Anthem is a dystopian novella by author and philosopher Ayn Rand that was first published in Great Britain in 1938 and in the United States in 1946. It is Rand’s political manifesto for her theory of Objectivism, or egoism—the idea that an individual’s worth comes from himself or herself and not from what he or she contributes to society. Anthem takes the form of an allegory in which Rand describes a dystopia (in which the pronoun “I” has been outlawed) through which she speculates on the eventual result of society’s negative aspects.

Summary

Read the detailed chapter-by-chapter Summary & Analysis or the Full Book Summary of Anthem.

Characters

See a complete list of the characters in Anthem and in-depth analyses of Equality 7-2521 and The Golden One.

Literary Devices

Here is where you will find analysis of the main themes, motifs, and symbols in Anthem. Also, read a mini-essay about the setting for Anthem here.

Quick Quizzes

Test your knowledge of Anthem with quizzes about every section, major characters, themes, symbols, and more.

Deeper Study

Go further in your study of Anthem by reading background information about Ayn Rand and her novel as well as mini essays on key topics.

Purchase

Go to BN.com to get your copy of these helpful resources.