Fire & Destruction
Early in the novel, Montag compares the smell of kerosene to this, showing how deeply conditioned he is to his destructive job.
What is perfume?
In this dystopian society, books are banned because they are believed to cause this among the population.
What is unhappiness (or controversy/conflict)?
Mildred relies on this piece of technology to help her sleep and escape reality.
What is the Seashell radio (or earpiece)?
Montag’s perspective on life begins to change after he meets this young, free-spirited girl.
Who is Clarisse McClellan?
The phrase "We shall meet again" is spoken by Beatty and is a reference to this famous English playwright’s works.
Who is William Shakespeare?
Montag initially believes that fire is a tool for solving problems, but he begins to question this belief after witnessing this event.
What is the old woman choosing to burn with her books?
Instead of engaging in meaningful conversations, people in this society are encouraged to spend their time doing this mindless activity.
What is watching television?
These high-speed vehicles allow people to drive recklessly and prevent them from thinking too much.
What are the beetle cars?
Montag first begins questioning his world when he is asked this simple yet profound question.
What is "are you happy?"
Faber compares their rebellion to a biblical story where this individual brings down a giant against all odds.
Who is David (from David and Goliath)?
Montag’s understanding of fire shifts dramatically when he sees that it can be controlled instead of just used for chaos. He notices this while observing Granger’s group doing what?
What is sitting around a small campfire?
Montag’s city is at war, yet most citizens are unaware due to this type of government control.
What is censorship of information?
The firemen use this advanced tool to track down and kill those who rebel against society’s rules.
What is the Mechanical Hound?
While on the run, Montag witnesses a chilling moment when the government does this to deceive the public into believing he has been caught.
What is execute an innocent man in his place?
Montag recalls a passage about a sieve and sand, which is meant to symbolize this struggle.
What is retaining knowledge?
Beatty argues that fire is the solution to all problems because it does this to everything in its path.
What is erases consequences (or destroys responsibility)?
People in Montag’s world are discouraged from thinking independently and are instead expected to conform to this societal norm.
What is immediate gratification (or obedience to the state)?
Rather than interacting with real people, Mildred spends most of her time with these artificial figures on her TV walls.
What are the parlor family (or the TV relatives)?
In an attempt to throw the authorities off his trail, Montag does this.
What is douses himself with alcohol to hide his scent?
The men at the end of the novel refer to the Phoenix as a metaphor for this cyclical event in human history.
What is destruction and rebirth?
Montag’s final realization about fire occurs when he sees that it can be a force for change rather than just destruction. This moment happens when he watches what major event?
What is the bombing of the city? What is when he burns his own house?
One of the justifications for banning books is that different groups might find them offensive, reinforcing this theme of the novel.
What is the danger of political correctness leading to censorship?
When Montag tries to focus on reading on a subway, he is distracted by an advertisement for this commercial product.
What is Denham’s Dentifrice?
Montag finally escapes the city and follows these landmarks to find the group of intellectuals.
What are the river and the railroad tracks?
Granger references this famous text when he talks about rebuilding society with those who remember books.
What is The Republic by Plato?