1. Why would society make "being a pedestrian" a crime? (Clarisse tells Montag that
her uncle was once arrested for this.)
2. One suicide and one near-suicide occur in this book. One woman, who shuns
books but loves TV and driving fast in her car, anesthetizes herself,; "We get these
cases nine or ten a night," says the medical technician. Another woman, who
cherishes her books, sets herself on fire with them; "These fanatics always try
suicide," says the fire captain. Why would two people who seem to be so different
from each other try to take their own lives? Why does suicide happen so frequently
in Montag's society?"
3. Captain Beatty quotes history, scripture, poetry, philosophy. He is obviously a
well-read man. Why hasn't he been punished? And why does he view the books he's
read with such contempt?
4. Beatty tells Montag that firemen are "custodians of peace of mind" and that they
stand against "those who want to make everyone unhappy with conflicting theory
and thought." How well are the firemen accomplishing these objectives? Are
conflicting ideas the only source of unhappiness in their society? What other sources
might there be? Can conflicting ideas exist even without books that have been
destroyed and outlawed?
5. Why do you think the firemen's rulebook credited Benjamin Franklin-- writer,
publisher, political leader, inventor, ambassador--as being the first fireman?
6. Why does Beatty program the Hound to track Montag even before Montag stole
the book? Do you believe Beatty had seen him steal books before? Or is it that
Beatty had detected a change in Montag's attitude or behavior? Cite incidents in the
book that support your answer.
7. Montag turns to books to rescue him; instead they help demolish his life -- he
loses his wife, job and home; he kills a man and is forced to be a nomad. Does he
gain any benefits from books? If so, what are they?
8. Do you believe, as Montag did, that Beatty wanted to die? If so, why do you think
so?
9. Since the government is so opposed to readers, thinkers, walkers, and slow
drivers, why does it allow the procession of men along the railroad tracks to exist?
10. Once Montag becomes a violent revolutionary, why does the government
purposely capture an innocent man in his place instead of tracking down the real
Montag? Might the government believe that Montag is no longer a threat?
11. Granger, spokesperson for the group on the railroad tracks, tells Montag, "Right
now we have a horrible job; we're waiting for the war to begin and, as quickly,
end...When the war's over, perhaps we can be of some use in the world." Based on
what you've read of the world these men live in, do you believe that the books they
carry inside themselves will make a difference? Might this difference be positive or
negative? Point out episodes in Fahrenheit to support your response.
12. What does Granger mean when he says, "We're going to go 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 important in this new society? (Note: In Part
1, Clarisse is said to be "like a mirror.")
13. Although Ray Bradbury's work is often referred to as science fiction, Fahrenheit
has plenty to say about the world as it is, and not as it could be. As you review the
book, list examples of the themes mentioned below, as well as others you notice.
Discuss how you feel about the stands the author or characters take in Fahrenheit.
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conformity vs. individuality
freedom of speech and the consequences of losing it
the importance of remembering and understanding history
machines as helpers to humans, machines as hindrances or enemies
Study Guide Questions for Fahrenheit 451
As you read each section of the novel, answer briefly the following questions. These
questions should act as a reading guide and are not intended to replace careful
examination of the novel's themes and development.
Part I: The Hearth and the Salamander (pages 3-68)
1. What do the "firemen" do for a living?
3. According to pages 3-4, what does Montag think of his job?
4. Who does Montag meet on the way home?
5. During his conversation, Montag says that "You never wash it off completely"
referring to the kerosene. What could this mean symbolically?
6. Why do you think that Bradbury would introduce Clarisse before Montag's wife,
Mildred?
What does the history of the firemen as quoted in the rulebook say about this world?
7. Why does Mildred need help when Montag gets home?
8. Describe the help that she receives.
9. Is there anything unusual about the way the two men go about helping Mildred? How
is it unusual?
10. How is life in Montag's house very different from that of Clarisse's house?
11. How does Mildred react after she wakes up from her previous night's experience?
12. What does Mildred do all day?
13. Describe the setup of Montag's TV room.
14. What is Clarisse doing when Montag sees her on page 21?
15. How is Clarisse different than Mildred?
16. What is the mechanical hound and what is its purpose?
17. What is the hound's reaction to Montag?
18. Why does society consider Clarisse “anti-social” (page 29)?
19. At the next fire, what does Montag take?
20. On page 40, Beatty reveals something very important about himself and his
knowledge. What is it?
21. What technology does Mildred use to go to sleep?
22. Who is Mildred's "family"?
23. What has happened to Clarisse? How did it happen?
24. What is unusual about the way Mildred told Montag about Clarisse?
On p. 52, Montag says “We need to be really bothered once in awhile.” What does he
mean? What characteristic of the society he lives in is he protesting, and why?
25. Read pages 55-62 very carefully. They contain great truths about our world. List three
things Beatty talks about in his speech to Montag that are true about our world.
