Study Guide- Fahrenheit 451
“The Hearth and The Salamander”
I. QUESTIONS: Answer the following questions thoroughly
1. What do firemen do in the world of Fahrenheit 451? What professional symbols/ phrases are on their uniforms?
2. Why is it ironic that so many people are afraid of firemen?
3. What did Montag hit with his foot?
4. What are the two machines being used on Montag’s wife? What do they do?
5. Where does the laughter that Montag hears come from?
6. What did Mildred have in her ears?
7. What did Mildred remember (or pretend to remember) of the night before?
8. What kind of program is Mildred going to watch in the afternoon?
9. Explain Montag’s television. What does Mildred want for the television that Montag claims they cannot afford?
10. What does Clarisse’s psychiatrist want to know?
11. According to Clarisse, how is Montag “not like the others”?
12. Describe the Mechanical Hound. What do the firemen bet on dull nights?
13. What happens when Montag touches the muzzle of the Mechanical Hound? Why does he think that happened?
14. How many times before had the Hound reacted this way toward Montag?
15. Why has Montag never had any children?
16. What is different about Montag’s laugh?
17. Explain a school day in the world of Fahrenheit 451.
18. Why does Clarisse find it odd that people find her to be antisocial?
19. What happens to people that try to fool the government?
20. Why was Montag foolish to use the phrase “Once upon a time”?
21. What is the history of Firemen of America?
22. What was different at Mrs. Blake’s that made Montag uncomfortable about the way things were being done?
23. What does Montag do with the book that lands in his hand?
24. What does Beatty say to Mrs. Blake about the books? Who started the fire at Mrs. Blake’s house?
Study Guide- Fahrenheit 451
“The Hearth and The Salamander”
25. What piece of information does Beatty share with Montag that refers back to something Mrs. Blake said?
26. What question does Montag ask his wife when he finally talks to her?
27. What does Montag cry about?
28. What does Mildred say about Clarisse to Montag?
29. Why does Montag not want to go to work anymore? What are some revelations he has had?
30. Why does society lower the kindergarten age year after year?
31. According to Captain Beatty, if you don’t want a man unhappy politically, what do you do?
32. What does Beatty say about firemen taking books?
33. About how many books had Montag hidden in the ventilator?
34. What happens right before Montag and Mildred begin to read the books?
II. CHARACTERS: Fill in the character chart as best as you can. The more details you include, the better the
connections you can make as the novel progresses.
Character
Physical Description
Actions and motivations
Importance to the story
Guy Montag
Mildred Montag
Clarisse McClellan
Captain Beatty
Study Guide- Fahrenheit 451
“The Hearth and The Salamander”
III. Passage: Locate passages of the story that you found interesting, want to reread, discuss, or think about. It
should be important in light of the whole novel. Choose passages that are surprising/startling, descriptive (use a lot
of figurative language), or that you feel are important to the themes of the novel. Passages should be at least 3
sentences long, but no more than one full paragraph.
Page _____ Paragraph _______ The first 3 words of the paragraph are: ________________________________________
I chose this passage because: __________________________________________________________________________
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IV. Discussion Question: Develop a question that you would like to discuss about this part of the novel. Your questions
should be ones that require thought and get everyone talking and sharing their opinions and reactions. The best discussion questions
come from your own thoughts, feelings, and concerns as you read. Questions will be shared in class.
Reminder: your question should focus on the main ideas/themes of the story, go beyond just the factual, connect
ideas to other stories or real life.
Write your QUESTION here: __________________________________________________________________________
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Write your ANSWER & SUPPORT here: _________________________________________________________________
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