ANTHEM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
When does this novel take place - in the past, present, or future? How do you know? -
Answers- This novel takes place in the future because Equality describes a society
unlike anything the world has yet seen: a society in which everyone is equal. It also
says so on the back.
What motto is engraved over the portals of the Palace of the World Council? What
prayer is recited every night? - Answers- Motto:
"We are one in all and all in one.
There are no men but only the great WE,
One, indivisible, and forever."
Prayer:
"We are nothing. Mankind is all. By the grace of our brothers are we allowed our lives.
We exist through, by and for our brothers who are the State. Amen."
What is Equality's curse? - Answers- He is not like everyone else.
Compare the Home of the Infants, the Home of the Students, and the Home of the
Street Sweepers. - Answers- The Home of the Infants is where citizens stay from the
time they are born until they are five. The sleeping halls were white, clean, and empty
besides for 100 beds.
Citizens spend 10 years learning at the Home of the Students. The sleeping halls were
the same.
The Home of the Street Sweepers is a gray house on a narrow street. The sleeping
halls are the same.
What is ironic about the Social Meeting? - Answers- It is not social - they just sit and
listen to the leaders talk and then sing.
Why was Equality pleased with his Life Mandate? - Answers- By working as a Street
Sweeper, he could make up for the times when he wished to be a Scholar and
committed the Transgression of Preference.
Describe a typical day in Equality's life for the next four years. - Answers- He gets up
when a bell rings and then has a half-hour to eat and dress. Then he goes to work in the
city with his brooms and rakes. Five hours later he has a half-hour break for lunch. Five
hours after that he has an hour for dinner. Then the bell rings and he walks in a straight
column to one of the City Halls for the Social Meeting. Then he goes to the City Theatre
for 3 hours of social recreation. Finally, he walks back Home in a straight column and
goes to bed.
Who are Union 5-3992 and International 4-8818? - Answers- Union only has half a
brain (he's stupid). He is sickly and sometimes has convulsions in which he froths at the
mouth and his eyes turn white.
, International is tall and strong. His eyes are like fireflies, and no one can look upon him
without smiling. As such, he was disliked at the Home of the Students. He used to draw
funny pictures with coal on the walls.
Why does the International say, "May the council have mercy upon both of our hearts"?
- Answers- Equality convinces International not to tell the Council about the hole behind
the Theatre because they would be lashed to death if they did. International would
rather be evil with Equality than good with everyone else.
For the next two years, what does Equality do in relationship to his discovery? -
Answers- Every night he slips away from the Theatre and studies in the tunnel.
Just by going there what great transgression does he commit? - Answers- He is not
supposed to be down there; he is supposed to be in the theatre.
How does International help him? - Answers- International promises not to tell the
Council about the tunnel.
Describe Equality's writing. What is the format of his writing? - Answers- Equality refers
to himself as "we" (Gollum, anyone?). In his writing, he continually says that what he is
doing is a transgression and saying there is an evil within him.
Describe Equality's physical appearance. - Answers- Equality wears an iron bracelet on
his left wrist with his name, Equality 7-2521, on it. He is 21 years old and 6 feet tall,
which is very unusual. His teachers said there was evil inside of him because of his
abnormal height.
What other transgressions does Equality commit? - Answers- He has stolen candles,
flints, knives, and paper from the Home of the Street Sweepers. He has stolen glass
vials, powders, and acids from the Home of the Scholars. He has also stolen
manuscripts, which is a great offense because the Home of the Clerks spend one year
copying one single script.
What does Equality mean when he says, "They"? - Answers- He is speaking about
another person.
Who lives in the Home of the Peasants? - Answers- The women who have been
assigned to work in the soil.
Who is Liberty 5-3000? Why is Equality attracted to her and what does she do? -
Answers- She is a woman who lives at the Home of the Peasants. Equality is attracted
to her because she is very beautiful. She has dark eyes that have no fear, kindness, or
guilt and golden hair that defied men to restrain it.
