10th Honors
Summer Reading 2008

Fahrenheit 451
 by Ray Bradbury

Fahrenheit 451:  Students will take a test on Fahrenheit 451 the first week of school.  It is recommended reading this book last so that it is freshest in your mind. (Just don’t wait too long!)  You may use the following questions to guide you in your reading:
Fahrenheit 451: 1-31
Introduction In which we get introduced to Montag, a different sort of fireman. This world is a dystopia or a perfectly awful world. Think about how these people create and keep power.
Questions Answer the following questions thoroughly.
  1. What is Montag doing at the beginning of the novel?  How does he feel about his job?  "He strode in a swarm of fireflies" What are the "fireflies"?
  2. Who does he meet walking? How does she react to Montag?
  3. What doesn't Montag think about? What lies has he been taught?  How has the girl upset him (think)?
  4. If the girl reflects what Montag feels, what must Montag be feeling? Was he happy? What does he compare his happiness to?
  5. What has his wife done?  Why does the author have the jets fly over at the same time?
  6. How do they fix his wife? What is the attitude they take? What is the attitude his wife takes during the next day? 
  7. How is the family next door different? Why might they be different?
  8. Is Montag in love with the girl?  What does the Mechanical Hound do?  What games do they play with it?  Why is it important that it rouses itself at Montag?
Thought Why is Montag unhappy?
Introduction In which Montag runs into a stubborn woman who knows all about British martyrs. Remember to think.
Questions Answer the following questions thoroughly.
  1. What lies do they tell Montag?  Why would they tell him such things?
  2. How does the woman act when they come for her books? Why might her neighbor turn her in? Why doesn't he take the book? Why does his hands do it?  Why is it important that all the people run out of their houses to see?
  3. Why might it be important that Beatty knows the origin of the quote.
  4. What doesn't she remember?  Why doesn't she?
  5. What are the TV programs like? How are they similar to modern TVs?
  6. What happened to Clarisse?
  7. Why does Mildred want him to go to work?
Thought What are the rules of this society? What must you do in order to thrive?
Fahrenheit 451: 51-70
Introduction This section could be confusing, as Beatty has a lecture.
Questions Answer the following questions thoroughly.
  1. Why will Mildred run for Beatty, but not for Montag?
  2. How were movies, pictures and TV the beginning of "it all"?
  3. "Out of the nursery, into the college, and then back into the nursery" Explain this in your own words.
  4. Why do people read less and play more?
  5. How do the minorities play a role in the dumbing down of America?
  6. "Magazines became a nice blend of vanilla tapioca" Explain this in your own words.
  7. What do schools turn out instead of intellectuals?
  8. How do firemen "keep everyone happy."
  9. "She didn't want to know how a thing was done, but why?" Explain this in your own words.
  10. How can Guy get back in the good graces?
  11. Why are there no front porches?
  12. What is in the air conditioning vent?
  13. Who's at the door?
Thought What is Beatty's role? Why doesn't he just imprison Montag?
Fahrenheit 451: 71-100
Introduction Montag gets the faith and begins to read…
Questions Answer the following questions.
  1. Who's at the door?
  2. Why is Mildred acting strangely?
  3. What is the rest of the world like? How come America looks so good? How is this similar to the world today?
  4. Who is Faber?
  5. Millie says that it will be either the books or her? How so?
  6. What is the sand? What is the sieve?
  7. Why does Denham's Dentifrice drive him crazy?
  8. How is Faber a coward?
  9. How do books have pores? Why is a face with pores more attractive than one without?  What are the three steps needed to use books?
  10. Why are firemen barely needed anymore? Why won't killing all the firemen work?
  11. How does he get the professor to help him? What does the professor give him?
  12. What mistake could Montag be making?
Thought Faber says that "Those who don't build, burn." What does he mean? Apply it to our world.
Fahrenheit 451: 91-123 (end of section)
Introduction Read the pages, imagine the scenes, listen to the voices, question the text, and answer the questions.
Questions Answer the following questions thoughtfully.
  1. What doesn't Montag want to do?  Why must he trust Faber?
  2. Why do they believe that it will be a quick war?
  3. Why don't these women want children?
  4. Why is this conversation bound to end in chaos?
  5. Why does Montag want to read poetry to them?
  6. What poem does he read to them?
  7. Why was she crying?  What about the poem got the woman upset?
  8. Why is Montag a fool?
  9. Why is ignorance good?
Fahrenheit 451: Burning Bright
Introduction We come racing to the end, chased by dogs.
Questions Answer the following questions thoughtfully.
  1. Who called in Montag's house?
  2. Montag says he can't leave because of the hound. Why else can't he leave?
  3. Why would Beatty make Montag burn his own house?
  4. Why does Montag kill Beatty? Did Beatty want to die?
  5. Why would he be in danger crossing the boulevard? Even if he weren't running, why would he be suspicious?
  6. Who tried to run him down? Why?  What does this say about the society?
  7. Why does he plant the book at Black's house?
  8. How is Montag going to try an escape? Why might the woods be successful?
  9. What will Faber need to do in order to avoid the Hound?
  10. Why would the police televise the search of the Hound?
Thought Many things in 451 have come true. How has this hound search come true?
Fahrenheit 451: To the End
Introduction This homework is unlike the others that you have done. All of these questions are think questions. None of the answers should be obvious.
Questions Pick three of the following questions and answer fully.
  1. How does Montag feel when the bomb drops on his city?
  2. How are the books being saved?
  3. Why don't they pursue Montag outside of the city?
  4. What does Montag start to quote from at the end of the novel?
  5. Does this novel end with hope? Explain.
  6. If Bradbury were to look at our lives on Nantucket, what advice would he give us.
  7. Why doesn't Bradbury let Faber survive?

