The Hearth and The Salamander
What is Montag's job at the beginning of the novel?
He is a fireman whose job is to burn books
Who helps Montag understand books and ideas more deeply in Part Two?
Faber
Why does Montag flee the city at the end of the novel?
He is being hunted by the authorities after killing Beatty and burning his house.
What theme is most connected to the banning and burning of books?
Censorship/Suppression of knowledge.
What does fire originally symbolize at the beginning of the novel?
Destruction/Control/Government power
Clarisse McClellan
What object does Montag try to memorize on the subway, and why does he struggle?
The Bible; the noise and distractions prevent concentration
What happens to Captain Beatty during Montag's escape?
Montag kills Beatty with a flamethrower
How does technology contribute to isolation in the novel?
It replaces human interaction and discourages deep thinking.
What does the Mechanical Hound represent?
The threat of technology; Surveillance; Fear; Enforcement of conformity
Why does the old woman choose to stay in her house when it is burned?
She believes books and ideas are worth dying for / She refuses to live without them.
Why does Montag read poetry aloud to Mildred and her friends, and what is the result?
He wants them to feel emotion; the women react with anger, fear, or discomfort
Who are the "book people" (end of novel), and what is their purpose?
They memorize books to preserve knowledge for the future.
How does Ray Bradbury show the dangers of conformity through Mildred's character?
Mildred blindly follows society, avoids thinking, and lacks emotional depth.
How does the phoenix symbol connect to the ending of the novel?
It represents rebirth and a chance to rebuild after destruction.
How does Montag's interaction with Clarisse reveal a conflict between individuality and conformity?
Clarisse thinks independently and asks questions, while society expects people to conform and avoid deep thought.
How does the subway scene symbolize the difficulty of preserving knowledge in Montag's society?
The constant noise and distractions represent how the society is structured to prevent deep thinking, understanding, or any kind of time to yourself.
How does the destruction of the city contribute to the novel's message about renewal?
The destruction allows for the possibility of rebuilding society with wisdom and knowledge.
BONUS +200 points: What symbol from the novel best represents this idea?
Explain how censorship affects both individuals and society in Fahrenheit 451.
It limits independent thought, creates ignorance, and allows control over the population.
BONUS +200 points: Besides books, what is another thing that was removed from this society that allowed for deep thinking/independent thought?
Explain how mirrors function as a symbol related to self-awareness.
Mirrors represent reflection, self-examination, and awareness of truth
Explain how Captain Beatty's early conversations with Montag foreshadow Montag's later rebellion.
Beatty's warnings, knowledge of books, and suspicious tone suggest Montag's unrest will continue to grow and he will resist this society.
As he discusses how the world is, he highlights several features of the society that disturb/bother Montag.
Analyze how Beatty uses knowledge of literature as a weapon against Montag.
Beatty quotes books to intimidate, confuse, and control Montag rather than to encourage understanding.
Explain how Montag's actions at the end of the novel show his complete transformation.
He values knowledge/critical thinking, joins the book people, and commits to rebuilding a thoughtful society.
Explain how ignorance is portrayed as a form of control.
Ignorance is enforced/encouraged to maintain social stability and obedience.
How does the meaning of fire change by the end of the novel?
Fire changes from destruction to hope to warmth.