Fahrenheit 451 1-70 Review

Fahrenheit 451 1-70

Before we continue, let's review and catch up to where we're at. Make sure to stay locked in and ask questions as they arise - keep your phones under your chair!

Part 1: The Hearth and the Salamander

Multiple Choice

Who is the protagonist (main character) of our story?

• Guy Montag

• Mildred Montag

• Captain Beatty

• Clarisse McClellan

Pages 1-10

"It was a pleasure to burn..."

From the beginning of the book, Ray Bradbury, the author, wants the audience to know that at this point in time, Montag enjoys his job as a fireman.

• He returned from work and "he hung up his black beetle-c0lored helmet and shined it; he hung his flameproof jacket neatly; he showered luxuriously..."

• Montag was noted to have been "whistling" several times as he walked through the firehouse

Multiple Choice

At the beginning of the book, who did Montag meet on his way home from work?

• Mildred Montag

• Captain Beatty

• Clarisse McClellan

• The Mechanical Hound

Pages 1-10

Hello Clarisse...

On montag's way home from work, he encounters his neighbor, Clarisse McClellan.

• Clarisse, approximately 17 years old, is considered crazy by those around her.

• She thinks... differently

• She asks Montag personal questions about life, love, happiness, and other topics that aren't necessarily common topics of discussion in this dystopian society.

Pages 1-10

Hello Clarisse...

Clarisse seems curious about Montag's job as a fireman. To her, firemen are scary. (This is the case in this society, which is different from ours.)

• She finds out that Montag is 30 and has been a fireman for 10 years

• She mentions a rumor that firemen actually used to put out fires instead of start them, which montag quickly shuts down.

Pages 1-10

Hello Clarisse...

When montag and clarisse part ways, montag seems a bit annoyed by her conversation.

• She talks about nature

• She asks him if he's happy, which for some reason seems to upset Montag

• Montag sees into Clarisse's house to see people talking, laughing, and interacting with each other rather than watching the parlor wall tvs.

Pages 1-10

Home sweet home

When montag finally returns home, he is greeted by an odd situation.

• The author provides a somber and cold mood/tone right away

• "It was like coming into the cold marbled room of a mausoleum after the moon has set. Complete darkness, not a hint of the silver world outside, the windows tightly shut, the chamber a tomb-world where no sound from the great city could penetrate."

Open Ended

When Montag walked into his house in the first few pages, the author set the mood/tone by writing, "It was like coming into the cold marbled room of a mausoleum after the moon has set. Complete darkness, not a hint of the silver world outside, the windows tightly shut, the chamber a tomb-world where no sound from the great city could penetrate." Knowing what we do now, how was this a hint at foreshadowing?

Multiple Choice

Winston walked into his house, then into his room. What did he accidentally kick with his foot while walking in the dark?

• The corner of the bed. (ouch)

• An empty sleeping pill bottle.

• The dog.

• The TV remote.

Pages 11-21

Mildred Montag

Winston notices "Two Moonstones" looking up at him in the light of his lighter

• He quickly realizes that his wife has overdosed on sleeping pills

• he immediately called for the "emergency hospital" between the loud ripping sounds of jet bombers flying above them

• The jet bombers scream overhead throughout the day and night

Open Ended

Think about what a dystopian society is and who is in control in a dystopian society. Why do you think there are so many jet bombers flying overhead all the time?

Pages 11-21

The Machine

When the emergency "medical" crew arrives, they hook mildred up to two machines

• One machine "slid down into your stomach like a black cobra down an echoing well..." and removed the "bad stuff".

• The second machine, pumped all of the blood from the body and replaced it with fresh blood and serum (medicine).

• Montag was upset with the operators because they were very casual about the situation.

Open Ended

Why were the medical workers so casual about having to revive Mildred?

Pages 11-21

THe next Morning

When montag awoke the next morning, Mildred was no longer in her bed.

• He rushed to the kitchen to find out that Mildred had no recollection of the previous night's events. She even denied the fact that she took an entire bottle of pills.

• She seems too preoccupied by her tv script for her "role" in the parlor wall tv show for that day

• Her role is to say certain lines that have no real meaning to the story. When Montag asks her what the show is about, she gets snippy with him.

Pages 11-21

Dandelions

Montag leaves for work and once again encounters Clarisse

• She mentions how she loves the rain and how it even tastes good

• She grabs a dandelion and touches her chin with it

  • She mentions that if it rubs of, it means she's in love.

  • It reveals that Montag isn't in love with anyone.

  • Although it's just a trick, is it really?

Pages 22-33

The Mechanical hound

Montag slides down the firehouse pole and walks past the mechanical hound

• the hound is an eight-legged machine that is used to "sniff out" books

• When there are quiet nights, the firemen release cats, chickens, rats, and other small animals and bet on how long it will take the hound to kill them.

• The hound injects morphine and procaine into its victims

• Montag doesn't generally partake in the activity

Open Ended

On page 23, explain why you think the following interaction took place. "The Hound half rose in its kennel and looked at him with green-blue neon light flickering in its suddenly activated eye bulbs. It growled again, a strange rasping combination of electrical sizzle, a frying sound, a scraping of metal, a turning of cogs that seemed rusty and ancient with suspicion." "No, no, boy," said Montag, his heart pounding."

