Characters & Actions
This fireman is Montag's superior and tries to manipulate him before meeting his demise.
Who is Captain Beatty?
This mechanical enforcer represents the oppressive power of technology and government surveillance in the novel.
What is the Mechanical Hound?
Montag’s house is targeted by the firemen after his wife takes this drastic action against him.
What is reporting him to the authorities?
"Burning Bright" refers to Montag’s act of setting fire to this familiar place at the beginning of Part 3.
What is his own house?
These tiny devices, worn in the ear, allow Montag to secretly communicate with Faber while confronting Captain Beatty.
What are the green bullet radios?
This person helps Montag escape by giving him advice and a plan to evade the Mechanical Hound.
Who is Faber?
When Montag floats down this body of water, it symbolizes his cleansing and the start of a new life.
What is the river?
Montag uses this weapon to kill Captain Beatty during their confrontation at his home.
What is a flamethrower?
Captain Beatty’s use of literary quotes to control Montag highlights this theme about the manipulation of knowledge.
What is censorship's hypocrisy?
Citizens speed recklessly in these vehicles, encouraged by the government to prevent thoughtful reflection.
What are beetle cars?
Montag plants books in this fellow fireman’s house to frame him and divert attention from himself.
Who is Mr. Black?
Montag observes that fire isn’t just for destruction but can provide this essential human comfort.
What is warmth?
Montag evades the Mechanical Hound by dousing himself with this substance to mask his scent.
What is alcohol (or whiskey)?
Before confronting Beatty, Montag recalls a line from this Shakespearean play: "There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats."
What is Julius Caesar?
Mildred spends her days absorbed in these large, immersive devices, symbolizing society’s addiction to mindless entertainment.
What are the parlor walls (or TV walls)?
This person betrays Montag by reporting his hidden books to the authorities.
Who is Mildred?
This mythical bird, reborn from its ashes, becomes a symbol for humanity’s ability to rebuild after destruction.
What is the Phoenix?
The city Montag escapes from is obliterated by this catastrophic event, symbolizing the ultimate consequence of the society’s flaws.
What is a nuclear bombing?
Granger tells Montag, "You're not important. You're not anything." This reinforces the theme of valuing this over individual ego.
What is collective knowledge (or the importance of community)?
The government tracks Montag using this unique personal identifier stored in the Mechanical Hound’s programming.
What is his chemical composition (or scent)?
Montag finds refuge with this group of intellectuals who preserve books by memorizing them.
Who are the Book People (or Granger and his group)?
Montag reflects on the cyclical nature of history and knowledge through this biblical book he is tasked to remember.
What is Ecclesiastes?
To evade the Mechanical Hound, Montag follows Faber’s advice and escapes the city by doing this unusual sequence of actions (2) involving nature and transportation.
What is floating down the river and following the railroad tracks?
Montag reflects, “The sun burnt every day. It burnt Time.” This metaphor explores the inevitability of this concept.
What is the passage of time (or change)?
After Montag escapes, the authorities stage this elaborate event to convince the public that justice was served.
What is the fake capture and execution of an innocent man?