Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
Self-reliance was a big deal for Ayn Rand, and Anthem is chock full of classic images of self-reliance. Equality 7-2521's scientific researches are individual, and he discovers electricity all by himself with materials he's made or stolen. Once Equality 7-2521 and Liberty 5-3000 find the house, our two heroes do start growing their own food. Not quite as cool as the old bow and arrow days, but still, on the self-reliance scale, not too shabby.