Fahrenheit 451
By Ray Bradbury
1
Fahrenheit 451 Reading and Writing Schedule
Day Number
Reading
Writing
One
3-14
1-11
Two
14-24
12-13
Three
24-35
14
Four
35-56
15-17
Five
57-63
18
Six
63-68
19
Seven
71-80
20-21
Eight
80-93
22
Nine
93-110
23-25
Ten
113-125
26
Eleven
125-136
27-28
Twelve
137-154
29
Thirteen
154-165
30
Fourteen
Afterword
32-33
Fifteen
Catch Up
34
Sixteen
Catch Up
35-37
Seventeen
Catch Up
38
2
Fahrenheit 451 Summary
The novel opens with Guy Montag, a “fireman” in a futuristic
society where he and his coworkers start fires, rather than put
them out. Books are banned and burned upon discovery, and
Montag has no qualms about his responsibility.
But then he meets Clarisse McClellan, a seventeen-year-old
Bohemian girl who happens to be his neighbor. She’s very
chatty, and opens his eyes to the world of nature, dewdrops,
and not being a stooge. After their first meeting, Montag
returns home to find his wife overdosed on sleeping pills. He
calls for help, but he gets plumbers instead of medics. This
sort of thing happens all the time, they say. The next morning,
his wife (Mildred) doesn’t remember anything and is happy as
a clam.
Montag grows increasingly dissatisfied with his life and work
as he talks more with Clarisse. He starts to wonder if perhaps
books aren’t so bad, and even steals one from a book burning.
Meanwhile Clarisse disappears (probably dead), and his boss, Captain Beatty, is growing
suspicious. He lectures Montag on the dangers of books and explains the origin of their
profession. Far from rejuvenated, Montag feels more rebellious than ever. He spends the
afternoon with his wife reading a secret stash of books he’s been storing and decides he needs a
teacher. He takes a Bible and tries to memorize some of it on the way.
He settles on an old ex-professor named Faber, whom he met in the park one day. Faber is
reluctant, but finally agrees to work with Montag against the firemen. Faber provides Montag
with a two-way radio earpiece and sends him on his way. That evening Montag loses his cool and
reads some banned poetry aloud to his wife’s friends. Not such a great decision. That night at the
firehouse, Beatty taunts Montag by quoting contradictory passages from the same books. He’s
trying to prove that literature is confusing and problematic. Then he takes Guy to a fire alarm –
at Guy’s own house, called in by his wife, who flees the scene. Montag torches his own house on
command, then turns on Beatty and torches him, along with the very scary Mechanical Hound
sent after him.
Now a fugitive, Montag makes his way to Faber’s house, where he watches his own chase scene
on TV. The men make plans to meet up later and in a different place, as the city is pretty much
off limits for them. Montag flees to the river at the edge of the city and some other random
pedestrian is killed in his place (the authorities wanted a happy ending to the televised chase).
Guy gloats in the river and thinks about life for approximately 4 paragraphs before bumping into
a series of forest-bound individuals who turn out to be ex-professors and other intellectuals. The
head honcho, Granger, explains the situation: since books are now banned, they each have
memorized one text. Guy would like to volunteer parts of the Bible he tried to memorize early,
but his brain’s a bit foggy right now.
Then the city is bombed by a warring country. Everyone is dead except for Montag and these
book people in the woods. They decide to rebuild society, and Montag remembers a very relevant
passage from the Book of Ecclesiastes about a time to sew, a time to reap, and the tree of life.
3
Ray Bradbury
Ray Douglas Bradbury was born on August 22, 1920, in
Waukegan, Illinois. He was the third son in the family. His father,
Leonard Spaulding Bradbury, was a telephone lineman and
technician. His mother, Esther Marie Bradbury (nee Moberg), was
a Swedish immigrant. His grandfather and great-grandfather were
newspaper publishers. In 1934 his family settled in Los Angeles,
California. There young Bradbury often roller-skated through
Hollywood, trying to spot celebrities.
