Fahrenheit Study Guide
Section 2: “The Sieve and the Sand”
1. Part II of Fahrenheit is entitled the “Sieve and the Sand.” Predict what the title means and what
you think will happen.
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2. How does Bradbury begin this section?
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3. What is the parlor?
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4. On page 68, who/what visits the Montag home? Why do you think?
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5. On page 69 Montag says, “Why doesn’t someone want to talk about it! We’ve started and won
two atomic wars since 2022! Is it because we’re having so much fun at home we’ve forgotten
the world?” Explain the significance of these lines.
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6. On page 69, Mildred laments, “Why should I read? What for?” What is Montag’s response?
(the MAIN IDEA of his response) __________________________________________
7. Who is the gentleman that Montag met in the park last year? Describe him in detail.
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8. While Montag is on the phone with Faber, what is Mildred doing?
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9. What book did Montag steal?
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10. Specifically, on page 71, what question does Montag ask Faber?
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11. On page 73, what poignant question does Montag ask Millie? What is significant about her
answer??
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12. What is significant about paragraphs 3 & 4 on page 74!?!
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13. While Montag is on the subway, he is struggling to read. By what is he so distracted?? What do
you think is the significance of this “scene”?
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14. When Montag admits that he stole the Bible, how does Faber respond? (two words)
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15. Do they have churches in Montag’s community? How do you know?
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16. Montag thinks/hopes that books might bring happiness. Faber disagrees with this. What does he
say?
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17. Faber says that “three things” are missing from society. List and explain each one.
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b.____________________________________________________________________
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c.____________________________________________________________________
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18. On page 82, what is Montag’s and Faber’s “insidious” plan? What does “insidious” mean”?
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19. “Remember, the fireman are rarely necessary” (83). Explain this quote.
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20. Why does Montag begin ripping out pages of the Bible?
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21. “Those who don’t build must burn” (85). What does Faber mean by this?
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22. What is in Faber’s bedroom?
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23. As Montag walks to the firehouse and to Captain Beatty, what does Faber do to keep him calm?
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24. Who are Mrs. Phelps and Mrs. Bowles? Describe each one.
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25. “I’ve never known any dead man killed in a war. Killed jumping off buildings, yes, like Gloria’s
husband last week, but from wars? No” (91). What is significant about these lines?
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26. Why are they ladies anxious and tense after Montag unplugs the parlor walls?
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27. Who are Winston Nobel and Hubert Hoag? Why is this conversation important?
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28. What RADICAL action does Montag take in front of Mildred and her friends?
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29. Specifically, what poem does Montag read to the ladies? ___________________________
30. What effect does it have on their “happy party”?
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31. Faber encourages Montag as he walks to the fire house (page 100). What does he call he and
Montag? _____________________________________________________________
32. Beatty was waiting for Montag as he got there, put out his hand . . . and what happened?
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33. “All right, he’s had his say. You must take it in. I’ll say my say, too, in the next few hours. And
you’ll take it in. And you’ll try to judge them and make your decision as to which way to jump, or fall.
But I want it to be your decision, not mine, and not the Captain’s” (104). Please explain what Faber is
saying to Montag.
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34. Where is the next fire that the firemen rushed toward? What is so significant about this
particular fire?
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