Anthem
Ashlyn Eisenga
April 28, 2013
Anthem Essay: Literary Elements
Anthem
A genre is a category of expressing oneself in writing. According to Wikipedia’s list of genres, the genre of Anthem can be viewed as speculative fiction. Fiction is a writing about things, events and characters that are not true. Ayn Rands uses dystopia as her fictitious genre. The Wikipedia also goes on to say that Dystopia is a community that is in some important way, undesireable or frightening. Dystopian societies are often used in writings to raise real-world issues such as, environment, economy, or technology that might become a part of the future. Anthem represents a famous dystopian society. Anthem portrays a future where individuals have no rights, and exist only to serve the state, for the sake of ‘the great WE’.
When the individuals speak of themselves, they use the collective “we”. The word “I” has been outlawed; it is the “Unspeakable Word” taken from the language and peoples minds. This is the most interesting feature of this book… its use of language. Anthem is written in the first person. Each chapter is a journal entry of the narrator, Equality 7-2521. At times the use of this language is confusing. The sentences are short, simple and straightforward. “We stopped when we felt hunger. We made a fire, we cooked the bird, and ate it.” Some see this type of writing as unique and forceful. I see it as simple and serious.
Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts. Anthem is full of symbolism. In chapter 5, Equality 7-2521 discovers how to make a lightbulb work. According to Rand, the Light represents truth, freedom, and life. To Equality 7-2521, only one man invited the light = “we” did not accomplish it. This starts him off on his journey to the “Unspeakable Word.”
The Unchartered Forest represents rebirth as an individual. Society is forbidden to enter the forest. In chapter 8, Equality 7-2521 and
April 28, 2013
Anthem Essay: Literary Elements
Anthem
A genre is a category of expressing oneself in writing. According to Wikipedia’s list of genres, the genre of Anthem can be viewed as speculative fiction. Fiction is a writing about things, events and characters that are not true. Ayn Rands uses dystopia as her fictitious genre. The Wikipedia also goes on to say that Dystopia is a community that is in some important way, undesireable or frightening. Dystopian societies are often used in writings to raise real-world issues such as, environment, economy, or technology that might become a part of the future. Anthem represents a famous dystopian society. Anthem portrays a future where individuals have no rights, and exist only to serve the state, for the sake of ‘the great WE’.
When the individuals speak of themselves, they use the collective “we”. The word “I” has been outlawed; it is the “Unspeakable Word” taken from the language and peoples minds. This is the most interesting feature of this book… its use of language. Anthem is written in the first person. Each chapter is a journal entry of the narrator, Equality 7-2521. At times the use of this language is confusing. The sentences are short, simple and straightforward. “We stopped when we felt hunger. We made a fire, we cooked the bird, and ate it.” Some see this type of writing as unique and forceful. I see it as simple and serious.
Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts. Anthem is full of symbolism. In chapter 5, Equality 7-2521 discovers how to make a lightbulb work. According to Rand, the Light represents truth, freedom, and life. To Equality 7-2521, only one man invited the light = “we” did not accomplish it. This starts him off on his journey to the “Unspeakable Word.”
The Unchartered Forest represents rebirth as an individual. Society is forbidden to enter the forest. In chapter 8, Equality 7-2521 and