Fahrenheit 451 – WebQuest Project
A WebQuest project uses the resources of the Internet to explore and answer
questions pertaining to a particular topic. We are going to explore the issue of
censorship – past and present.
Introduction
You have been appointed to the Government's Freedom of Speech Commission.
The Commission is studying issues related to Censorship and has asked you to
investigate some of the history of censorship and to use the information to help
the Commission make judgments about contemporary censorship issues. You will
be using the WebQuest to find information about some of the instances of
censorship the Commission is interested in.
Task
The WebQuest will have two parts:
To complete Part I, you must explore Web sites on censorship in the past and the
present. You will be given a selection of web sites related to these issues from
which to choose.
Part II is an essay on a contemporary censorship issue. The essay must use
information from the Web sites, so you will need to take notes as you explore the
sites. (Remember to record reference/citation information.)
Process
Part I:
Explore these websites for information on the kinds of historical censorship Ray
Bradbury discusses in Fahrenheit 451: For this part of the WebQuest, I will be
collecting answers to the questions that accompany each web site.
Step I: The burning of Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley:
• Why were they burned at the stake?
• Why was Latimer confident that they were doing the right thing?
• Why would it be important to remind people of this history?
Site 1:http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Latimer_Ridley_Cranmer.htm
Site 2:http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bio/269.html
Step II: Nazi Book Burning:
• What is significant about the date May 10, 1933?
• In what way might the pictorial images have inspired Bradbury to write
Fahrenheit 451?
• What effect do you think the burning of books had on the authors whose works
were burned.
Site 1:http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?ModuleId=10005852
Site 2:http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/timeline/bookburn.htm
Step III: McCarthyism and Blacklisting in Hollywood:
• Who is Joe McCarthy?
• What is “McCarthyism”?
• What does HUAC stand for?
• What is the significance of Hollywood and Blacklisting?
• How might it have inspired Bradbury to write Fahrenheit 451?
http://www.ushistory.org/us/53a.asp
Part II
As you explore the websites listed below, think about the censorship issues that
are in the news today. The questions listed below are designed to guide your
thinking for the essay you will write in Part III. I will not be collecting answers to
them, but the essay should demonstrate that you have thought about them.
Questions to consider as you prepare your paper:
• Who is in favor of these limitations on freedom of speech?
• Why are they in favor of them?
• Who is opposed?
• Why are they opposed?
• Which side do you agree with? Why?
Labeling of music to keep our youth safe from harmful lyrics
Warning labels on CD’s
http://www.findarticles.com/m1571/n2_v13/20121875/p1/article.jhtml
The V-Chip and Movie Ratings: Controlling access to violence and sexuality in
the Media
http://www.fcc.gov/vchip
What is Art? Should indecent Art be censored?
Decency and the Public Funding of the Arts
http://www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=10906
Book Banning: Remove books from the shelves of libraries to protect our society!
http://www.adlerbooks.com/banned.html
American Library Association (ALA)
First Amendment Rights
http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pressreleases2008/July2008/WOlib
el.cfm
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/intfreedom/censorshipfirstamendmentissu
es/index.cfm
Fahrenheit 451 Essay Topics
1. Conformity vs. Individuality: Compare and contrast conformity and
individuality as presented in Fahrenheit 451. Look at the various
characters who conform or rebel
2. Discuss how Montag's changing perception of fire mirrors his personal
development. What does fire symbolize for him during different parts of
the story? What does he use fire for?
3. Technology: How does Ray Bradbury portray technology in the novel?
Is it useful? Mindless Distraction/mind control? Violent form of
government control? War? Is his view of technology fair?
4. Technology: Compare Ray Bradbury’s predictions about the future to
what we have today. Was he right? In what ways was he right or wrong?
5. Analyze Captain Beatty. Is he truly in support of censorship or is he
hiding an allegiance to freedom of expression? Use specific examples from
the text in your argument.
6. Happiness: What does it mean to be happy in the novel? What is needed
for true happiness?
7. Analyze Mildred Montag. Is she truly happy leading a life blind to
reality? Use specific examples from the text in your argument.
8. Symbols are very important in Fahrenheit 451. Name three specific
symbols and outline their references and meanings throughout the novel.
9. Literary Allusions: The book is filled with references, direct or
otherwise, to real books. Choose a few allusions and discuss their
relevance to the novel.
10. Discuss the complexities of Bradbury's message. Is he against all forms
of censorship? Do you think a society such as this could ever truly exist?
What aspects of this society does Bradbury appear to detest the most?
11. Women in the story: Compare and contrast Mildred and Clarisse. How
did each woman come to exist? What roles do they play in society? Can
either truly survive?
12. Discuss the role of nature in Fahrenheit 451, with specific references to
animals and water.
13. Family relationships: Discuss how family relationships have changed in
Fahrenheit 451. What has caused these changes?
14. Youth of Fahrenheit 451: Compare Clarisse to other kids of her age in
the story. How is she different and why have the youth grown so violent?
15. Follow Montag's ideological progression. Where does it truly begin and
what are the most important instances that spur its growth?
16. Discuss the blurred distinction between life and death in Fahrenheit
451, referring to Mildred, Clarisse, and the life-like machines that
dominate society.
17. Research some forms of modern-day censorship stemming from our
webquest and compare them to the world of Fahrenheit 451. You can
research Nazi book burning, parent advisory stickers, or rating systems for
movies and video games.