Anthem by Ayn Rand

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Anthem by Ayn Rand

• Introductory Notes

2
Goals

• By the end of this Unit, the student will be able
  to
• 1. analyze the use of the first-person character
  narrator.
• 2. analyze the diary format as a narrative
  technique.
• 3. identify the characteristics of the dystopian
  novella.

3
Goals

• 4. recognize the following plot components
• exposition
• conflict
• rising action
• climax
• resolution

4
Goals

• 5. trace the development of various motifs found
  in the novella
• darkness and light
• ignorance and knowledge
• transgression and damnation

5
Goals

• 6. trace the use and evolution of characters
  names and identities in the novella.
• 7. distinguish between the two philosophical
  points of view central to this novella,
  collectivism
• and objectivism, and point to where and how each
  is presented.
• 8. analyze the novellas title and its
  relationship to the novellas theme.

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The Novella

• Longer than a short story but shorter than a
  novel, Anthem is identified as a novella. More
  specifically, Anthem belongs to the genre of
  dystopian novellas.

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Dystopian Fiction

• Anthem is dystopian fiction.
• Dystopian literature illustrates a profoundly
  flawed social order. Dystopian societies are
  widely varied, but many are characterized by the
  absence of individual rights, the suppression of
  independent thinking, and an extremely
  controlling government.

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Dystopian Fiction

• Anthem, Rand uses this genre to illustrate the
  principles of objectivism. By creating a world in
  which collectivism has been taken to an extreme,
  she illustrates the importance of individual
• rights and freedoms.

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Collectivism

• Collectivism is the term for any moral,
  political, or social viewpoint that emphasizes
  the importance of community and human
  interdependence over individual desire, effort,
  or need.
• Collectivist views treat group goals as superior
  to individual goals.

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Individualism

• Individualism, the exact opposite of
  collectivism, stresses self-reliance, individual
  liberty, and human independence. Individualists
  oppose most forms of outside interference with an
  individuals choiceswhether they be social,
  governmental, or institutional.

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Objectivism

• Objectivism is a philosophy developed by Ayn Rand
  in response to what she viewed as growing
  worldwide collectivism.
• According to Rands philosophy, there is an
  objective reality independent of the mind, which
  individuals can perceive through their five
  senses.

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• Objectivism further asserts that the proper moral
  purpose of human life is the pursuit of rational
  self-interest. According to this moral code, the
  ideal social system is one that completely
  respects individual rights.

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Objectivism

• To describe objectivism, Rand wrote
• My philosophy, in essence, is the concept of man
  as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the
  moral purpose of his life, with productive
  achievement as his noblest activity, and reason
  as his only absolute.

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Objectivism

• Rand wrote
• Man has to be manby choice he has to hold his
  life as a valueby choice he has to learn to
  sustain itby choice he has to discover the
  values it requires and practice his virtuesby
  choice...A code of values accepted by choice is a
  code of morality.

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First-person Narration

• First person plural narration underscores the
  dystopian theme.
• We, our replace I to reinforce the spirit
  of collectivism and Rands dystopian theme.
• The narrator is Equality 7-2521

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Pre-Reading Journal Homework

• The transition from adolescence to adulthood
  involves developing a personal identity, a sense
  of self. Write a paragraph that describes you and
  explains what makes you uniquely you. Consider
  your future goals and dreams what you value in a
  friend favorite pets preferred sports and
  hobbies best-loved music, literature, movies,
  etc. Finally, consider what it would be like if
  those things were taken away from you.