Fahrenheit 451 Part 1 study guide

How does the story’s setting influence the plot?

• The dystopian setting allows the character to experience hardship.

• The society they live in allows for happiness for all people through the censorship of any disturbing content.

• Montag’s desire for knowledge in a censored society creates conflict with other characters.

• The setting does not influence the plot in this particular story.

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What can the reader infer about the period of time in which the event takes place?

• The story takes place before our time period, allowing the reader to envision a different, simpler way of living.

• The story takes place in the past when books were not valued.

• The story takes place in the future when technology and entertainment are valued over knowledge or real connections.

• The story is set in the present, so the reader can make a personal connection to the conflict.

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What foreshadows the fact that Montag was hiding books all along?

• When Montag reflects on how “it was a pleasure to burn”.

• When the author mentions many times that Montag thought about what was hidden behind the ventilator grill.

• When Beatty informs Montag that Clarisse had been killed.

• When Montag felt sick about the woman being burned alive in her home.

Which quotes best support the theme in part one of the book that complete censorship can cause a society to become unhappy?

• "Millie! "' he said. "Listen. Give me a second, will you? We can't do

  anything. We can't burn these. I want to look at them, at least look at

  them once. Then if what the Captain says is true, we'll burn them

  together, believe me, we'll burn them together. You must help me." He

  looked down into her face and took hold of her chin and held her

  firmly. He was looking not only at her, but for himself and what he

  must do, in her face. "Whether we like this or not, we're in it. I've never

  asked for much from you in all these years, but I ask it now, I plead for

  it. We've got to start somewhere here, figuring out why we're in such a

  mess, you and the medicine at night, and the car, and me and my work" (Bradbury 63).

• “We must all be alike. Not everyone born free and equal, as the Constitution says, but everyone made equal. Each man the image of every other; then all are happy, for there are no mountains to make them cower or judge themselves against. So! A book is a loaded gun in the house next door. Burn it. Take the shot from the weapon. Breach the man’s mind. Who knows who might be the target of a well-read man? Me? I won’t stomach them for a minute. And so when houses were finally fireproofed completely, all over the world (you were correct in your assumption the other night) there was no longer a need for firemen for the old purposes. They were given the new job, as custodians of our peace of mind, the focus of our understandable and rightful dread of being inferior; official censors, judges, and executors. That’s you, Montag, and that’s me” (Bradbury 55-56).

Name an important allusion that occurs throughout the novel that references a famous philospher's story that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

• The Bible

• Plato's Allegory of the Cave

• A Sea of Faith

• Mount Vesuvius

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In the novel, the author states, 'With the brass nozzle in his fists, with this great python spitting its venomous kerosene upon the world, the blood pounded in his head, and his hands were the hands of some amazing conductor playing all of the symphonies of blazing and burning…” What does the imagery suggest about Montag at this point in the story?

• Montag has a hard time controlling the kerosene hose because of the force and power behind it.

• Since Montag has been living in this society, he has grown to be extremely unhappy.

• Montag is feeling conflicted about his job of being a fireman.

• Montag enjoys the burning and feels powerful and skillful while he does his job.

From the narrator’s description of Montag’s experiences, the reader can tell that Montag is --

• carefree and joyful

• frustrated and determined

• shy and stubborn

• regretful and sympathetic

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What text evidence supports your answer to how Montag can be described based on the author's descriptions of Montag's experiences?

• "Maybe you took two pills and forgot and took two more, and forgot again and took two more, and were so dopey you kept right on until you had thirty or forty of them in you" (Bradbury 17).

• "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

  "Forgot."

  "Four days ago!"

  "I forgot all about it" (Bradbury 45).

• "'You weren't there, you didn't see,'" he said. 'There must be something in books, things we can't imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You don't stay for nothing'" (Bradbury 48).

• "'I'm going to do something,' said Montag. 'I don't even know what yet, but I'm going to do something big"' (Bradbury 62).

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What major choice does the main character, Montag, make when leaving the house of the woman who decided to burn herself rather than relinquish her books?

• Montag tells Mildred what happened and makes the choice to tell her about the books.

• Montag grabs a book with his hands which almost have a mind of their own.

• Montag confronts Captain Beatty about sparing this woman's life.

• Montag chooses to ignore the woman and let her burn.

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In a well-developed paragraph explain what the primary theme is in Part 1 of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. *You may use your composition book for this question. 

• Ignorance is bliss.

• It's better to fit in vs stand out.

• Technology is evil.

• Knowledge is power.

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