Plot and Events
What is Montag's occupation at the beginning of the novel?
He is a fireman who burns books.
Who first causes Montag to question his happiness?
Clarisse McClellan
What is the main character called?
Protagonist
Who is associated with The Allegory of the Cave?
Plato/ Socrates
What does fire symbolize at the beginning of the novel?
Destruction/ control
What happens when Montag meets the old woman with books?
She chooses to die with her books.
What does Mildred spend most of her time doing?
Watching the parlor walls/interactive TV
What literary device compares two unlike things without “like” or “as”?
Metaphor
What do the shadows represent in the cave?
Limited knowledge/false understanding
What does the Mechanical Hound represent?
government control/ fear
Why does Montag go to Faber?
To learn about books and their importance.
Why is Faber important to Montag?
He teaches Montag why books matter.
What is an Allegory?
A story in which characters/events represent deeper ideas.
What do the chains symbolize?
Restrictions that prevent people from seeking knowledge.
What does the sieve and sand symbolize for Montag?
His struggle to understand and retain knowledge.
What does Beatty order Montag to do after confronting him?
Burn his own house.
How is Montag different from Mildred?
Montag begins questioning society; Mildred accepts it.
What is an antagonist?
A character/force that opposes the protagonist.
How is Montag like the prisoner leaving the cave?
He begins questioning what society has taught him and seeks truth.
What does the “Queen Bee/drone” metaphor reveal about Faber and Montag?
Faber stays safe while Montag takes risks to gather information.
What major change happens to Montag throughout Parts 1–2?
He changes from accepting society’s rules to questioning them and seeking knowledge.
How does Beatty influence Montag?
He pressures Montag to conform but also reveals ideas that make Montag question society.
How does Bradbury use symbolism to develop the theme of knowledge vs. ignorance?
Images like the sieve/sand, fire, and the cave-like society show Montag’s struggle to gain and retain knowledge.
How does Montag’s journey connect to the entire Allegory of the Cave?
Like the prisoner, Montag moves from accepting a limited reality to questioning it, seeking knowledge, and recognizing deeper truths.
How do fire, books, and the Mechanical Hound connect to the theme of censorship?
They represent destruction of knowledge, knowledge itself, and enforcement of censorship.