Entry to GATE 8 summer reading requirement
Fahrenheit 451
By Ray Bradbury
( Note: 451º F is the temperature at which paper burns)
Directions: You will have the entire summer to read Fahrenheit 451 and write full paragraph responses to
the questions below. Your paragraphs, typed or neatly written, will be submitted on the first day for
students in 8th grade. As a reminder, be sure to support your statements with two specific references to
the text (except the “Before Reading” and the two “After Reading” paragraphs). Each paragraph will
contain a topic sentence, 3 detail sentences with 2 text references where applicable, and a concluding
sentence.
Before Reading:
1. Although the novel centers on a future fireman’s journey to become a “human
being,” Bradbury used the fireman’s specialty, book burning, as an effective
metaphor for censorship. If censorship is defined as the act of preventing the
transmission or publication of material considered “objectionable,” describe TWO
incidents in the past or present of our society in which censorship of literature,
films, art, Internet, etc., was widely endorsed. Include your support or opposition
to the examples of censorship you describe.
PART I: The Hearth and the Salamander
2. Like other dystopian novels you may have read, Hunger Games, The Giver,
Uglies, Animal Farm, Anthem, Ender’s Game, etc., the only way a successful
challenge to government control can arise is through the initiative of a rebel who
possesses character traits such as: creativity, intelligence, commitment
(passion), organization skills, independence, determination/persistence, and
some ambition. One character you met in Part 1, Clarisse, might be able to
initiate an uprising. Explain two qualities that Clarisse possesses that would
enable her to coordinate an insurrection, and one critical quality she lacks that
would prevent her from leading a successful rebellion.
3. One near-suicide and one actual suicide occur in Part 1. Mildred, who shuns
books but loves TV and fast driving, anesthetizes herself. “We get these cases
nine or ten a night,” said the medical technician treating her. Another woman,
who cherishes her books, sets herself on fire with them. “These fanatics always
try suicide,” said the fire captain at the scene. Explain why two people, who
seem so different from each other, would try to take their own lives. Include an
explanation of why suicide became a frequent option in Montag’s society?
4. Captain Beatty seems to have contempt for the books of history, scripture, poetry
and philosophy that he quotes so easily. He readily accepts the government’s
position on the need to rid the world of controversial ideas, unhappiness and
inequality by burning books. Explain why he would continue following orders
even though he is intimately familiar with the intrinsic value of books.
Part II: The Sieve and the Sand
5. The sand falling through the sieve is a metaphor for knowledge in this society in
general, and for Montag’s effort to gain and keep knowledge in particular.
Montag no longer accepts the basic values of his society, and until he can find
some other values to take their place, he is lost. Faber takes on more meaning
to him than just a source for knowledge and a refuge. Describe what Montag is
seeking and needs from Faber.
6. Montag ignored Faber’s advice and tried to talk with Mildred and her friends.
Montag finds them utterly superficial because they don’t care about the war, have
no connections to their family, don’t care about raising the next generation, and
their opinions about politics are shallow and uninformed. Explain what Montag
hoped to gain by reading the poem, “Dover Beach,” and why he should have
anticipated the reaction he received.
Part III: Burning Bright
7. When Beatty and Montag face each other after Montag follows orders and burns
down his own home, it is not clear why Beatty continues to taunt Montag? Does
Beatty in fact want to die — is his provocation of Montag a form of suicide? Is it
another suggestion that Beatty, who quotes so readily and fluently from the same
books he destroys, is himself a tortured soul who regrets his decision to remain a
book-destroying fireman? From your understanding of Beatty, explain what
motivated him to mock and challenge a man holding a flamethrower.
8. Through the act of killing Beatty, Montag became more than a rebel; he became
a violent revolutionary. Yet in the pursuit of Montag, the government purposely
captured an innocent man rather than tracking down the real Montag. Explain if
that signaled that the government believed Montag no longer presented a threat
to the order of society, or if there was another more immediate reason to end the
search for Montag.
9. Montag turned to books to rescue him; instead they contributed to the destruction
of his way of life: he lost his wife, job and home; he killed a man and was forced
to become a nomad. Describe any benefits he may have gained from books to
offset his losses.
10. The government was opposed to readers, thinkers, walkers and slow drivers.
Even though it would not sanction misbehavior by its citizens, it did permit the
gathering of men along the railroad tracks. Explain why the government would
allow the group to engage in offensive idleness, yet it would closely control the
thoughts and actions of others.
11.
Choose one memorable character in the novel from the Character Map on the
following page, and write a two paragraph character analysis that includes:
o appearance,
o actions,
o feelings of the character throughout the novel,
o ideals, and
o reactions of others to the character.
Describe whether or not the character's feelings or ideals changed.
Explain why the character was important to the novel.
Conclude with your interpretation of the character’s “fit” in the dystopian society.
After Reading:
A. Imagine that you were to join the Book People. Which book would you select
to memorize? Explain two reasons why your selection is worthy of
memorization, and evaluate the benefit of your selection to society and/or
future generations. (Be prepared to recite the first paragraph of the book you
select on the day we return to school, and provide an estimate of memorization time
for the entire book.)
B. Although Ray Bradbury’s novel is often referred to as a protest against
censorship, Fahrenheit 451 raised attention to how television and other forms
of media were making people less interested in the world of ideas. Given that
today we are surrounded by the internet and other forms of social media that
provide “shallow” amusements, it is likely that Bradbury would believe they
serve to distract people from the pursuit of true knowledge. Argue whether or
not you agree that our society is becoming anti-intellectual to the extent that
people prefer to be amused rather than read or think deep thoughts.
Character Map