anthem by ayn rand

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Anthem Anthem by Ayn Rand by Ayn Rand Background Information Background Information 9 9 th th grade Language Arts grade Language Arts

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Anthem by Ayn Rand. Background Information 9 th grade Language Arts. Ayn Rand. Born in Russia in 1905 Educated under the Communists Experienced firsthand horrors of totalitarianism - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Anthem by Ayn Rand

AnthemAnthemby Ayn Randby Ayn RandBackground InformationBackground Information

99thth grade Language Arts grade Language Arts

Page 2: Anthem by Ayn Rand

Ayn RandAyn Rand

Born in Russia in 1905Born in Russia in 1905 Educated under the CommunistsEducated under the Communists Experienced firsthand horrors of Experienced firsthand horrors of

totalitarianismtotalitarianism Form of government in which political Form of government in which political

authority has absolute and central authority has absolute and central control over all aspects of life. Individual control over all aspects of life. Individual thought, political and cultural expression thought, political and cultural expression is suppressed for the “good” of the is suppressed for the “good” of the government.government.

Page 3: Anthem by Ayn Rand

Ayn RandAyn Rand

Moved to America in 1926Moved to America in 1926

America represented her individualist America represented her individualist philosophyphilosophy

She embraced the potential of the She embraced the potential of the individual to thrive outside of individual to thrive outside of governmental controlgovernmental control

Page 4: Anthem by Ayn Rand

Review QuestionReview Question

Where was Ayn Rand from?Where was Ayn Rand from?a.a. BosniaBosniab.b. RussiaRussiac.c. EnglandEnglandd.d. EuropeEuropee.e. AsiaAsia

Why is it important to know she’s Why is it important to know she’s from this place?from this place?

Page 5: Anthem by Ayn Rand

Review QuestionReview Question Why did Ayn Rand move to the USA?Why did Ayn Rand move to the USA?

a.a. The Russians made her because she The Russians made her because she would not conform to their governmentwould not conform to their government

b.b. She was a refugee from communismShe was a refugee from communism

c.c. She chose to move to the USA because She chose to move to the USA because she believed in its values as a societyshe believed in its values as a society

d.d. She had family here and had nowhere She had family here and had nowhere else to goelse to go

Page 6: Anthem by Ayn Rand

Anthem (1937)Anthem (1937) Novelette about the essence of Novelette about the essence of collectivismcollectivism

Political principle of centralized social and Political principle of centralized social and economic controleconomic control

Theme: Theme: “The meaning of man’s ego”“The meaning of man’s ego” Individual is swallowed by collective (group)Individual is swallowed by collective (group) People have to People have to accept the society’s ideasaccept the society’s ideas for the for the

totalitarianism to take controltotalitarianism to take control Lives of people in a totalitarian society are Lives of people in a totalitarian society are

depressingdepressing However, the individual can triumph over it!However, the individual can triumph over it!

Page 7: Anthem by Ayn Rand

Review QuestionReview Question

What is collectivism?What is collectivism?a.a. The idea that we should all work together The idea that we should all work together

towards a common goodtowards a common goodb.b. The idea that a society is made up of The idea that a society is made up of

many different types of people, all of many different types of people, all of whom are necessary for the society to whom are necessary for the society to function properlyfunction properly

c.c. The idea that politics and society should The idea that politics and society should be under central control and everyone be under central control and everyone should believe the same thingsshould believe the same things

Page 8: Anthem by Ayn Rand

Anti-Utopian societyAnti-Utopian society A UTOPIA is a perfect societyA UTOPIA is a perfect society An An anti-utopian societyanti-utopian society shows the world shows the world

presented in a way it should not be.presented in a way it should not be. Anti-utopia: meant to Anti-utopia: meant to scare youscare you by showing how bad by showing how bad

it could beit could be Anthem presents a Anthem presents a collectivismcollectivism as the worst as the worst

possible societypossible society Anthem suggests that economic progress depends Anthem suggests that economic progress depends

on on freedomfreedom Anthem suggests that the uncoerced mind is the Anthem suggests that the uncoerced mind is the

source of technology, prosperity, and progresssource of technology, prosperity, and progress Philosophic issues are raised in the book and Philosophic issues are raised in the book and

are dramatized through actionare dramatized through action

Page 9: Anthem by Ayn Rand

CollectivismCollectivism ““Collectivism means the subjugation of the Collectivism means the subjugation of the

individual to the group– whether to a race, individual to the group– whether to a race, class or state does not matter”– Ayn Randclass or state does not matter”– Ayn Rand