Young Bradbury attended Los Angeles High School. There he was
involved in the drama club and planned to become an actor. He graduated from high
school in 1938 and had no more formal education. He learned from reading the works of
such writers as Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoevsky, among others. From 1938-1942 he
was selling newspapers on the streets of Los Angeles, spending his nights in the local
library and his days at the typewriter. At that time he published his stories in fanzines.
In 1941 he published his first paid work, a short story titled "Pendulum", in the pulp
magazine Super Science Stories, and became a full-time writer by the end of 1942. He
published a collection of stories as his first book, "Dark Carnival" (1947). That same year
he married Marguerite McClure (1922-2003), whom he met at a book store a year
earlier. They had four daughters and eight grandchildren.
Bradbury shot to international fame after publication of his short story collection "The
Martian Chronicles" (1950), which was partially based on ideas from ancient Greek and
Roman mythology. Then he followed the anti-Utopian writers Yevgeni Zamyatin and
Aldous Huxley in his best known work, "Farenheit 451" (1953). The 1966 film adaptation
(Fahrenheit 451 (1966)) by director 'Francois Truffaut' , starring Julie Christie, received
several nominations. Bradbury was not happy with the 1980 TV adaptation ("The
Martian Chronicles" (1980)) starring Rock Hudson. His other novels and stories also have
been adapted to films and television, as well as for radio, theatre and comic books.
Bradbury has written episodes for Alfred Hitchcock's TV series, as well as for many other
TV productions. His total literary output is close to 600 short stories, more than 30
books and numerous poems and plays.
In 2004 Bradbury received a National Medal of Arts. He was given a star on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6644 Hollywood Blvd. An asteroid is named in his honor,
"9766 Bradbury", and the Apollo astronaut named a crater on the moon "Dandelion
Crater", after his novel, 'Dandelion Wine'. Bradbury also received the World Fantasy
Award for Lifetime Achievement, the Grand Master Award from Science Fiction Writers
of America, an Emmy Award for his work as a writer on 'The Halloween Tree', and many
other awards and honors. His works were translated in more than 40 languages and
sold tens of millions of copies around the world.
Ray Bradbury is currently residing in Los Angeles, California. He has never driven a car
and does not have one. He writes daily.
4
Fahrenheit 451 Background Presentations
In a group of no less than three, but no more than five you are going to be
developing a futuristic version of the United States. Just like our forefathers over
two hundred years ago, you will sit down and figure out exactly what it takes to
re-create a fully functioning country from the ground up. Your tasks are as
follows:
I.
Revise our current name (The United States of America).
II.
Modify our flag.
III.
Add at least fifteen amendments to our Constitution
a. Your Amendments to the Constitution should
i. Clarify the rights of your citizens
ii. Re-state the laws of the land
iii. Re-state the consequences for breaking those laws
IV.
Re-create the monetary system
i. Prepare at least three examples of the proposed implements
V.
Create a tax system
VI.
Re-establish the military
i. Create at least two branches
ii. Describe how the military will be funded
iii. Describe how the military will be staffed
This assignment will be worth 50 points, and will be graded on an extreme
curve. Much like in life, your performance will be measured against your peers.
With that being said, feel free to use any means necessary to make your
presentation (yes, you will present this to the class) the best. Visuals and/or
multimedia presentations are encouraged.
5
Hurst Notes
Reading books is for suckers! The people that use their “cool cards” know that
the only books to read aren’t the ones that you get in English class, but are
instead, the shortened, summarized, small-brainified Hurst Notes! Who needs to
spend hours and hours reading a full book, when you can bust through an
edition of Hurst Notes in twenty minutes?
Your task is to create a one-page summary for one of the chapters or characters
listed below. Your summary will start with…..a section titled “Summary” (duh).
Make sure you include the chapter number or name of the character that you are
summarizing. The second section will be titled “Characters” and will describe
each of the characters involved in this section or with this person, as well as why
they are involved. The last section will be titled “Analysis” and will provide your
own analysis on the overall importance of this section or character to the book.
