Book Report
Title:
The Fountainhead
Author:
Ayn Rand
Explain the title:
The fountainhead refers to the source of a stream of flowing water. All water can be traced back to
the source or “the fountainhead”. All accomplishments of man can be traced back to the creative
mind. She is saying that everything of value flows from the creative mind of an individual as its
source. Roark, the main character, is the man who lives for himself, dealing with others by trade, not
power, and living by his own standards. He solely works from his own “fountainhead”.
Setting: when and where does the story take place? Give examples.
The story takes place around the 1920’s-1940’s in New York City, United States of America. Most of
the time it takes place in New York. Settings like Roark’s office, Keating’s office and other buildings.
These buildings are often important for the story itself, they explain architecture from then and sets
often the mood for the scenes. Not everything happens in New York. Occasionally one or a couple of
the characters travel to a lesser known part of the United States. Things like the granite-mine where
Roark works for a summer. These other settings are often a important explanation or moment for the
character’s development. Most of Roark’s buildings are in lesser known parts, mainly because in
those parts his designs fits best.
Was it a place/time/setting you would like to live in? Explain why.
I have found New York one of the most interesting cities my whole life. The vibrancy, liveness and all
the possibilities are important to me. So yes, I would like to live in New York City. Although, I rather
live in the city center, where the story takes mostly place, than in the suburbs of course. The book is
written in a way that time is almost unnoticeable. So I do not have a real complete vision of the time
it takes place. From what I have read and what I already know about this time is that I would not
mind living in this time. Especially because New York was then, and still is, a modern city, where
almost all your desires can be met. The setting is one that I certainly would not mind. Almost all of
the characters are extremely rich and live in great wealth.
Tell something about the main characters? (looks, behavior, feelings, etc.)
Howard Roark is the novel’s hero, a brilliant architect of absolute integrity. Roark has friends and
colleagues, but relies on himself alone. He is tall, with gray eyes and orange hair. Born to a poor
family, Roark supports himself throughout high school and college by working odd jobs on
construction sites. This gives him a lot of experience in the working field, experience most architects
lack off. He brings the same intensity to whatever job he does, whether it is manual labor or
architecture. He loves the beautiful Dominique Francon with violent passion. He is the novel’s
idealization of man, bringing innovative and joyful buildings to the rest of the world.
Ellsworth Toohey is the villain of the novel, and Roark’s completely opposite with a lust for power but
no talent. Since his childhood, Toohey has hated the achievements of others, and he dedicates
himself to reviewing other people’s talents and ambitions. He is a small and fragile-looking man, but
his persuasive voice and talent for manipulation make him a strong opponent. He encourages
Title:
The Fountainhead
Author:
Ayn Rand
Explain the title:
The fountainhead refers to the source of a stream of flowing water. All water can be traced back to
the source or “the fountainhead”. All accomplishments of man can be traced back to the creative
mind. She is saying that everything of value flows from the creative mind of an individual as its
source. Roark, the main character, is the man who lives for himself, dealing with others by trade, not
power, and living by his own standards. He solely works from his own “fountainhead”.
Setting: when and where does the story take place? Give examples.
The story takes place around the 1920’s-1940’s in New York City, United States of America. Most of
the time it takes place in New York. Settings like Roark’s office, Keating’s office and other buildings.
These buildings are often important for the story itself, they explain architecture from then and sets
often the mood for the scenes. Not everything happens in New York. Occasionally one or a couple of
the characters travel to a lesser known part of the United States. Things like the granite-mine where
Roark works for a summer. These other settings are often a important explanation or moment for the
character’s development. Most of Roark’s buildings are in lesser known parts, mainly because in
those parts his designs fits best.
Was it a place/time/setting you would like to live in? Explain why.
I have found New York one of the most interesting cities my whole life. The vibrancy, liveness and all
the possibilities are important to me. So yes, I would like to live in New York City. Although, I rather
live in the city center, where the story takes mostly place, than in the suburbs of course. The book is
written in a way that time is almost unnoticeable. So I do not have a real complete vision of the time
it takes place. From what I have read and what I already know about this time is that I would not
mind living in this time. Especially because New York was then, and still is, a modern city, where
almost all your desires can be met. The setting is one that I certainly would not mind. Almost all of
the characters are extremely rich and live in great wealth.
Tell something about the main characters? (looks, behavior, feelings, etc.)
Howard Roark is the novel’s hero, a brilliant architect of absolute integrity. Roark has friends and
colleagues, but relies on himself alone. He is tall, with gray eyes and orange hair. Born to a poor
family, Roark supports himself throughout high school and college by working odd jobs on
construction sites. This gives him a lot of experience in the working field, experience most architects
lack off. He brings the same intensity to whatever job he does, whether it is manual labor or
architecture. He loves the beautiful Dominique Francon with violent passion. He is the novel’s
idealization of man, bringing innovative and joyful buildings to the rest of the world.
Ellsworth Toohey is the villain of the novel, and Roark’s completely opposite with a lust for power but
no talent. Since his childhood, Toohey has hated the achievements of others, and he dedicates
himself to reviewing other people’s talents and ambitions. He is a small and fragile-looking man, but
his persuasive voice and talent for manipulation make him a strong opponent. He encourages
