Modern Texts & Authors
He wrote Fahrenheit 451
Who is Ray Bradbury?
Time Period of the Modern Era
When is 1910-1945?
This fireman begins to question his role in society after meeting a curious young neighbor named Clarisse
Who is Guy Montag?
A fireman who begins to question the oppressive, anti-book society he serves and seeks knowledge and freedom
Who is Guy Montag?
Censorship
Answers vary - something like "the government’s censorship of literature symbolizes its broader control over thought, erasing history and complexity to maintain power"
Name one of the Imagist poems
Answers may include:
"In a Station of the Metro"
"The Red Wheelbarrow"
"This is Just to Say"
"The Great Figure"
"Oread"
Writers during this time period experimented with this
Form & style
These are the items that Montag is supposed to burn, but instead begins to secretly collect
What are books?
Montag's shallow, TV-obsessed wife who is emotionally disconnected and reliant on government-provided entertainment
Who is Mildred Montag?
Alienation & Isolation
Answers vary - something like "characters in the novel experience deep alienation and emotional isolation as genuine human connections are replaced by superficial interactions and societal pressure to conform"
The founder of the Imagist movement
Who is Ezra Pound?
Authors during this period were critical of this idea
What is the American Dream?
This mechanical enforcer hunts Montag after he defies the government and breaks the law
What is the Mechanical Hound?
Montag’s boss and a cunning, well-read fire chief who defends censorship while manipulating others with literature
Who is Captain Beatty?
The Role of Technology in Society
Answers vary - something like "technology in the novel distracts, manipulates, and desensitizes people, contributing to the decline of critical thinking and authentic relationships"
The author of "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"
Who is T.S. Eliot?
Stream-of-consciousness
What is a literary technique that attempts to capture the continuous flow of thoughts, feelings, and perceptions in a character's mind?
This element is a major motif throughout the novel
What is fire?
A curious, free-spirited teenager who sparks Montag’s transformation by challenging him to think and feel
Who is Clarisse McClellan?
Knowledge vs. Ignorance
Answers vary - something like "the novel portrays knowledge as a dangerous yet liberating force, while ignorance is portrayed as comfortable but ultimately destructive"
Shirley Jackson wrote this story
What is "The Lottery?"
Major historical events of this era
Answers may include:
1914-1918 - World War I
1929 - Stock Market Crash/Great Depression
1930s - The Dust Bowl
1933-1939 - New Deal Programs
1941-1945 - World War II
This event destroys the city at the end of the novel, symbolizing the collapse of the oppressive society
What is a nuclear bombing?
A retired English professor who helps Montag understand literature and resist the oppressive system
Who is Faber?
Conformity vs. Individuality
Answers vary - something like "the novel explores the tension between societal pressure to conform and the individual's struggle to assert personal identity, creativity, and freedom of thought"