The summary will be in Times New Roman font, the font size will be 12-point,
and it will be emailed to your publisher no later than 3:00 on the due date
([email protected]). Here are the sections:
Part One (The Hearth and the Salamander): Day Six
Part Two (The Sieve and the Sand): Day Eleven
Part Three (Burning Bright): Day Fifteen
Guy Montag: Day Fifteen
Mildred Montag: Day Fifteen
Clarisse McClellen: Day Fifteen
Captain Beatty: Day Fifteen
6
Fahrenheit 451 Opinionnaire
Below is a series of statements. Circle the response which most closely indicates
how you feel about the statement.
1. In the name of national security, a government should be allowed to
eavesdrop on its own people.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
2. A citizen of legal age has the right to do anything he/she wants to do so long
as it does not directly harm another human being.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
3. If the people feel a government is not working fairly for them, they have the
right to start a revolution to overthrow that government.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
4. Technological advances pose a great threat to freedom.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
5. The United States is as close to a Democracy as one could hope for.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
8
9
10
11
Fahrenheit 451 Response Notes Pgs 3-40
A.
Plot: Write 5 CDs about the plot of these pages:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
B.
Select one significant quote in this chapter. Write it below, the include
page number, and describe why it is significant to you.
Page # ________
Quote:
Why:
12
C.
Questions: What questions did you have while you were reading? List
them below. Supply answers when you find them.
1.
2.
3.
D.
Predictions: Describe what you believe is going to happen next
E.
What connections did you make to the “real world”?
1.
2.
3.
13
14
Fahrenheit 451 Writing Assignment
SECTION 1
PREWRITING:
Create a graphic organizer that compares and contrasts the society of Fahrenheit 451 with that
of your own.
15
Fahrenheit 451 Writing Assignment
SECTION 1
DRAFTING: Compose two paragraphs in which you focus in on two things that Fahrenheit
451’s society has in common with that of the contemporary United States.
PART OF ESSAY
Topic sentence for
paragraph 1
YOUR EXAMPLE
MEET STANDARD?
Subject & an opinion?
With 3+ cm words?
Concrete detail 1
Is this a detail? What
kind? Transition?
Lead-in? actions?
Commentary about
detail 1
Is this an opinion that
extends or explains the
detail? With 3+ cm
words?
Commentary about
detail 1
Is this a different
opinion that extends or
explains? With 3+ cm
words?
Concrete detail 2
Is this a detail? What
kind? Transition?
Lead-in? actions?
Commentary about
detail 2
Is this an opinion that
extends or explains the
detail? With 3+ cm
words?
Commentary about
detail 2
Is this a different
opinion that extends or
explains? With 3+ cm
words?
Use any similar words
from the paragraph?
Give an overall
opinion of subject in
TS? W/3+ cm words?
Subject & an opinion?
With 3+ cm words?
Concluding sentence
which summarizes
paragraph 1
Topic sentence for
paragraph 2
16
Concrete detail 1
Is this a detail? What
kind? Transition?
Lead-in? actions?
Commentary about
detail 1
Is this an opinion that
extends or explains the
detail? With 3+ cm
words?
Commentary about
detail 1
Is this a different
opinion that extends or
explains? With 3+ cm
words?
Concrete detail 2
Is this a detail? What
kind? Transition?
Lead-in? actions?
Commentary about
detail 2
Is this an opinion that
extends or explains the
detail? With 3+ cm
words?
Commentary about
detail 2
Is this a different
opinion that extends or
explains? With 3+ cm
words?
Concluding sentence
which summarizes
paragraph 2
Use any similar words
from the paragraph?
Give an overall
opinion of subject in
TS? With 3+ cm
words?
17
To Live or Not to Live!
