March 22-26

Culinary: Midterm is Wednesday. On-line quizzes will help prepare you for this midterm.

9 English:
Midterm is Monday. Past quizzes will help prepare you for the midterm.

We shall begin the novella Anthem, by Ayn Rand. Here are the questions on chapter 1:

1. The Setting:
a. In a well-organized paragraph, describe the society in which Anthem is set. Some areas to consider are the political structure, degree of technology, social relationships, quality of life, and education.
b. Would you want to live in this society? Explain why or why not.
2. In this chapter, Equality states that it is very unusual for men to reach the age of 45. Offer several possible explanations as to why life expectancy is so short in his society.
3. Define the following terms in Anthem? Should it be condemned?
Transgression:
Transgression of Preference:
Sin
Curse
Crime
Evil
Damned

4. Clearly, Ayn Rand intended Equality to stand out from his “brothers.” Explain how she accomplishes this by contrasting Equality’s physical qualities and character traits to those of his fellow men.
5. Why does the Council of Vocations assign Equality 7-2521 the job of street sweeper? Is it due to error, incompetence, or a more sinister motivation? Explain.
6. When does this novel take place—in the past, the present, or the future? How do you know?
7. How would your teachers react if you had Equality’s “curse”?
8. Why do Equality’s teachers disapprove of his quick mind?
9. At this point in the novel, does Equality accept the moral teachings of his society? If so, why doesn’t he feel shame or remorse when he knows that he’s committing a crime? Find textual evidence to support your answer.
10. Would you want to be friends with someone like Equality 7-2521? Why or why not?