Close Reading

Textual Support
Liberty chooses "Unconquered" as a fitting name for Equality. Similarly, William Henley's most famous poem is titled "Invictus" which is Latin for 'unconquered."

"Invictus"
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquered soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms by the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Task
Write a close analysis on the similarities between the main characters in Anthem and this poem.

Chapter One

Respond to 2 of the 5 questions (listed below). Use no less than 3 sentences in your responses. Be thoughtful and use specific details and examples.

1- To help create setting, Ayn Rand uses color imagery. Find two examples in the chapter. What colors does the author use? What image is she trying to convey?

2- The first page of Anthem begins, “It is a sin to write this.” Using textual evidence, explain why Equality is committing a sin when he writes.

3- Why does Equality refer to himself as “we”?

4- Would you want to be friends with someone like Equality? Why or why not?

5- Ayn Rand wanted Equality 7-2521 to stand out from his brothers. Explain how she accomplished this by contrasting Equality 7-2521’s physical attributes to those of his fellow men.

Chapter Two

Respond to 2 of the 5 questions listed below. Follow the same instructions from the last chapter's blog.
1- Reread the account of Liberty 5-3000. What character traits are revealed in this brief description?

2-Of the whole range of feelings possible to man (joy, excitement, anger, embarrassment, etc.), why is fear the prevalent emotion in this society?

3-Using descriptions from the text, contrast Equality with the rest of the men living in this society.

4-Equality says “a word steals into our mind, as we look upon our brothers”. What is that word and why would that be the word he thinks of?

5-Explain the following terms: A. The Great Truth B. the Unmentionable Times C. the Uncharted Forest D. the Evil Ones E. the Great Rebirth

Chapter Three

Respond the question below.
What does Equality discover in this chapter? How important is this discovery? Describe four or five ways in which it would help society and make life easier or more enjoyable.

Chapter Four

Respond to the question below.
What is the name that Liberty has given to Equality? Does this name fit? Why?

Chapter Five

Respond to the questions below.
1- What does Equality invent in this chapter?

2- Equality is suddenly interested in seeing his own image. Why now? What emotions is he feeling?

Chapter Six

Respond to 2 of the three questions below.
1- Up until now, Equality has been sneaking in and out of his hidden place to work on his invention. One night he is caught sneaking back in to his “home.” What is his punishment?

2- How did Equality become free from the Palace of Corrective Detention?

3- The old locks and lack of guards in the Palace of Corrective Detention indicate that prisoners have never tried to escape. According to the text, why not?