An individual is An individual is ownedowned by the group by the group No right to private existenceNo right to private existence No right to pursue own happiness or own No right to pursue own happiness or own

propertyproperty Individual only exists as part of a groupIndividual only exists as part of a group Worth is determined by service to the Worth is determined by service to the

groupgroup

Page 10: Anthem by Ayn Rand

IndividualismIndividualism

““Individualism regards man– every man– Individualism regards man– every man– as an independent, sovereign entity who as an independent, sovereign entity who possesses an inalienable right to his own possesses an inalienable right to his own life, a right derived from his nature as a life, a right derived from his nature as a rational being” – Ayn Randrational being” – Ayn Rand

Every man is an individual and has the Every man is an individual and has the same rights as every other mansame rights as every other man

Does not mean that everyone can do Does not mean that everyone can do whatever they feel like doingwhatever they feel like doing

Page 11: Anthem by Ayn Rand

Think about it…Think about it…

Do you think collectivism is Do you think collectivism is necessarilynecessarily a bad/evil thing? a bad/evil thing?

Do you think individualism is Do you think individualism is alwaysalways a a good thing? How might it go wrong?good thing? How might it go wrong?

Page 12: Anthem by Ayn Rand

SelflessnessSelflessness No one has a No one has a selfself in collectivism– individuals in collectivism– individuals

are interchangeable are interchangeable It is wrong to disagree, to have independent It is wrong to disagree, to have independent

thoughtsthoughts Self-assertion is forbiddenSelf-assertion is forbidden Creats sub-human society: “What makes Creats sub-human society: “What makes

human beings human is having a self” – Ayn human beings human is having a self” – Ayn RandRand

Selflessness requires that you abstain from Selflessness requires that you abstain from thinking and obey your master without thinking and obey your master without questionquestion

Page 13: Anthem by Ayn Rand

Note…Note…

Rand’s idea of “selflessness” means Rand’s idea of “selflessness” means losing your self/ego/identity– literally losing your self/ego/identity– literally being without a “self”being without a “self”

We generally think of the word We generally think of the word “selflessness” as a good thing: the “selflessness” as a good thing: the opposite of being “selfish”– giving opposite of being “selfish”– giving yourself up to help othersyourself up to help others

Keep both definitions in mind!Keep both definitions in mind!

Page 14: Anthem by Ayn Rand

EgoismEgoism

Concern with one’s own interestsConcern with one’s own interests Ambition, wanting things for yourself, Ambition, wanting things for yourself,

wanting to learn, wanting a career that wanting to learn, wanting a career that makes you happy, loving someone, makes you happy, loving someone, thinking for yourselfthinking for yourself

For Ayn Rand, the For Ayn Rand, the selfself is like a god– is like a god– it’s your highest value, the source of it’s your highest value, the source of what is good in life on Earth!what is good in life on Earth!

Page 15: Anthem by Ayn Rand

Question…Question…

Do you think of EGOISM as a good Do you think of EGOISM as a good thing?thing?

a.a. YesYes

b.b. NoNo

c.c. SometimesSometimes

Page 16: Anthem by Ayn Rand

Note…Note… Ayn Rand uses the word “EGO” the same Ayn Rand uses the word “EGO” the same

way as the word “self”– having an ego is way as the word “self”– having an ego is having a sense of your importance as an having a sense of your importance as an individual to societyindividual to society

We usually think as someone with an “ego” We usually think as someone with an “ego” as a bad thing– someone who is “full of as a bad thing– someone who is “full of themselves” or selfish.themselves” or selfish.

Again, remember both definitions: while Again, remember both definitions: while we’re reading we’re reading AnthemAnthem, keep Rand’s , keep Rand’s definitions in mind.definitions in mind.

Page 17: Anthem by Ayn Rand

Free Will vs. DeterminismFree Will vs. Determinism

Free willFree will means people can make means people can make choices, make up their own minds, choices, make up their own minds, make decisions, and direct their own make decisions, and direct their own lives by the ideas and values they lives by the ideas and values they adoptadopt

DeterminismDeterminism is that people are by is that people are by nature in the grip of forces beyond nature in the grip of forces beyond their controltheir control