Anthem : A Novella Author & Background Information Ayn Rand

Notes Graphic Organizer Key PointKey Details Author Communist Russia Anthem as allegory Utopia vs. Dystopia Before You Read

Frayer Model (Vocabulary) Graphic Organizer DefinitionCharacteristics ExamplesNon-Examples

The Author: Ayn Rand Lived during the Communist era in Russia (an attempt to establish a classless society; no divisons in society) When Stalin ascended to power in the 1920’s, Rand escaped to Chicago in 1926 She then moved to Hollywood to become a screen-writer Anthem was published in 1961

Key Point/Key Details Key PointKey Details Author

Communist Russia Stalin was the leader of the USSR & he improved the country's economic status Stalin ordered purges (execution) of all those who opposed him, especially independent thinkers & intellectuals –How would this have affected Rand?

Key Point/Key Details Key PointKey Details Communist Russia

Anthem as Allegory The novel is written as an allegory, or a story that has both a literal and figurative meaning ; (a cautionary tale, like fables children read to teach them a lesson).

Key Point/Key Details Key PointKey Details Anthem as Allegory

What is a Utopian society? A place, state, or condition that is ideally perfect in respect of politics, laws, customs, and conditions.

Does a utopian society exist in today’s world? People are flawed and individual; therefore, there can never be a truly ideal world.

What is a Dystopic Society? A futuristic, imagined universe in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through corporate, bureaucratic, technological, moral, or totalitarian control.

Setting of Anthem Anthem is set in a dystopian future (date and place unspecified) where irrationality and collectivism have resulted in a dark age where individuality has been eliminated, along with innovation. Rand’s imaginary world shows the negatives of Collectivism

Key Point/Key Details Key PointKey Details Utopia vs. Dystopia

To Know, Before You Read… The novella is written using the word “We” because people were not allowed to use the word “I”, they were a collective society & not an individual one The novella is written in the future and people can barely remember/know what life was like (life as society now). Imagine that everything has been wiped out & society is starting from scratch even though it is the future.

Key Point/Key Details Key PointKey Details Before You Read

Frayer Model DefinitionCharacteristics ExamplesNon-Examples

Terms to Know Collectivism --Places the group as more important than the individual. --The common good is more important than the individual

Terms to Know Altruism --The idea that man exists only to serve others. --Self sacrifice is the most important aspect of a person --The “self” or “individual” alone is not important

Terms to Know Conformity --Doing/being the same as others -- Adhering to conventional behaviors; not being

Terms to Know Individualism -– “Every man is independent, possesses an inalienable right to his own life”

Terms to Know Egoism --“Being concerned with one's own interest" primary moral obligation is to achieve his own welfare and well-being. Man should be selfish