Read pages 41-43 and explain Equality's interest in Liberty. - Answers- Equality cannot
stop thinking about Liberty, and he does not know why. But when he thinks of her, he
When does this novel take place - in the past, present, or future? How do you know? -
Answers- This novel takes place in the future because Equality describes a society
unlike anything the world has yet seen: a society in which everyone is equal. It also
says so on the back.
What motto is engraved over the portals of the Palace of the World Council? What
prayer is recited every night? - Answers- Motto:
"We are one in all and all in one.
There are no men but only the great WE,
One, indivisible, and forever."
Prayer:
"We are nothing. Mankind is all. By the grace of our brothers are we allowed our lives.
We exist through, by and for our brothers who are the State. Amen."
What is Equality's curse? - Answers- He is not like everyone else.
Compare the Home of the Infants, the Home of the Students, and the Home of the
Street Sweepers. - Answers- The Home of the Infants is where citizens stay from the
time they are born until they are five. The sleeping halls were white, clean, and empty
besides for 100 beds.
Citizens spend 10 years learning at the Home of the Students. The sleeping halls were
the same.
The Home of the Street Sweepers is a gray house on a narrow street. The sleeping
halls are the same.
What is ironic about the Social Meeting? - Answers- It is not social - they just sit and
listen to the leaders talk and then sing.
Why was Equality pleased with his Life Mandate? - Answers- By working as a Street
Sweeper, he could make up for the times when he wished to be a Scholar and
committed the Transgression of Preference.
Describe a typical day in Equality's life for the next four years. - Answers- He gets up
when a bell rings and then has a half-hour to eat and dress. Then he goes to work in the
city with his brooms and rakes. Five hours later he has a half-hour break for lunch. Five
hours after that he has an hour for dinner. Then the bell rings and he walks in a straight
column to one of the City Halls for the Social Meeting. Then he goes to the City Theatre
for 3 hours of social recreation. Finally, he walks back Home in a straight column and
goes to bed.
Who are Union 5-3992 and International 4-8818? - Answers- Union only has half a
brain (he's stupid). He is sickly and sometimes has convulsions in which he froths at the
mouth and his eyes turn white.
, International is tall and strong. His eyes are like fireflies, and no one can look upon him
without smiling. As such, he was disliked at the Home of the Students. He used to draw
funny pictures with coal on the walls.
Why does the International say, "May the council have mercy upon both of our hearts"?
- Answers- Equality convinces International not to tell the Council about the hole behind
the Theatre because they would be lashed to death if they did. International would
rather be evil with Equality than good with everyone else.
For the next two years, what does Equality do in relationship to his discovery? -
Answers- Every night he slips away from the Theatre and studies in the tunnel.
Just by going there what great transgression does he commit? - Answers- He is not
supposed to be down there; he is supposed to be in the theatre.
How does International help him? - Answers- International promises not to tell the
Council about the tunnel.
Describe Equality's writing. What is the format of his writing? - Answers- Equality refers
to himself as "we" (Gollum, anyone?). In his writing, he continually says that what he is
doing is a transgression and saying there is an evil within him.
Describe Equality's physical appearance. - Answers- Equality wears an iron bracelet on
his left wrist with his name, Equality 7-2521, on it. He is 21 years old and 6 feet tall,
which is very unusual. His teachers said there was evil inside of him because of his
abnormal height.
What other transgressions does Equality commit? - Answers- He has stolen candles,
flints, knives, and paper from the Home of the Street Sweepers. He has stolen glass
vials, powders, and acids from the Home of the Scholars. He has also stolen
manuscripts, which is a great offense because the Home of the Clerks spend one year
copying one single script.
What does Equality mean when he says, "They"? - Answers- He is speaking about
another person.
Who lives in the Home of the Peasants? - Answers- The women who have been
assigned to work in the soil.
Who is Liberty 5-3000? Why is Equality attracted to her and what does she do? -
Answers- She is a woman who lives at the Home of the Peasants. Equality is attracted
to her because she is very beautiful. She has dark eyes that have no fear, kindness, or
guilt and golden hair that defied men to restrain it.
Read pages 41-43 and explain Equality's interest in Liberty. - Answers- Equality cannot
stop thinking about Liberty, and he does not know why. But when he thinks of her, he