Imagine that you are Guy Montag, and you are living in his time. You have a secret
place in your room that nobody can see, and you have begun recording your daily
thoughts in a journal in that secret place. In a journal entry, describe what your typical
day is like. Go into detail about your surroundings, the people around you, and how you
perceive your existence.
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19
Fahrenheit 451 Response Notes Pgs 40-68
A.
Plot: Write 5 CDs about the plot of these pages:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
B.
Select one significant quote in this chapter. Write it below, the include
page number, and describe why it is significant to you.
Page # ________
Quote:
Why:
20
C.
Questions: What questions did you have while you were reading? List
them below. Supply answers when you find them.
1.
2.
3.
D.
Predictions: Describe what you believe is going to happen next
E.
What connections did you make to the “real world”?
1.
2.
3.
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22
Fahrenheit 451 Writing Assignment
SECTION 2
PREWRITING: Create a visual organizer or a bulleted list, where you illustrate the job of the
firemen in the book.
23
Fahrenheit 451 Writing Assignment
SECTION 2
DRAFTING: Compare and contrast the job of the firemen in the novel with firemen of today.
PART OF ESSAY
Topic sentence for
paragraph 1
YOUR EXAMPLE
MEET STANDARD?
Subject & an opinion?
With 3+ cm words?
Concrete detail 1
Is this a detail? What
kind? Transition?
Lead-in? actions?
Commentary about
detail 1
Is this an opinion that
extends or explains the
detail? With 3+ cm
words?
Commentary about
detail 1
Is this a different
opinion that extends or
explains? With 3+ cm
words?
Concrete detail 2
Is this a detail? What
kind? Transition?
Lead-in? actions?
Commentary about
detail 2
Is this an opinion that
extends or explains the
detail? With 3+ cm
words?
Commentary about
detail 2
Is this a different
opinion that extends or
explains? With 3+ cm
words?
Use any similar words
from the paragraph?
Give an overall
opinion of subject in
TS? W/3+ cm words?
Subject & an opinion?
With 3+ cm words?
Concluding sentence
which summarizes
paragraph 1
Topic sentence for
paragraph 2
24
Concrete detail 1
Is this a detail? What
kind? Transition?
Lead-in? actions?
Commentary about
detail 1
Is this an opinion that
extends or explains the
detail? With 3+ cm
words?
Commentary about
detail 1
Is this a different
opinion that extends or
explains? With 3+ cm
words?
Concrete detail 2
Is this a detail? What
kind? Transition?
Lead-in? actions?
Commentary about
detail 2
Is this an opinion that
extends or explains the
detail? With 3+ cm
words?
Commentary about
detail 2
Is this a different
opinion that extends or
explains? With 3+ cm
words?
Concluding sentence
which summarizes
paragraph 2
Use any similar words
from the paragraph?
Give an overall
opinion of subject in
TS? With 3+ cm
words?
25
26
Fahrenheit 451 Response Notes Pgs 71-113
A.
Plot: Write 5 CDs about the plot of these pages:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
B.
Select one significant quote in this chapter. Write it below, the include
page number, and describe why it is significant to you.
Page # ________
Quote:
Why:
27
C.
Questions: What questions did you have while you were reading? List
them below. Supply answers when you find them.
1.
2.
3.
D.
Predictions: Describe what you believe is going to happen next
E.
What connections did you make to the “real world”?
1.
2.
3.
28
Overcoming the Past
Some of the best stories are often the hardest to understand….at first. Whether
it is William Shakespeare or Charles Dickens, or even Mary Shelley, great stories
are often hidden to students behind a mass of words and phrases that would
crash Twitter. The best way to understand these pieces, or “overcome the past,”
is to break them down in to smaller pieces. Your task is to break down the
following selections from Fahrenheit 451. Each table will have two selections (as
labeled) that each team member will have to “translate” and connect to the
present.
Team 1
“He strode in a swarm of fireflies” (Pg 3)
Faber to Montag: “So now do you see why books are hated and feared? They
show the pores in the face of life.”
