Friday, November 15, 2013

Essay Exam

Essay Exam

Essay Options

1- In many real and fictionalized totalitarian societies, children live apart from their families. Why would dictatorial leaders enforce this living arrangement?

2- What does Equality finally understand about his society when the Council threatens to destroy his invention?
Contrast Equality’s view of morality at the end of the novel to that of his society.

3- At first glance, most characters in Anthem appear to be near-automatons, blindly conforming to the rest of society. Upon closer study, however, we see that all of the characters in Anthem—Equality, International, Liberty, the Council members, everyone—make choices and decisions that affect their lives and their futures, for better or for worse. In short, they all possess the choice to think or not, and that choice determines everything else. Discuss.

4- Many people blame their hardships, poverty, or unhappiness on external conditions. “It’s not my fault,” they cry, “it’s because of the family, class, race, society, or culture into which I was born!” They believe that outside factors control and determine their lives. Use Equality as an example to refute this deterministic view of man.

5- Anthem is a heroic and inspiring story about the triumph of the individual’s independent spirit. Even though, at the end of the novel, Equality is greatly outnumbered, and modern society lies in ruins, it is a story of liberation and hope—not of despair. Discuss.

6- Aside from very rare exceptions (Equality, the Saint at the Pyre) there is literally no opposition to the leaders in this society. Why is this? What ideas must these men have accepted to live a life of obedience, drudgery, and fear?

7- Anthem’s theme is, in Ayn Rand’s own words, “the meaning of man’s ego.” Explain the ways in which the characters and plot in Anthem illustrate this theme.

8- To fully control a man, dictators must not only enslave his body, but also destroy his mind. Discuss how the leaders in Anthem seek to accomplish this tyrannical end.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Ch. 12

Chapter Twelve

Respond to all of the questions below.
1- Equality and Liberty take new names again. What are their new names? What reason did Equality give for choosing the new names?

2- What does Equality plan to do in the future?

3- What is the sacred word that Equality says he will cut above the doors and print on his banners?

Ch. 11


Chapter Eleven

Respond to 2 of the 4 questions below.
1- What great discovery does Equality make in this chapter?

2- What does Equality now realize is the proper goal and purpose of his life?

3- Using examples from the text, explain in what ways “I” is like a God?

4- Reread the incident with the Saint of the Pyre on page 50. What was he trying to communicate to Equality?

Ch. 10

Chapter Ten

Respond to the question below.
Write a paragraph describing the house and its contents in your own words. Explain why Liberty and Equality find it so strange and unique.

Ch. 9

Chapter Nine

Respond to the questions below.

1-Equality and Liberty are reunited in the Uncharted Forest. What is it that Equality says is the “bond” between them?

2-Read the quote that begins “There is some error, one frightful error . . . (pg 86). In response to this quote, what do you believe is the error that Equality is trying to identify?

Ch. 8

Chapter Eight

Respond to 2 of the 3 questions below.
1- What is Equality experiencing for the first time in this chapter? What does he feel as a result?

2- Explain why Equality laughs when he remembers that he is “the Damned.”

3- Equality bends to get a drink of water and has a new experience (pg 80). What is the new experience? How does he react?

Ch. 7

Chapter Seven

Respond to 2 of the 3 questions below.
1-Outline four of the Council’s reasons for rejecting Equality’s invention.

2-What are the real reasons behind the Council’s rejection and fear of the gift?

3-Equality states that “We are doomed” but he does not feel doomed. How does Equality really feel once he is in the Uncharted Forest?