it defied men to restrain it." Here, Equality first uses anothersimile to compare Liberty's hair to the sun; it must be quite pure and luminous in color. Moreover, he goes on to personify her hair as something that is capable of defiance. Again, all these comparisons seem to recognize what he sees as Liberty's strength and seeming independence.

Allusion: The narrative style of Anthem alludes to the style of the manifesto. An allusion often refers to another literary work or character, but in this case Anthem alludes to a style of narration. Rand begins with the use of "we" as the first-person narrative voice to show how individualism has vanished in this society. Shen then employs dramatic irony (the reader knows the narrator is in process of discovering himself as a singular "I" before the character/narrator does). The manifesto style of "we" (think of "we the people") is replaced by "I" symbolizing the character's transition to realizing his individuality. Using the "we" or the "I" in the style of the manifesto aludes to (calls to mind) a style of stating a philosophy. (The narrator will later claim the name Prometheus, a literary allusion to the character from Greek Mythology. He chooses this name because Prometheus gave fire to mankind, just as Rand's Prometheus gives electric light. 

The "Uncharted Forest" is a literal place, but it also a metaphor for that which is forbidden by the state (government). It also symbolizes the unknown, which lies in nature. An investigation of the unknown is the search for knowledge: science. The forest symbolizes all of these things: a desire for forbidden knowledge. There is also a Biblical allusion here: the uncharted forest refers to the forbidden fruit in The Garden of Eden. 

Men never enter the Uncharted Forest, for there is no power to explore it and no path to lead among its ancient trees which stand as guards of fearful secrets. (Part 2) 

Rand uses personification to describe the trees as "guards." 

Ayn Rand uses many similes and metaphors in Anthem. One example of a simile in chapter two says, "Women work in the fields, and their white tunics in the wind are like the wings of sea-gulls beating over the black soil" (38). Another figure of speech used is personification: "Darkness swallowed us" (59). Rand also writes the story in third-person to magnify the loss of the word "I"--a concept that the main character unknowingly seeks throughout the entire novel. By using third-person Rand creates a mood of collectivism without individualism which is important to the meaning behind her philosophy. Another technique used in the telling of the story is the fact that it is written in journal form which adds to the unique individuality and intellectualism reflected by the main character Equality.

One literary device used in Chapter 2 is that of flashback.  Equality 7-2521 actually speaks to Liberty 5-3000, but he also takes us back, in flashback, to the first time he noticed her:  Equality 7-2521 was passing Liberty 5-3000. All the other women were far off in a distant field, and the Street Sweepers  had fallen behind Equality 7-2521. Liberty 5-3000 was kneeling at a moat, looking at Equality 7-2521.  He recalls seeing water falling from her hands.

Characterization is particularly vivid in this chapter, too.  Equality 7-2521 notices details about Liberty 5-3000, such as her hair.  No one in this society is supposed to notice the specific unique characteristics of anyone else so not only do we see characterization, this characterization relates directly to the novel's theme of individuality versus collectivism.

Finally, tone is particularly effective in this chapter.  Equality 7-2521 feels fear and distaste when he thinks of the Palace of Mating (not wanting Liberty 5-3000 to be touched by anyone else), but when he thinks of places that SHOULD arouse fear, according to the society, he is not fearful. Rather, he feels joy and curiosity about the sky and the Uncharted Forest, a place that is supposed to instill fear.  He notices instead the fear in the eyes of all his fellow Street Sweepers.  This contrast contributes greatly to the tone of the narrative, which is one of fear and distrust within the closed society versus joy and exhilaration within individuality.

In this chapter, as in the entire novella, syntax is a particularly significant literary device.  The speaker uses "We" to mean "I" throughout the book, but, while speaking about falling in love, this seems particularly wrong to him.  We can understand why!

Euphemism: This is the use of pleasant or inoffensive wording to describe something unpleasant. The initial members of the council who developed their society found nice names for even unpleasant places, such as the Palace of Corrective Detention for the prison, the City Palace of Mating for  the place where they enforce their breeding program, and the Hymn of the Collective Spirit for a song used to help brainwash the individualism out of the citizens.

Capitalization: To reinforce the importance of certain terms, titles, places and concepts, they are capitalized, such as the Unspeakable Word, the Uncharted Forest, the Unmentionable Times, the Old Ones, Social Recreation and Social Meetings, the Great Rebirth, the City and World Councils, and the Transgression of Preference.

Parenthesis:  This is a technique used to add additional information in the middle of a sentence, and is often like the spoken aside in a play. The interruption is enclosed in parentheses, dashes, or commas. Rand uses it occasionally to allow Equality to give his opinion on information as he narrates to us. At the end of chapter 1, Equality has finished confessing to us his transgressions of being alone and learning in the tunnel. He muses, “And in our heart—strange are the ways of evil!—in our heart there is the first peace we have known in twenty years.” The parenthesis shows that Equality is still brainwashed to believe that his individualism is evil, yet we see him beginning to embrace it.

Dramatic Irony: This occurs when disparity in a situation is evident to the reader but not the characters. For example, in chapter 1 Equality is explaining how he is often in trouble for being different from his brothers, so to be a better student “We tried to forget our lessons, but we always remembered. We tried not to understand what the Teachers taught, but we always understood it before the Teachers had spoken.” He actually tries to copy a “pale boy with only half a brain.” This example is clearly Rand’s satire on collectivist societies.

Situational Irony: This occurs when a character’s actions have an effect that is completely opposite of what was expected. For example, when Equality brings his light to the World Council of Scholars, he fully expects them to recognize the improvements that his valuable invention/discovery can bring to their way of life. Instead, they stupidly refuse to even consider it because he isn’t a scholar, the light wasn’t thought of collectively, and it would ruin the Department of Candles. Instead of making him a scholar as he had hoped, they threaten to burn Equality at the stake and want to destroy his discovery.

Verbal Irony: This is felt when a character says one thing but clearly means another. In chapter 9, when Golden One follows Equality into the Uncharted Forest, she says, “We wish to be damned with you, rather than blessed with all our brothers.” The council has brainwashed them to believe they are blessed to be together collectively, and being free from the society is damnation. Golden One is still using the society’s words, but to her “damned” now means blessed, and “blessed” now means damned.

Symbolism: This is the effect created when a literal element has a deeper meaning. Golden One is always seen in a white tunic, and Equality notices her “white cheeks.” White, of course, symbolizes goodness and purity. She is aged 17, which is important to Equality because she has not yet been forced to join the time of mating. She is physically pure, and when she joins him in the forest, she is still wearing the white tunic.

Personification: We all know and love this technique of giving human-like qualities to nonhuman objects. Rand does it well right after Golden One tries in vain to say “I love you,” but it comes out all wrong because they haven’t yet learned the word “I.” Equality laments, “We looked into each other’s eyes and we knew that the breath of a miracle had touched us, and fled, and left us groping vainly.”

Anaphora: This is when an author purposely begins several sentences in a row with the same phrase. In chapter 9, as Equality and Golden One discover their individuality, he systematically rejects all that the Council has taught him. He narrates, “There is no life... There is no joy... There is some error... in the thinking of men.”

As with any great novel, there are many more rhetorical devices to be found. Consider using the link below to learn about a few and search for them in Anthem.