Characters
What is Montag's job? How is it ironic?
A firemen who burns books.
What has Montag been hiding behind the ventilator?
Books
For the majority of the book, fire symbolizes
Destruction, suppression of knowledge, censorship
"When we reach the city." What does the last line of the novel imply?
Montag/the group will go to the city and try to rebuild society.
Name one example of propaganda from the novel.
- Mechanical hound never fails
- Parlor walls, news broadcast, fake Montag chase
- Jesus used to sell products
How is Clarisse different from the rest of society?
She thinks, talks, takes walks, appreciates nature, etc...
How does Mildred act after her suicide attempt?
She denies it/can't remember it
Montag realizes fire can also symbolize
Warmth, life, creation, community
Beatty uses contradictory book quotes to...
Confuse and trick Montag into abandoning his rebellious ideas
How does Montag demonstrate Plato's theory of the cave?
He wakes up and questions his reality. He realizes the lies he has been told. Sees their is more to life than the city. Goes out and explores in search of the truth.
How does Faber see himself? Why?
A coward. He doesn't leave his house or do anything to fight the current ways of society. He doesn't want to put himself in any danger.
Faber invents what device
Two way earpiece/green bullets
These two colors symbolize life and death
White/light and black/darkness
"At least once in his career, every fireman gets an itch." Who says this quote? What does this character mean?
Captain Beatty. All firemen wonder about books and why they burn them at one point.
Give an example of society's lack of community.
- No real relationships (Mildred and Montag, Mildred and her friends)
- Neighbors willing to snitch on Montag
- Mass suicides and killings
etc.
Describe Captain Beatty's relationship with books.
He tried to read/understand them once, but they did not satisfy him/left him confused. He thinks they contradict themselves. He has many quotes memorized.
Memorize books and reintroduce them to society after the war
This symbol represents multiple different things including curiosity, guilt, and one's impact on the world
Hands
"“‘I'm seventeen and I'm crazy. My uncle says the two always go together. When people ask your age, he said, always say seventeen and insane’”
Who says this quote? How is it an example of verbal irony?
Clarisse. She says she's crazy, but she's one of the more sane characters.
What is one way the the government/authorities control citizens?
Through fear... mechanical hound
Through propaganda... false information
Through technology... hound, parlor walls, seashell radios
How are Clarisse and Mildred opposites? What are the both associated with?
Clarisse: Asks questions, pays attentions, has real conversations and connections, NATURE/LIGHT/WHITE/LIFE
Mildred: Brainwashed by parlor walls, depressed, cannot think for herself, DARKNESS/BLACK/DEATH
How does the novel end?
With the city being bombed and Montag/Granger's group heading into the city to rebuild society
Clarisse's eyes; reflect Montag's own image to himself
Mildred's last moments in front of a blank TV
Granger says they must create a mirror factory
REFLECT ON YOURSELF/THE WORLD AROUND YOU. PAY ATTENTION, FACE REALITY
"But that was another Mildred, that was a Mildred so deep inside this one, and so bothered, really bothered, that the two women had never met." Explain this quote. What kind of conflict is it an example of?
Mildred has two sides to her; the happy, everyday parlor wall side and the side that is so depressed and unhappy she tried to kill herself. These two versions of herself can never exist at the same time.
Internal Conflict (Man vs. Self)
What two things were Clarisse's uncle arrested for? Why are these things illegal?
Being a pedestrian and driving under the speed limit.
Cannot slow down and be leisurely, this leads to thinking/observing/questioning.