characters
She is Montag's 17-year-old, free-spirited neighbor who asks, " Are you happy?"
Who is Clarisse McClellan?
This life-changing question, asked by Clarisse at the end of their very first walk together, leaves Montag deeply shaken and unable to sleep
What is " Are you happy?"
These thimble-sized, electronic radio devices are stuffed into Mildred's ears every night to bombard her brain with music and talk.
What are Seashell radios?
This chemical liquid, which smells like a perfume to Montag but never truly washes off, symbolizes the destruction and guilt of his career.
What is kerosene?
In this fast-paced society, citizens commit a crime if they do this simple, slow-paced physical activity on public streets.
What is being a pedestrian (or walking)?
This character overdoses on sleeping pills at the start of the novel and is obsessed with her "parlor family" tv walls.
Who is Mildred Montag?
This terrifying household crisis prompts Montag to call emergency medical technicians to his home late at night.
What is Mildred's sleeping pill overdose?
Mildred desperately wants Montag to spend a massive portion of his salary to buy a fourth one of these interactive home entertainment screens.
What is a parlor wall?
Clarisse rubs this simple yellow flower under Montag's chin as a natural test to prove whether or not he is actually in love.
What is a dandelion?
Clarisse reveals that this specific academic subject has been completely removed from schools to prevent people from comparing the past to the present.
What is history?
He is the captain of the fire department who secretly has a vast knowledge of books.
Who is Captain Beatty?
The morning after her stomach is pumped, Mildred completely denies this ever happened, shocking Montag.
What is attempting suicide (or overdosing on pills)?
The stomach-pumping medical machine used by the technicians is described as looking and acting like this specific slithering animal.
What is a snake?
his mythical creature is sewn onto the firemen's jackets and painted on their trucks, symbolizing a beast that can live through fire without burning.
What is a salamander?
The government encourages citizens to drive at extreme speeds and constantly watch TV to achieve this primary societal goal and prevent independent thinking.
What is distraction (or mindless entertainment/conformity)?
He is a retired English professor who helps mentor Montag and gives him the green-bullet earbud
Who is Faber?
This specific weather event occurs when Montag tracks down Clarisse outside, prompting her to try and taste the water drops.
What is rain (a rainstorm)?
This specific architectural feature in Montag's hallway is where he secretly hides a stash of illegal books.
What is the ventilator grille?
This ancient, fiery bird disc is worn on the firemen's chests, foreshadowing a cycle of burning down and reborn from the ashes.
What is a phoenix?
This psychological state of total emptiness and lack of feeling is what Montag realizes he is suffering from after talking to Clarisse.
What is numbness?
He is the leader of the "Book People" on the railroad tracks who tells Montag about building a mirror factory
Who is Granger?
This tense card-game discussion at the firehouse is abruptly interrupted by the sounding of a fresh fire alarm on the station's ticker tape.
What is a game of poker?
This automated tracking technology allows the Mechanical Hound to calculate and lock onto a target's unique physical identity.
What is amino acid programming?
This celestial illumination always surrounds Clarisse during her late-night walks, contrasting heavily with the harsh, artificial glow of television screens.
What is moonlight (or the moon)?
Clarisse explains that her family is considered strange and "anti-social" by the state simply because they engage in this basic household activity together.
What is talking to each other?