About the Author AAyn Rand 1 BBorn in St. Petersburg, Russia Disliked the mysticism (acceptance of allegations without proof or evidence) and collectivism of Russian culture (communism) SStudied psychology and history in college LLiked America’s freedom Got permission to visit American relatives. Told Soviet authorities her visit would be short but planned on never returning home.

 Eventually went to Hollywood where Cecil B. DeMille (big-time movie director of the 10s-50s –The Ten Commandments, The Greatest Show on Earth, Cleopatra) saw her at the studio gate and gave her a job as an extra.  Met actor Frank O’Connor that week. He later became her husband.  Worked behind the scenes in Hollywood then eventually wrote her first novel, We the Living, in It is about Soviet tyranny.  Wrote Anthem in 1938.

Terms to Know  Romantic Hero We discussed this during The Count of Monte Cristo. See if you still have the notes. If not, print them off my website!  Novella Complexity and length is between a short story and a novel Story has a compact and pointed plot

Terms to Know  Dystopia A fictional society in which people lead dehumanized and often fearful lives. ○ The Hunger Games ○ Divergent Series ○ The Matrix ○ The Giver ○ Matched ○ Fahrenheit 451 ○ 1984 ○ Brave New World ○ Can you think of others?

Terms to Know  Collectivism Suppression of the individual to a group (a race, class, state). Man must be chained to collective action and collective thought for the sake of what is called “the common good.”  Pros and Cons? “Ask not what your country can do for you; Ask what you can do for your country.” John F. Kennedy

Basic Info  Setting: In the future; unidentified city  Characters have names and numbers Equality – 2521  All characters refer to themselves as “we” and “our” rather than “I” and “me”. This goes along with the collectivism idea.

Themes in Anthem  In Ayn Rand’s words, the primary thematic idea of the novella is “The Meaning of man’s ego.” Additional Thematic Topics are: ○ Collectivism ○ Individuality ○ Conformity ○ Equality

Think About It—Choose a Side  Equality will never truly exist in society? Agree or Disagree. Explain  Conformity is the only way to truly feel accepted in today’s society? Agree or Disagree. Explain  Individuality should be more important than the collective group. Agree or Disagree. Explain  True individuality can never be achieved in our society. Agree or Disagree. explain

You could win MONEY!!  Ayn Rand Institute (Essay Contest) Ayn Rand Institute  This essay will be mandatory and assigned at a later date.