Historical Context
The period(decade) in which Bradbury based Fahrenheit 451.
What is the 1950s.
Define metaphor.
a kind of figurative language in which a word or idea is used in a sense outside its literal meaning to compare to unlike things.
The name of the protagonist.
Who is Guy Montag?
What does the title of the novel mean?
Fahrenheit 451 is the temperature at which paper/books burn.
What does Montag do with the book that falls on him during the old woman's house fire?
He hides it under his arm and takes it home.
The technology that was on the rise in the 1950s.
What is televsion?
What is Hearth?
On pg. 54, identify one piece of evidence that Beatty states is the reason book began to be banned.
Answers will vary.
What does Clarisse represent in society?
The Thinkers - Challenges others : also a symbol of purity, youthfulness, innocence (why is this ironic in comparison to kids her age?)
The description of Montag's home.
"It was like coming into the cold marbled room of a mausoleum after the moon has set" (11).
The on-going "war" that was happening in the 1950s that impacted Bradbury's writing.
What is the Cold War?
What does the Phoenix symbolize?
Beatty knew Montag was going to be "sick" because every fireman goes through this.
What is questions why they burn books?
What does the Mechanical Hound look like?
What is it has 8 legs and a needle inside its nose.
The "doctors" treat Mildred after she OD's like an object. More specifically, Mildred is an item rather than a human being. What is the real profession of the "doctors?"
What is Handymen/Plumbers?
"The impersonal operator of the machine could, by wearing a special optical helmet, gaze into the soul of the person whom he was pumping out" (14).
The threat of ___________ war during the 1950s lead to a constant state of uneasiness.
What is nuclear war?
Define Stream of Consciousness.
a method of narration that describes happenings in the flow of thoughts in the minds of characters - BRAIN VOMIT
The day after the Old Woman's house fire, why does Montag throw up?
Montag throws up from thinking about/feeling guilty from watching the old lady burn herself alive with her books. Why is this significant?
How many hours does Montag have to destroy/get rid of a book that he owns before he gets in trouble?
What is 24 hours?
How many books does Montag own? Think of how many he had hidden in the ventilator grille.
What is approximately 20 books?
The anti-communist campaign lead by senator Joseph McCarthy that had neighbor turning on neighbor.
What is McCarthyism?
Relation to novel: how citizens turn others in if they believe they have books in their house, the old lady!
Describe the parlor walls. Draw a connection between the parlor walls and what Mildred calls them. Why does she call the "walls" this?
Large walls of TVS - Mildred calls the parlor walls her relatives(aunts and uncles) because of the conformity of this dystopian attribute
Explain the metaphor, "A book is a loaded gun in the house next door."
Knowledge is power. "Books give people thoughts."
Briefly summarize the conversation between Beatty and Montag about the history of the firemen. What is significant about Beatty having this conversation with Montag?
Answers will vary.
Connect one of the Dystopian Elements from your sheet to Fahrenheit 451.
What is (student explanation)?