By Ray Bradbury
Name:
Section:
1
PART I: The Hearth and the Salamander (Pages 1-68)
Reading Assignment #1 (Pages 1 to 32)
1. Who is Guy Montag? What is his profession?
a. ____________________________________________________________________________
b. ____________________________________________________________________________
2. What do firemen do in the world of Fahrenheit 451? (pg. 3) Why is it ironic that so many people
are afraid of firemen? (pg. 7)
a. ____________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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3. Describe Clarisse McClellan according to her conversation with Montag. (6-10)
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4. What smells like perfume to Montag? (pg. 6)
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5. What is etched on Montag’s igniter? What does it symbolize in mythology (look it up)? How might
it relate to the novel? (pg. 13)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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c. _____________________________________________________________________________
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6. Who is Mildred? What state is she in when Montag finds her? (11-16)
a. ____________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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7. What are the two machines being used on Mildred? What do they do to her? (pg. 14-17)
a. 1st machine: __________________________________________________________________
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b. 2nd machine:__________________________________________________________________
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8. In this society, why does an Emergency Hospital send technicians instead of doctors to treat
Mildred? What does it tell us about this society?
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
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b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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9. What are parlor-walls? What does our society have that is like this? Why might it be so
surprising/alarming that the author was able to predict this type of advanced technology?
a. ____________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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c. _____________________________________________________________________________
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10. List at least five word or phrases that describe the mechanical hound. Then, draw a picture on
the side. (24-26)
a. _______________________________________
b. _______________________________________
c. _______________________________________
d. _______________________________________
e. _______________________________________
11. What do the firemen bet on dull nights? What does this say about the society? (pgs. 25)
a. ____________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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12. What happens when Montag touches the muzzle of the Mechanical Hound? (pgs. 24-26) What did
Montag believe had been done to the hound? (26-27) How many times before had the Hound
reacted the way it did? (pg. 27)
a. ____________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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c. ____________________________________________________________________________
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13. Why do you think Montag and Mildred never had any children together? Infer. (pg. 28)
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14. What has changed in Montag as a result of all of the time he has been spending with Clarisse?
(pgs. 29)
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15. What is school like (classes/students/teachers) in the world of Fahrenheit 451? What do Clarisse’s
classmates do for fun? How are F451’s teens different from teens in our modern day society?
How are they similar? (29-30)
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b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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c. _____________________________________________________________________________
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d. _____________________________________________________________________________
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16. Why is Clarisse considered “anti-social” in this society? (29-30)
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17. Clarisse’s uncle gives her most of her information about the way life used to be. Give at least two
examples of what society used to be like according to him.
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Reading Assignment #2 (pages 32- 68)
18. What has Montag realized about Clarisse?
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19. What happens to people that try to “fool” the government? (pgs. 33-34)
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20. Why is Montag foolish to use the phrase, “Once upon a time”? (34)
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21. They discuss the history of fireman. Why has this society twisted mixed the truth with lies about
Benjamin Franklin?
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22. Who is Captain Beatty? Describe him.
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23. Montag is changing. He notices something is different at the house with “the woman.” What is
it? What does Montag not like about the way the firefighters are doing their job? (pgs-36-37)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
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b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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24. What does Montag do with the book that ends up in his hand? (pg. 37)
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25. Beatty uses his opinion of books to convince the woman to leave. What does he say about them?
(38)
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26. Briefly describe the scene that starts with the woman lighting a match. (39)
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27. According to Montag, why do the alarms always happen at night? What does this say about the
people in this society?(39)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
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b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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28. What piece of information does Beatty share with Montag that refers back to something the
woman had said? Why is it so appropriate that the woman said that before she burned her
home? Explain. *If you’re not sure, look up the quote online. (40)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
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b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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29. What question does Montag ask his wife when he finally talks to her? Why do you think he asks
this question? (pg. 42)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
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b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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30. What does Mildred think happened to Clarisse? Do you think that’s actually what happened to
Clarisse? Infer (pg. 47)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
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b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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31. What does Montag imagine being outside his window? Why do you think he imagines this? (48)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
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b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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32. What reaction does Mildred have when Montag tells her about the woman in the fire the
previous night? Why do you think she reacts this way? (50-52)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
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b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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33. Why has Captain Beatty come to visit Montag?
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34. What does Montag have hidden under his pillow? (pg. 55)
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35. Finally, we learn how this society became what is it when Beatty explains the three “things” that
sparked the change in society. Briefly explain each. Re-read this part if necessary. (pg.58)
a. Technology:___________________________________________________________________
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b. Mass Exploitation:______________________________________________________________
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c. Minority Pressure: _____________________________________________________________
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36. What word becomes a swear word? Why? (pg. 58)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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37. List at least three items Beatty mentions that gives man less time to think. We have some of
these items too; do you think it gives our society less time to think for ourselves? Explain (pgs. 5659)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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38. What does Montag show Mildred after the captain had left the house? What does he want to
do? (65-66)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
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b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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PART II: The Sieve and the Sand (Pages 71-110)
Reading Assignment #3 (Pages 71 to 92)
39. What does Montag reveal to the readers about the war and the outside world? What does this
tell us about this society? (pg. 73)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
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b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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40. Who is Faber? Why does Montag think of him at this point in the novel? (pgs. 74-75)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
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b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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41. On the subway, Montag is annoyed by the “Denham’s Dentifrice” advertisement when he just
wants to think about the lines in the bible. He describes an incident with his cousin and a sieve
and sand. What does the sieve symbolize? What does the sand symbolize? (pg. 78)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
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b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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42. According to Faber, what is this society missing? Explain each. (83-85)
a. Quality of information: _________________________________________________________
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b. Leisure time to think: ___________________________________________________________
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c. Freedom to act on one’s opinions:_________________________________________________
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43. What plan do Montag and Faber devise to bring down the firefighters? (85-86) What does
Montag do to convince Faber to help carry out the plan? (88)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
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b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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44. What is the name of the technology Faber has designed that allows him to be in constant contact
with Montag? What does it do? What technology do we have that mirrors this? (90-91)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________
c. _____________________________________________________________________________
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45. What does Montag realize after he pulls money from the bank? What does he say to Faber in
regard to this issue? (pg. 92)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
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b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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Reading Assignment #4 (Pages 92-110)
46. Describe the show/commercial that Mildred and her friends are watching. What does it tells us
about the quality of entertainment in this society? How does it compare and contrast with the
content in our current TV programs? (pg. 94)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
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b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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c. _____________________________________________________________________________
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47. What happened to Gloria’s husband? What does it tell us about the culture of this society?