Team 2
“Her dress was white, and it whispered.” (Pg 5)
Faber to Montag: “They’re Caesar’s praetorian guard, whispering as the parade
roars down the avenue ‘Remember, Caesar, thou art mortal.’”
Team 3
“The walked in the warm-cool blowing night on the silvered pavement...” (Pg 6)
Faber to Montag: “Do your own bit of saving, and if you drown, at least die
knowing you were headed for shore.”
Team 4
“...what a shadow she threw on the wall with her slender body.” (Pg 11)
Faber to Montag: “Our society is flinging itself to pieces. Stand back from the
centrifuge.”
Team 5
“...The electrical murmur of a hidden wasp snug in its special pink, warm nest.”
(Pg 12)
Faber to Montag: “Those who don’t build must burn. It’s as old as history and
juvenile delinquents.”
29
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31
The Lighter Side of Fahrenheit 451
Directions: I think we've lived in the grim, totalitarian state of F451 long enough. It is
time we took a break to look on the bright side of book-burning. In groups of no more
than four members (you will be graded in increasing degrees of expectation due to the
number of members you have in the group), you must consider one of the following*:
Due Date: To Be Determined
Points: 50 points
Commercials: In a 30 to 60 second spot, SELL an item from the novel. The item
should be one that is really used in the novel--either by the firemen or the resistance.
Perhaps a commercial for a new restaurant like The Salamander Grill. Maybe a
commercial for the library, “Borrowing books is HOT!” The commercial should have the
look and feel of a real commercial. Try iMovie!
************
Fahrenheit 451 the Graphic Novel: Graphic novels are all the rage right now! Take
one scene from the novel and create a chapter for your up coming graphic novel based
on the book. Try Comic Life, or your own artistic skills for this one.
************
Fahrenheit 451 the Movie: Create a 60 second movie trailer for the film. This film
trailer should have the look and feel of a real movie trailer, the one that might be
coming to a theater near you! Lines should be memorized, and the location should be
true to the film. Voice overs and music are certainly a must.
************
Fahrenheit 451 the Musical. You loved Wicked. High School Musical is like, far out!
Now create a musical number from the novel. It can be a ballad or an all out 11:00
number. The music should be original--and if not, should be based on music from some
other musical, but lyrics catered to the novel. Choreography, strong and serious singing
voices might make this a must see…
************
Guy Montag and SpongeBob: Create a 60 second cartoon. See Guy Montag trying
to burn up the Krusty Krab! Watch SpongeBob accidentally burn Patrick with a flamethrower. But be careful with this one. Good animation takes a long, long time…
32
Fahrenheit 451 Response Notes Pgs 114-END
A.
Plot: Write 5 CDs about the plot of these pages:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
B.
Select one significant quote in this chapter. Write it below, the include
page number, and describe why it is significant to you.
Page # ________
Quote:
Why:
33
C.
Questions: What questions did you have while you were reading? List
them below. Supply answers when you find them.
1.
2.
3.
D.
Predictions: Describe what you believe is going to happen next
E.
What connections did you make to the “real world”?
1.
2.
3.
34
35
Fahrenheit 451 Writing Assignment
SECTION 3
PREWRITING: Using a graphic organizer, bulleted list, or outline, describe in detail, how
Montag changes from Section 1 to Section 3. Keep in mind that the relationship with Clarisse,
and how that altered him.
36
Fahrenheit 451 Writing Assignment
SECTION 3
DRAFTING: In two paragraphs, compare and contrast the society that was established in
section one, with the one that Montag would like to be a part of in section three.
PART OF ESSAY
Topic sentence for
paragraph 1
YOUR EXAMPLE
MEET STANDARD?
Subject & an opinion?
With 3+ cm words?
Concrete detail 1
Is this a detail? What
kind? Transition?
Lead-in? actions?
Commentary about
detail 1
Is this an opinion that
extends or explains the
detail? With 3+ cm
words?
