Does this reason reflect a
weakness or strength of this society? Explain your reasoning.
Part Seven
29. What is Harmony 9-2642‟s reasoning for why the light cannot be invented? (p. 82) Is
there any truth to his statement? Do you see any current situations in your life that echoes
that same reasoning?
30. Consider the paragraph that begins “ We are doomed…” Why does he still wish to be
with his “brother men?” Think about man‟s inherent need to be part of a group. How
important is it? (p. 85)
Part Eight
31. Why does he wish to be hungry again soon? What important lesson has he learned?
(p. 89)
Part Nine
32. How does The Golden One‟s words, “We wish to be damned with you, rather than be
blessed with all our brothers.” Change the meaning of the very words she speaks?
(pp. 93-94)
33. At the end of Part Nine, Equality is coming to some very important conclusions. State
what they are and explain if you think they are true?
34. At the very end of Part Nine „The Golden One” tries to explain her feelings for
Equality. What miracle had they almost felt, but had fled, leaving them groping vainly?
What concept are they still missing?
Part Ten
35. Equality and the Golden One have walked for many, many days away from the city.
Where, in our world, do you believe they are now? Explain your reasoning.
36. Describe the house they found. (pp. 101-102) Do a little research on this style of
house and see if that will help you in your answer for #35.
37. I believe the library they found in the house of the Unmentionable Times is their
greatest treasure. Why might I think this is so? That is, how might the books change their
lives for the better?
38. Carefully read the following from the end of Part Ten: “We look upon our hands. We
see the dust of centuries, the dust which hid great secrets and perhaps great evils.” First,
to what is Rand alluding to when she mentions the dust? Second, what does she mean by
hid great secrets and perhaps great evils? That is, what has Equality begun to understand
about the people from which he comes?
39. Read the final paragraph in Part Ten. Consider your response to question #38. Clarify.
What is the secret?
Part Eleven
40. Read the paragraph that begins, “For the word “We” must never be spoken….”
(p. 111) Why would Equality think poorly about the word “We?”
41. If “We” can never be spoken, what is the word Equality has embraced instead? What
system of governments do these words symbolize? Hint: This book was copyrighted in
1946.
Part Twelve
42. Why does the name Prometheus fit Equality? How does it symbolize his future plans?
43. Read the paragraph that begins, “But I still wonder…” (p. 120) About what does he
wonder? Consider the copyright date of 1946. Considering her recent history, about what
major world event might Rand wonder? What would Rand say about the importance of
studying history? Considering your responses to these questions, why might Rand have
written this particular book?
44. Remember your Latin vocabulary. What exactly does the word ego mean?
Putting it all together.
1. What is the theme of this piece?
2. Name three driving literary elements Rand used to support her theme?
3. Choose a quote for each element, which if put into an essay, would prove the literary
elements used to support the theme.