How did the society described in this book come about? Was it imposed from above, or
did it grow out of people’s everyday lives and decisions? Why do you think that
Bradbury chose to develop the setting for his novel this way?
Part II: "The Sieve and the Sand” (Pages 71-110)
T/F=True or False
26. When was the last liberal arts college shut down?
27. T/F: Professor Faber thought Montag’s call was some sort of trap.
28. Why did Faber’s fear dissipate when Montag was standing outside his door?
29. What did Montag want from Faber?
30. T/F: Faber reminded Montag that people who are having fun are reluctant to become
rebels.
31 How did Montag finally get Faber to consider really helping him?
On p. 82, Montag says, “We have everything we need to be happy, but we aren’t happy.
Something’s missing. I looked around. The only thing I positively knew was gone was the
books I’d burned in ten or twelve years. So I thought books might help.” What is the
“something” Montag is talking about? Is it really the books? How does Faber answer
him, and why?
33. What items were exchanged before Montag left the professor’s house?
35. Why did Montag pulled the plug on the living room video walls?
36. Why did Faber object to Montag’s poetry reading?
37. Which lady was affected by the original intent of the poetry?
38. Why did Faber refuse to console Montag for foolishly reading poetry to the poor,
silly women?
39. Listening to Captain Beatty play his harp and needle had what effect upon Guy?
40. What interrupted the poker game?
41.Captain Beatty drove the Salamander to whose house?
Part III: Burning Bright (pages 111-166)
42. How has Beatty given Montag hints that he is under suspicion?
43. Who must have brought the books back from the garden?
44. Who called in the alarm against Montag?
45. What happened to Montag’s green bullet?
46. Why did Montag burn Beatty's body?
47. What is Montag’s plan to escape?
49. How many scents can the mechanical hound remember?
50. Why did Montag want Faber to turn on the air conditioning and sprinklers?
51. What does “Twenty million Montag's running, soon, if the cameras caught him”
mean?
52. Why did the search for Montag veer inland?
53. Who died in Montag’s place?
54. What did Granger mean by “Welcome back from the dead.”?
55. When Granger and other like-minded people are stopped by authorities, why isn’t any
incriminating evidence found?
56. Do you have a sense that there are other “book chapters” in other towns? What proof
do you have?
57. What does Granger mean by his quote “You’re not important. You’re not
anything”?
58. Explain the last implications of the events in the last 4-5 pages.
Questions by Chapter
Part 1
Compare the very opening scene to Montag’s first encounter with Clarisse. What can
you tell about Montag from these two scenes?
Why do you think Clarisse approached Montag?
What is Clarisse like? Do you know someone like her? Are you like her? Why?
What does the history of the firemen as quoted in the rulebook say about this world?
Why is Benjamin Franklin named the first fireman?
Within the first 40 pages of the novel, you read of two attempted suicides, one
successful, and hear about several others. Why do you think that suicide is so common
in the society portrayed in this novel?
On p. 52, Montag says “We need to be really bothered once in awhile.” What does he
mean? What characteristic of the society he lives in is he protesting, and why?
Read Beatty’s description of the acceleration of modern society on pp. 54-55. What
does he mean by things having “mass”? Do you think this is an accurate description of
changes in American life in the 20th century? Why or why not?
How did the society described in this book come about? Was it imposed from above, or
did it grow out of people’s everyday lives and decisions? Why do you think that
Bradbury chose to develop the setting for his novel this way?
Montag describes the act of stealing and hiding books as something done by his hands,
with no will of his own. Do you think that this is true? Is Montag hiding something from
himself? Why would he do that?
Part 2
How far in the future does this story take place? (Remember that it was originally
published in 1953.)
On p. 82, Montag says, “We have everything we need to be happy, but we aren’t happy.
Something’s missing. I looked around. The only thing I positively knew was gone was the
books I’d burned in ten or twelve years. So I thought books might help.” What is the
“something” Montag is talking about? Is it really the books? How does Faber answer
him, and why?
On p. 92, Montag says that there’s no point in changing sides if he’s just going to go on
being told what to do. Why does he say this?
Why does Montag read poetry to Mildred and her friends? What is he trying to do?
When Beatty describes his dream on pp. 106-7, where he and Montag argue using
quotes from books, what point is his trying to make?
Part 3
On p. 115, why does Beatty call Montag a “burden”?
Why does Montag think that Beatty wanted to die? Is he right?
Why does Montag protect Faber?
On p. 145, Montag thinks, “Clarisse had walked here.” Why?
Read the description of the silence on p. 146. Why is it special?
Granger says on p. 153 that you can’t make people listen. Do you agree?
Compare Granger and Beatty. Are they similar in some ways? What are the important
differences between them? Why does Montag follow one and reject the other?
Think about what Granger says on pp. 156-7. Do you think that this would be hard to
do? Why?
Why does Montag imagine Mildred’s last moments?
Why does the book end the way it does? What will these men do next? Will the books
they carry in their heads have an impact? Will it be good or bad? What do you think
Bradbury is saying about literature?