Commentary about
detail 1
Is this a different
opinion that extends or
explains? With 3+ cm
words?
Concrete detail 2
Is this a detail? What
kind? Transition?
Lead-in? actions?
Commentary about
detail 2
Is this an opinion that
extends or explains the
detail? With 3+ cm
words?
Commentary about
detail 2
Is this a different
opinion that extends or
explains? With 3+ cm
words?
Use any similar words
from the paragraph?
Give an overall
opinion of subject in
TS? With 3+ cm
words?
Subject & an opinion?
With 3+ cm words?
Concluding sentence
which summarizes
paragraph 1
Topic sentence for
paragraph 2
37
Concrete detail 1
Is this a detail? What
kind? Transition?
Lead-in? actions?
Commentary about
detail 1
Is this an opinion that
extends or explains the
detail? With 3+ cm
words?
Commentary about
detail 1
Is this a different
opinion that extends or
explains? With 3+ cm
words?
Concrete detail 2
Is this a detail? What
kind? Transition?
Lead-in? actions?
Commentary about
detail 2
Is this an opinion that
extends or explains the
detail? With 3+ cm
words?
Commentary about
detail 2
Is this a different
opinion that extends or
explains? With 3+ cm
words?
Concluding sentence
which summarizes
paragraph 2
Use any similar words
from the paragraph?
Give an overall
opinion of subject in
TS? With 3+ cm
words?
38
Room 101
Imagine a place called Room 101 which contains everybody’s worst fear. What
would Room 101 contain for you? You can answer this question in either of the
following ways:
1. Compose a written response to the following questions: What would Room
101 contain for Montag? What would he do to avoid meeting this fear face to
face? This response needs to be typed, double spaced in 12 point Times or
Times New Roman font, 1” margins, no extra space. Be sure to proofread.
2. Draw Montag’s Room 101. Use a piece of paper that is at least 8.5x11”. Your
drawing will be evaluated on the quality of the artwork, so do not simply draw a
stick figure screaming.
39
Final Essay for Fahrenheit 451
Pre-Write due day NINETEEN. First draft due day TWENTY-ONE. Second draft
is due day TWENTY-THREE, and the final draft (with cover sheet, pre-write,
and rough draft) is due day TWENTY-SIX.
The following topic is to be done by everybody:
• How do we balance the rights of the individual with the rights of the group?
For extra credit, choose one of the following questions to develop into a 2 to 3 page
essay.
•
How realistic is the future that is described in the novel? What things did the
author predict that ultimately came true? What things might still come true?
Give specific examples from the text that support your answer.
•
Compare and contrast Montag with yourself? In what ways are your lives similar?
In what ways do your jobs differ? What causes would you share the same
feelings on? Give specific examples from the text that support your answer.
•
Describe Montag’s relationship with his wife, Mildred. How are the interactions
between them similar to what you would expect of a “typical” marriage? Do
either of them give up on the other one? What is their home-life like? How does
Mildred feel about Montag when she is around her friends? Give specific
examples from the text that support your answer.
•
Describe Clarisse’s effect on Montag within the novel. Why is her character
included in the novel? What purpose does she serve? Would the novel have been
the same if she was not included? Give specific examples from the text that
support your answer.
Requirements:
• an attention getting introduction that provides the necessary background information
scope of
the topic, and includes the title and author of the novel
• a clear, concise thesis that is supported by textual evidence that is effectively
integrated into
the writer’s own syntax, is clearly explained, and is cited correctly
• a conclusion that moves beyond summary of the essay
• clear topic sentences and concluding sentences in each paragraph
• correct use of punctuation / grammatical correctness (no contractions)
• 2-3 pages
• 12 point Times or Times New Roman font (heading, title, and body)
• 1” margins (top, bottom, left, right)
• double spaced, no extra spaces between paragraphs, after heading, etc.
• uses the language of speculation, and does not overstate
• creates a sophisticated argument through structural, logical-building sentences mid
paragraph
40