Students > Essay Contests > Anthem
✓ Open to all middle & high school students worldwide, ages 13 and older.
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We’ll email you more information about this year’s contest—including instructions on how to enter. In the meantime, please let us know at essays@aynrand.org if you have any questions. We’re happy to help.
Anthem is Ayn Rand’s classic tale of a dystopian future of the great “We”—a world that deprives individuals of a name or independence.
In all that was left of humanity there was only one man who dared to think, seek, and love. He lived in the dark ages of the future. In a loveless world, he dared to love the woman of his choice. In an age that had lost all trace of science and civilization, he had the courage to seek and find knowledge. But these were not the crimes for which he would be hunted. He was marked for death because he had committed the unpardonable sin: He had stood forth from the mindless human herd. He was a man alone. He had rediscovered the lost and holy word—I.
Improve your ability to write and think effectively. This contest will require you to reflect on philosophic themes, form your own opinion, and argue a thesis with evidence and clarity.
Test yourself against talented students from around the world and the high grading standards of our faculty. On average, only the top 1-3% of essays are awarded prizes each year.
Win cash prizes among five placement categories. This is an excellent way to earn money for college and higher education. We place no restrictions on how the money is spent by recipients.
Select one of the following three prompts about Anthem and write an essay in response to it.
Essays must be written in English only and between 600 and 1,200 words in length, double-spaced.
Questions? Write to us at essays@aynrand.org.
1 winner
1 winner
3rd Place
2nd Place
1st Place
$2,000
1 Winner
$1,000
1 Winner
$500
1 Winner
Essays are judged on whether the student is able to justify and argue for his or her view, not on whether the Institute agrees with the view the student expresses.
Our graders look for writing that is clear, articulate, and logically organized. Essays should stay on topic, address all parts of the selected prompt, and interrelate the ideas and events in the novel.
Winning essays must demonstrate an outstanding grasp of the philosophic meaning of Anthem.
The main character, Equality 7-2521, tells us he is a sinner and criminal. But what crimes has he committed? Being alone, writing, having personal preferences. He is “cursed” with an active, questioning mind in a society where every institution aims to crush independence and instill obedience to the authority of the collective.
Intelligent and inquisitive, Equality 7-2521 longs to become a scientist and devote his life to discovery and invention. Instead, he is beaten by his teachers and assigned the life work of street sweeper. When, against all odds, he rediscovers the secret power of a lost relic from the ancient past, he must confront the full reality of his society’s ideals.
Learn more and request a free digital copy of the book today.
Curious to know what makes for a winning essay in the Anthem contest? Check out some of the essays written by our most recent grand-prize winners.
To varying degrees, they all display an excellent grasp of the philosophic meaning of Anthem.
See the full list of winners from our most recent contest here.
2023
Srilekha Mamidala
11th grade student
Garnet Valley High School
Glen Mills, Pennsylvania
United States
2022
Lauren Lee
9th grade student
Busan Foreign School
Busan
South Korea
2021
Jungwoo Yoo
11th grade student
Global Vision Christian School
Mungyeong-Si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
South Korea
2020
Ashley Yuen
11th grade student
Irvine High School
Irvine, California
United States
2019
Cynthia Lu
11th grade student
Belmont High School
Belmont, Massachusetts
United States
2018
Katrice Wasgatt
10th grade student
Towle Institute
Hockessin, Delaware
United States
Other than endorsing perfect punctuation and grammar in English, the Ayn Rand Institute offers no advice or feedback for essays submitted to its contests. However, we do recommend the following resources as ways to improve the content of your essays.
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We’ll send you periodic reminders about the contest deadline, as well as helpful resources to ensure you get the most out of your experience reading and writing about Ayn Rand’s Anthem.
Great! Let's get you a copy of the book.
The main character, Equality 7-2521, tells us he is a sinner and criminal. But what crimes has he committed? Being alone, writing, having personal preferences. He is “cursed” with an active, questioning mind in a society where every institution aims to crush independence and instill obedience to the authority of the collective.
Intelligent and inquisitive, Equality 7-2521 longs to become a scientist and devote his life to discovery and invention. Instead, he is beaten by his teachers and assigned the life work of street sweeper. When, against all odds, he rediscovers the secret power of a lost relic from the ancient past, he must confront the full reality of his society’s ideals.
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