English 11 – American Literature
October 1, 2011
Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury
PART I: THE HEARTH AND THE SALAMANDER, Comprehension Check
Please ensure to answer all of the following questions in complete sentences. When
applicable, use direct passages from the text to support your answer (include page numbers).
1. At the beginning of the story, how does Montag feel about his job? Give specific
examples to support your response.
2. What is your first impression of Clarisse?
3. What memory does Montag’s encounter with Clarisse arouse?
4. What is Montag’s reaction to Clarisse’s question: “Have you ever read any of the books
you burn?”
5. What do Clarisse and Montag argue about? What does Clarisse tell Montag that
firemen used to do?
6. Explain the significance of Clarisse’s speech about “blurs.” Why are billboards 200 feet
long?
7. Why was Clarisse’s uncle arrested? What does this indicate about the society in which
they live?
8. What question finally offends Montag?
9. What does his encounter with Clarisse remind him of?
10. What do you think the author meant when he said, “How rarely did other people’s faces
take of you and throw back to you your own expressions, your own innermost trembling
thought”? What does this question reveal about Montag’s state of mind?
11. How does the author describe Montag’s home?
12. Why do you think Montag did not want to open the curtains or windows?
13. What does Montag find under the bed?
14. Describe the machines. What do they do to Mildred? How do the men treat their
“patient”? Why is it so “routine” to them?
15. What does Montag hear after the men leave? What is his reaction?
16. Mildred’s earpieces have been described as “electronic bees,” “mosquito hums,” and
“hidden wasps.” What are these earpieces? Why does she always have one in her ear?
Why do you think Bradbury compares these devices to insects?
17. How does Mildred react when Montag tells her what happened the night before?
18. What is Mildred’s “script” about? What part does she play? Why does she want to buy
a fourth wall?
19. Why does Clarisse insist that Montag is not like the others?
20. Describe the Mechanical Hound. What is its purpose? How does Montag feel about the
Hound?
21. Why is Clarisse considered “anti-social”? How do the kids in this society entertain
themselves? What is your reaction to this?
22. What do people talk about in this society? How is this different from our own society?
Why do you think Clarisse has such a problem with everything being “abstract”?
23. What does Montag continually hear overheard?
24. Why do you think the woman stays in her house while it is burning?
25. What does Montag take from the burning house? Why? What does he do with it
afterward?
26. What does Montag ask Millie about their past? Why do you think he asks her this
important question?
Secondary Solutions
Source
Fahrenheit 451 Literature Guide
English 11 – American Literature
October 1, 2011
27. What does Montag realize about his relationship with his wife?
28. How does Mildred feel towards the characters in the parlor? Why is this disturbing to
Montag?
29. What does Mildred tell Montag about Clarisse? How does she deliver this news?
30. Describe Montag and Mildred’s relationship.
31. What does Montag learn about Beatty from his visit?
32. What does Beatty tell Montag about how books disappeared? What is your reaction to
his explanation?
33. From Beatty’s speech, what does Bradbury reveal about his own fears about society?
What ideas/concepts are true in our modern society?
34. How do you feel about Bradbury’s predictions of school? Are there any truths to this
assessment?
35. According to Beatty, who is to blame for this banishment and burning of books?
36. What are the people in this society allowed to read? What is the purpose of reading in
this society?
37. According to Beatty, what is the firemen’s primary job? What is the ultimate goal in this
society?
38. What do the firemen do if one of their own “accidentally” steals a book?
39. Why are there no longer front porches in this society?
40. What does Montag show Millie? What is her immediate reaction?
Secondary Solutions
Source
Fahrenheit 451 Literature Guide