Anthem

Anthem—Chapter Questions

Chapter One: “Sinfulness”

What is the great transgression? (11)
What indication is there that the writer has not fully liberated himself from his society? (11)
What is the tension of the opening two sections? How does the writer create the
tension? (11-12)
What evidence is there that the writer has committed some sort of sin? (12)
What does the writer's name(Equality 7-2521) tell us about the society of which he is a member? (13)
What is odd about the use of the pronoun “we” ? (13)
What is the wirter's curse/ (13)
What effect do the all the names of institutions (described in capital letters) have on our understanding of this society?
What has this society done to the history of humankind prior to the “Great Rebirth”? (14) Why?
What isremarkable about the lives of individual human beings in this society? (15-25)
What irony is there in the authorities' selection of job for Equality 7-2521? (20-21)
How does the writer criticize the society in his description of Equality's life as a Street Sweeper? (23-25)
Why is it a sin to have a friend? (27)
How does the society cover all situations that are not specifically covered in its laws?(29)
What internal conflict does the writer feel in the tunnel underneath the earth's surface? (30)
What is exciting to Equality 7-2521 about his nightly visits to the tunnel? (34-35)
Explain how Equality's 7-2521 evil is no real evil at all. (35-36)


Chapter Two: “Lovers and Saints”
Why cannot men and women look at each other in a loving way? (37)
How does the writer indicate thatEquality 7-2521 is attracted to Liberty 5-3000? (38-39)
Why is the attraction of one individual for another a “Transgression of Preference”? (40-41)
In what way does Equality 7-2521 personalize and humanize Liberty 5-3000? (41)
How does the state handle the production of children? (41-42)
What evidence is there that Equality 7-2521 is beginning to see Liberty 5-3000 as someone special to him? (45)How do we know that Equality 7-2521 has had a transformation of spirit as a result of his connection to The Golden One? (46)
According to state teaching why is that men are not allowed to be anything but happy? (46-47)
What gives the lie to the state myth of total happiness for all? (47-48)
What kind of sin is Equality 7-2521 committing when he thinks about the “Uncharted Forest,” the“Unmentionable Times,” and the “Evil Ones”? (50)
What literary strategy is the writer using when he mentions the “Unspeakeable Word”? (51)
Why are men burnt alive in the public square? (51-52)
How does the writer make the Transgressor (the sinner) into a saint? (52)
Chapter Three: “The Power of Nature”
Why is it an important detail that Equality 7-2521 has made his discovery alone? (54)
Whatindication is there that Equality 7-2521 is on his way to full rebellion against the society in which he lives? (57)
Chapter Four: “Love Flourishes”
Trace the important steps the lovers take toward intimacy. Start from the first sentence of the chapter and go to the last. (58-62)

Chapter Five: “Promethues”
Read the myth of Promethues. Explain what connection the story has with the story's action inAnthem
What evidence is there that Equality 7-2521 does not fully understand the the nature of the society he lives in, that he is still a creature who accepts the tenets of his society? (65-66)
What indication is there that Equality 7-2521 is in conflict with himself? (66)

What is important about the notion that Equality 7-2521 wishes to see what he himself looks like? (66-67)
ChapterSix: “Capture and Escape”
How does Equality 7-2521 get caught? (68-69) What happens to him? (69-71)
How does the writer create pathos for Equality's plight? (71)
Why does Equality smile when he realizes that he has not told the Judges anything? (72)
What mistake does he make? Why is it a mistake? (74)
Chapter Seven: “ Escape to the Uncharted Forest“
What is ironic in the phrase “the...