Pages 22-33

Captain Beatty

We're introduced to captain beatty

• While Captain beatty, Montag's boss, is gambling, Montag mentions that the hound doesn't like him for some reason.

• The captain brushes it aside and says that they'll take a look at it tomorrow.

• The hound is described as, "a fine bit of craftsmanship, a good rifle that can fetch its own target and guarantees the bull's-eye every time."

Pages 22-33

Less Clarisse

Randomly, Clarisse stopped showing up on Montag's walk home from work

• Montag begins talking to Captain beatty about what happens to people or firemen who have or have had books before

• He almost slips by saying, "once upon a time." which is common in many fairy tales

• We learn the history of firemen:

  • 1. Answer the alarm quickly; 2. Start the fire swiftly; 3. Burn everything; 4. Report back to firehouse immediately; 5. Stand alert for other alarms

Multiple Choice

According to the history in this book, who was the first fireman?

• Benjamin Franklin

• George Washington

• Abe Lincoln

• Thomas Edison

Pages 33-43

Fire Call

An alarm goes off signaling the firemen to go start a fire somewhere

• The fire engine takes the squad to a house where they find a woman who was not running or trying to escape

• the woman finds out that her neighbor turned her in for having books in the attic

• They began covering everything in kerosene and prepared to burn the house to the ground

• As they neared finishing, they were yelling at the woman to leave the house, but she continued to refuse.

• She stood while Captain beatty counted down and she pulled out a match and started the fire herself

Open Ended

What did Montag take from the woman's house that was burnt to the ground with her in it?

Pages 33-43

A book

When winston returns to his home, he hides his stolen book under his pillow

• Remember, this is illegal and can be punishable by death if he's caught with a book.

• At this point, montag is starting to think a bit more like clarisse mcclellan

  • He asks Mildred how they met and she couldn't remember. This cements his feelings towards his wife.

• They get into a heated argument about their relationship, the TV parlor that Mildred considers her "family", and they clearly aren't happy together.

Open Ended

Montag asks Mildred if she had seen the neighbor girl, Clarisse, lately. What happened to Clarisse?

Pages 33-44

Just like Myrtle

It is revealed to us that Clarisse Mcclellan is dead.

• Mildred says, "Mcclellan. Mclellan. Run over by a car. four days ago. i'm not sure. But I think she's dead. The family moved out anyway. I don't know. But I think she's dead.

• Montag is clearly upset that she wouldn't have said anything until now about her.

• What a great relationship these two have, eh?

Pages 45-55

Montag is changing

After the news of Clarisse, Montag doesn't feel well. He wakes up and tells Mildred he's sick.

• Mildred doesn't show any compassion for him and wants him to go to work. After all, how are they going to buy another tv wall if he doesn't work?

• Montag tries to have a conversation with Mildred about the 1000 books and the woman they burnt the night before, but all mildred can do is worry about the tv.

• Montag wanted mildred to call in sick for him, but she wouldn't. While montag is feeling ill about everything, Mildred is still showing now compassion.

Open Ended

Respond to the quote Montag said: "We need not to be let alone. We need to be really bothered once in a while. How long is it since you were really bothered? About something important, about something real?"

Pages 45-55

Captain Beatty

Amidst the arguing between Montag and Mildred, Captain Beatty has arrived at Montag's house.

• "Go let him in, will you? Tell him I'm sick." "Tell him yourself!" and she ran away... nice.

• Captain beatty comes into montag's room and tells him to take the night off and asks him when he'll feel better again - montag says a few days.

• Captain beatty says, "Every fireman, sooner or later, hits this. They only need understanding, to know how the wheels run. Need to know the history of our profession. They don't feed it to rookies like they used to."

Pages 45-57

Tense moment

Mildred enters the room and starts acting like a "wife", caring for the sick montag.

• She smoothed the sheets and patted his pillow.

• "Mildred's hand had frozen behind the pillow. Her fingers were tracing the book's outline and as the shape became familiar her face looked surprised and then stunned. Her mouth opened to ask a question..."

• Beatty left after mentioning that the Mcclellan family has popped up a few times on their radar. Their family was odd and now they've disappeared.

Pages 58-70

Wait, so Beatty's read a book before?

Before Beatty leaves, Montag asks what happens if firemen want to read a book

• "At least once in his career, every fireman gets an itch. What do the books say, he wonders. Oh to scratch that itch, eh? Well Montag, take my word for it, I've had to read a few in my time, to know what I was about, and the books say nothing!"

• Montag says, "Well, then, what if a fireman accidentally, really not intending anything, takes a book home with him?"

• Beatty replies, "A natural error. Curiosity alone. If he hasn't burned it by then, we simply come burn it for him.

Poll

Does Montag enjoy the feeling of having an illegal book?

• No, it terrifies him.

• No, it's going to lead to the death of him and his wife.

• Yes, he wants to feel like Clarisse and hold onto this feeling.

• Yes, he just wants to rebel.

Pages 58-70

Mrs. Montag, Mrs. Montag, someone here.

The house keeps mentioning that someone is approaching the house

• While this is taking place, montag is convincing Mildred to not turn them in and to give them a chance before he burns the books

• Montag brings up clarisse mcclellan and the way she talked and thought

• Tension builds at the end of part 1