Characters
Who is the protagonist of the novel who works as a fireman?
Guy Montag
What is Montag's profession in the novel?
Montag is a fireman (one who burns books)
How does Montag's wife, Mildred , spend most of her time?
Mildred spends most of her time watching interactive TV (parlor walls) and listening to the seashell radios.
What significant event happens to Clarisse during Part One?
Clarisse stops appearing; she is later revealed to have been killed in a car accident (or disappears early in the story).
Define what a "fireman" does in this novel's society
In this novel, a fireman locates and burns books to enforce censorship.
Who is the young woman who befriends Montag and asks him unusual questions?
Clarisse McClellan
What does Clarisse McClellan ask Montag when they first meet that makes him think?
Clarisse asks Montag is he is happy
What does the salamander symbolize in the novel?
The salamander symbolizes the firemen and their fire engines; it also evokes mythic protection from fire.
What question does Clarisse ask that suggests she pays attention to the world differently than others?
She asks, “Are you happy?” (or asks if he ever reads or thinks about why.)
What does it mean when Montag begins to "remember" things about books and feelings?
Montag remembering signals the awakening of curiosity and conscience; he begins to question society's rules.
Who is Montag 's wife, often absorbed by media and technology?
Mildred
According to the novel, why do firemen burn books?
Firemen burn books because society wants to prevent disagreement, confusion, and unhappiness; books are banned to maintain conformity and comfort.
What physical symptom does Montag experience that symbolizes his internal conflict?
Montag experiences a burning sensations in his chest or a sense of tightness/anxiety; he also feels unsettled and hears a physical reaction (coughing/heart racing) - symbolizes his internal conflict.
What is Beatty's tone when he lectures Montag about books - friendly, angry, or mocking?
Beatty’s tone is often mocking and condescending though delivered as authoritative.
Explain the significance of the "parlor walls" in the society's culture.
Parlor walls are large, wall-sized televisions that provide immersive, trivial entertainment dominating family life.
Who is the fire chief who visits Montag and explains the role of firemen?
Captain Beatty
What happens to the woman whose house is filled with books?
The woman refuses to leave her books and chooses to die with them by setting herself on fire.
What does the mechanical hound represent in Part One?
Name one activity or technology Montag observes in his society that shows people's disconnection from deep thinking?
Examples: immersive parlor walls (large interactive TV), people driving fast without attention, seashell earpieces.
Describe why Clarisse is considered "anti-social" by the standards of her peers.
Clarisse is "anti-social" because she prefers conversation, observation, and thinking rather than the fast, conforming leisure activities of others.
Which character chooses to die with her books rather than live without them?
The woman who burns with her books (often called the book woman)
After a book burning, what does Montag secretly take and hide in his home?
Montag hides a book (or books) in his house - specifically he takes a book from the woman's house.
How does Captain Beatty explain the history of their society to Montag (what reason does Beatty give for banning books?)
Captain Beatty claims books caused discord, conflicting truths, and were made illegal to preserve social stability and happiness; he traces a gradual censorship born from simplification and the desire to avoid offense.
Which line or idea from Part One reveals Montag's growing unease about his role?
Accept answers noting Montag’s inner questions and lines about the heaviness in his chest or his “itching” for something more.
Explain how Bradbury uses the setting and technology to criticize modern society.
Bradbury's setting and technology (parlor walls, seashell radios, speeding cars, censorship) critique mass media's distraction, the loss of critical thinking, and the consequences of valuing comfort over truth.