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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48. What does Mrs. Bowles have her children do when they’re home? How long are her children at
school? Do you think this is similar or different from parenting today? Explain. (96)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
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b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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c. _____________________________________________________________________________
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49. The woman vote for a president based on the candidate’s appearance and personality. Do you
think that a lot of Americans in our society pick a president based on the same criteria? Explain.
(96-97)
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50. What is the title of the poem Montag reads? What do you think it’s about (topic or theme)? (99)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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51. Why did Montag burn the book of poetry in the wall incinerator in his home? (101)
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52. At the firehouse, Beatty begins quoting from a variety of different books trying to show that the
authors making points that are constantly in contradiction of the other. What do you think he is
giving Montag this speech at this point in the novel? How does Montag react to the speech? (pgs.
105-109)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
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b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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53. What is the destination of the alarm on the night Montag returns to work at the firehouse? (110)
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PART III: Burning Bright (Pages 111-165)
Reading Assignment #5 (Pages 111 to 138)
54. What hint does Captain Beatty say he sent to Montag that he must not have picked up on? (pg.
113)
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55. Who is the “she” to whom Beatty refers? What does Beatty have to say about her? (pg. 113-114)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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56. What does Beatty say is the, “real beauty of fire?” (pg. 115)
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57. Instead of using kerosene, Captain Beatty wants Montag to use what object to burn down his
house? Why do you think it’s so important that the job is done in this manner? (Think of what it
symbolizes to Montag) (pg. 116)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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58. Who called the alarm? (pg. 117)
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59. What happens to the “green bullet” radio that Faber gives to Montag? What does Beatty say he
will do with the radio? (pg. 118)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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60. What does Montag do to Beatty? Re-read this part and briefly describe what happens between
Montag and Beatty. (pgs. 119-120)
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61. Explain Montag’s dealing with the Hound. Why does Montag have such a hard time getting away
from the scene? (pgs. 120-121)
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62. Montag thinks to himself that Captain Beatty probably wanted to do what? Why does Montag
believe this? How is this symbolic?(pg. 122)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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63. What does Montag hear (about himself) in the Seashell? (pg. 124)
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64. What announcement does Montag hear, “through the aluminum wall?” (pg. 125)
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65. Briefly explain what happens as Montag tries to cross the boulevard. What happens to him? (pgs.
126-128)
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66. What does Montag do to the Black family? Why? (129-130)
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67. What does Faber say there are many of along the railroad tracks? (pg. 132)
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68. Where does Faber say he is going? Why is he going there? (pg.132)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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69. What does Montag do when he gets to the river? How is this a symbolic moment? (Considering
looking up the symbolism of water online.) (pg.139)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
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b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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70. Several times in this reading section, Ray Bradbury refers to the events taking place as a “carnival”
or “circus”. Why do you suppose that is? (Think about how it reveals the nature of this society.)
(113, 134, 135)
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Reading Assignment #6 (Pages 139 to 165)
71. Because the _______ wouldn’t stop burning, Montag would. (pgs. 140-141)
72. What is the single “fact” that came to Montag, but he could not prove it? Why would this idea
come to him at this point in the text? (pg. 145)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
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b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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73. What does Montag see and how is it acting differently than its usual function? (pg. 145)
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74. What is the name of the man talking to Montag? What is the colorless fluid he offers Montag
supposed to do? (pg. 147)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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75. Montag watches “the chase” on the portable viewer? (pg. 147) Explain what has happened to
wrap up the show for the people. (147-150)
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76. Where is Montag keeping the Book of Ecclesiastes? (pgs. 151)
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77. What does Granger explain to Montag about their “organization”? List three items they have
available to them. (pgs. 151-154)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
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b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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78. What does Montag finally remember about Mildred? How does he feel about her now? (pgs. 156,
160)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
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b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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79. Granger has a theory that “Everyone must leave something behind when he dies.” Do you agree
or disagree with this idea? Explain. (156-157)
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80. The war begins and ends in a second. But, what does Montag picture happening in the city at this
time? (pgs. 158-161)
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81. After the bombing, what words does the author use to describe the city? (pg. 162)
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82. What book does Montag realize he has finally remembered? Why do you think he is able to recall
it now? (pg. 160)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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83. What does Granger compare man to? In what ways are the two alike? How are they different?
(pg. 163)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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c. _____________________________________________________________________________
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84. What does Granger mean when he says, “We’re going to build a mirror factory first and put out
nothing but mirrors for the next year and take a long time to look at them? Why would “mirrors”
be so important to this new society? (pg. 164)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________
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b. _____________________________________________________________________________
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