By Mrs. Bartel Review notes

1. Anthem By Mrs. Bartel Review notes

2. Background Notes • 1905-1982 • Born in Russia-Alissa Zinovievna Rosenbaum • Educated under the communists • Experienced the horrors of totalitarianism • Defected from Russia in 1926 to America which represented her belief system

3. Background Notes • Anthem was written in 1937 • Published in 1938 in England • Published in America in 1946

4. Six Characteristics of Science Fiction

5. 1. Realistic-takes concepts from the past and projects them into the future.

6. 2. Characters are well-developed.They hold contrasting qualities: good vs. badMore human

7. 3. Plot moved by scientific thought and theory-very little action.

8. 4. Plot deals with a human’s development and place in his or her society.

9. 5. Scientific, believable weapons

10. To totally understand novel, a person needs a background in the sciences.

11. Theme of Anthem • “the meaning of man’s ego” • For essay: Give at least three specific examples from novel that illustrate this theme with quotes.

12. Individualism • In Rand’s words: “Individualism regards man-every man-as an independent, sovereign entity who possesses inalienable rights to his own live, a right derived from his nature as a rational being.” • “I will not run anyone’s life-nor let anyone run mine.” • Same rights

13. Collectivism • “Collectivism means the subjugation of the individual to a group-whether to a race, class or state does not matter. Collectivism holds that man must be chained to a collective action and collective thought for the sake of what is called ‘the common good.’” • Owned by group and worth determined by group

14. Objectivism • Reality exists as an objective absolute-facts are facts, independent of man’s feelings, wishes, hopes, and fears. • Reason (the faculty which identifies and integrates the material provided by man’s senses) is man’s only means of perceiving reality, his only source of knowledge, his only guide to action, and his basic means of survival.

15. Objectivism • Man—every man—is an end in himself, not the means to the ends of others. He must exist for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself. The pursuit of his own rational self-interest and of his own happiness is the highest moralpurpose of his life.

16. Objectivism • The ideal political-economic system is laissez-fairecapitalism. It is a system where men deal with one another, not as victims and executioners, nor as masters and slaves, but as traders, by free, voluntary exchange to mutual benefit.

17. Objectivism • It is a system where no man may obtain any values from others by resorting to physical force, and no man may initiate the use of physical force against others. The government acts only as a policeman that protects man’s rights; it uses physical force only in retaliation and only against those who initiate its use, such as criminals or foreign invaders.

18. “Invictus” by William Henley Beyond this place of wrath and tears   Looms but 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.

19. “Invictus” by William Henley Out of the night that covers me,   Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be   For my unconquerable 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.