FAHRENHEIT 451
Content Questions

(Numbers indicate the chapter you should refer to.)

  1. What do the numerals "451" represent? (Part I)

  2. After working on Mildred, the machine operator tells Montag that "we get these cases nine or ten a night." What does this reveal about the emotional stability of the populace? What other forms of violence are rampant? Why do you think this society has become so violent? (Part I)

  3. How did the government of this society gain control over the people? Explain using evidence from the story. (Part I)

  4. Why is Faber so critical of himself and pessimistic about the world when he is first introduced? Why is he then willing to become Montag's mentor? (Part II)

  5. Why are the characters on the television screen called "The Family"? What purpose are they supposed to serve in this society? What is the role played by the "White Clowns" seen on television? (Part II)

  6. Why do you think Mrs. Phelps cried in response to Montag's reading of the poem "Dover Beach?" (Part II)

  7. How does Montag feel as he burns his own house? Why do you think he feels this way? (Part III)

  8. What revelation does Montag have about Beatty after he kills him? How does Beatty's ability to quote from literature actually foreshadow this understanding of his character? (Part III)

  9. Why was Montag's capture depicted on television even though he had escaped? (Part III)

  10. Do you think the author wants the reader to believe that Montag will be happy with the book people? Give reasons to support your answer. In general, would you say that this novel ends on an optimistic or pessimistic note?

Discussion Questions

  1. An author can convey ideas by manipulating the reader's sympathies within the novel. Consider the following situations from the novel and tell which ones evoked sympathy and which ones evoked indifference. In each case indicate what the author's message might be:

    -Mildred's suicide attempt

    -Clarisse's disappearance

    -Beatty's death

    -the stranger killed instead of Montag

    -the death of the woman at 11 Elm

    -the city's demise

    -the isolation of the book people

     

  2. Discuss why Bradbury chose the medium of science fiction to convey his ideas. What strong social statement is the author making about the future of man in a technical world? What does he feel society and its individuals must do to prevent destruction of the species? If Bradbury were to write a similar book today, what additional measures would he want to warn against that have become obvious in the past thirty years?

 

 

The following websites were used to compile the above questions:
hbarrsenglishclass
sched.sbu.edu

 

 
 
     


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