Structure of Character’s Attitude Essay – Fahrenheit 451
Thesis:
____________ (character name’s) attitude shifts from ____________ (attitude #1) to _______ (attitude
#2) in order to convey that ____________ (thematic message).
Montag’s attitude shifts from arrogant to empathetic in order to convey that one must fall in order to rise.
Quote + Page #
Analysis Identify the attitude + one literary
device; connect to importance of the work as a whole (approximately 2-3 sentences)
“his hands were the hands of some amazing
conductor playing all the symphonies of blazing
and burning” (1)
Attitude: Arrogant
Bradbury uses a metaphor comparing Montag to
an “amazing conductor” in order to highlight
Montag’s grandiose sense of self. Montag’s
extreme pomposity sets the stage for his later fall
from grace.
Attitude: Arrogant
‘We can’t burn these. I want to look at them, at
least look at them once’ (63).
Attitude: Empathetic
Bradbury highlights Montag’s newfound
emotionality with repetition of the word “look.”
Whereas previously Montag found his sustenance
in burning books, he now feels he must closely
examine the written word in order to discover its
secrets. An unquenchable curiosity has taken
hold.
Attitude: Empathetic
Body Paragraph #1: 1. Thesis. 2. Lead in to your first piece of evidence that supports attitude #1 +
quote #1. Example: On page ___________ Bradbury (or the character) states / notes / describes… 3.
Analysis of the quote: Identify the attitude + one literary device; connect to importance of the work as a
whole (approximately 2-3 sentences)
Body Paragraph #1 Example: 1. Thesis: Montag’s attitude shifts from arrogant to empathetic in order
to convey that one must fall in order to rise. 2. Lead-in + quote: On page one Bradbury describes
Montag’s hands as the “hands of some amazing conductor playing all the symphonies of blazing and
burning” (1). Bradbury uses a metaphor comparing Montag to an “amazing conductor” in order to
highlight Montag’s grandiose sense of self. Montag’s extreme pomposity sets the stage for his later fall
from grace.
Body Paragraph #2 1. Transition / lead in to your second piece of evidence that supports attitude
#1 + quote #2. Example: Bradbury further showcases ________ (character’s) _______ (attitude #1) by
noting…3. Analysis of the quote: Identify the attitude + one literary device; connect to importance of
the work as a whole (approximately 2-3 sentences)
Structure of Character’s Attitude Essay – Fahrenheit 451
Body Paragraph #2 Example of Transition / Lead-in + quote #2: Bradbury further showcases
Montag’s arrogance by noting “the flapping pigeon-winged books d[ying] on the porch” (1).
Body Paragraph #3 1. Transition: Example: Though initially pompous (attitude #1) in nature,
_Montag_ (character name) shifts to ___empathetic__ (attitude #2) later in the book. 2. Lead in to your
first piece of evidence that supports attitude #2 + quote #3. Example: On page ___________ Bradbury
(or the character) states / notes / describes… 3. Analysis of the quote: Identify the attitude + one literary
device; connect to importance of the work as a whole (approximately 2-3 sentences)
Body Paragraph #3 Example: 1. Though initially pompous in nature, Montag shifts to empathetic later
in the book. 2. On page 63, Montag states, ‘We can’t burn these. I want to look at them, at least look at
them once.’ 3. Bradbury highlights Montag’s newfound emotionality with repetition of the word “look.”
Whereas previously Montag found his sustenance in burning books, he now feels he must closely
examine the written word in order to discover its secrets. An unquenchable curiosity has taken hold.
Body Paragraph #4 1. Transition + Lead-in + Quote #4: 1. Example: Additional support for _____
(character’s) newfound ________ (attitude #2) is found on page __________ where Bradbury (or the
character) ________ (verb, present tense)…2. Analysis of the quote: Identify the attitude + one literary
device; connect to importance of the work as a whole (approximately 2-3 sentences)
Body Paragraph #4 Example of Transition / Lead-in + Quote #4: Additional support for Montag’s
newfound empathy is found on page 36 where Bradbury implores the old woman to leave her house,
begging, ‘Please.’
Body Paragraph #5 – Thematic Message. 1. Recap your character’s initial and subsequent attitudes.
Provide short snippets of evidence (direct quotes and/or paraphrasing restating/consolidating prior
assertions) to support your points. 2. Restate / deepen your thematic message (from your thesis).
Body Paragraph #5
1. At first Montag revels in the glory of flame and the dominance over elements that he alone “blacken[s]
and change[s]” (1), yet his later pleas to the elderly woman aflame in her home as well as his desire to
uncover the secrets within books reveal a character newly awash with empathy for the “book people.” 2.
A fall from great heights of power (the collapse of ignorance) can bring about the rise of creativity and a
new understanding of self and others.