Fahrenheit 451
During this unit, you will make annotations and post a blog response for each section of
the novel.
Annotations- Each section of the book should contain the following annotations:
1. Theme (yellow) Show me that you have an understanding of the important themes in
the book. Although Ray Bradbury's work is often referred to as science fiction, Fahrenheit
451 has plenty to say about the world as it is, and not as it could be. As you read the
section, highlight a specific example (concrete detail) of one of the themes mentioned
below.
 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
If you choose to create a blog response for this section, describe why you chose the
quote and how you feel it connects to one of the themes above.
2. Style (blue) Pay close attention to Bradbury’s writing style (diction, imagery,
sentence structure, dialogue, or tone) and use of rhetorical devices. Highlight at least one
specific example from the text. If you choose to create a blog response for this
section, describe why you chose the quote and how Bradbury’s writing style was
effective.
3. Personal connections (pink) As you read the novel, you may find that you have a
personal connection with one or more of the characters. Identify a specific quote from
your chosen character that you feel is personally relevant. If you choose to create a blog
response for this section, describe why you chose the quote and how you feel
personally connected to it.
4. Extra questions (you choose the color) Highlight any phrases or passages that you
find confusing or troubling as you are reading. If you choose to create a blog response
for this section, describe why you find the quote confusing or troubling and what
you would like to know if you could ask Ray Bradbury about the section.
Blog response- After you have read the section in the novel and highlighted each of the
four areas, develop one of your annotations into a 250-500 word response. In your
response, identify the area that you are focusing on (ie style or theme) and include the
passage from the text that you annotated. Include five words from your vocabulary list
in your response (link on your web page). Make sure that you underline the word to
receive credit.
Reading Schedule for Fahrenheit 451
Section 1: The
Hearth and the
Salamander (pgs.
1-68)
Section 2: The
Sieve and the
Sand
(pgs. 71-110)
Section 3:
Burning Bright
(pgs. 113-165)
Complete reading, annotations, and blog response by Monday,
March20
Complete reading, annotations, and blog response by Monday,
March27
Complete reading, annotations, and blog response by
Monday/Tuesday, April 3/4
Questions that you may be asked in the form of short answer or multiple-choice quizzes
during this unit:
Section I: The Hearth and the Salamander
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What is the importance of the first sentence in the book?
Why are the billboards so long?
List some reasons why people are arrested in the book.
How does Montag feel about his job at the beginning of the novel?
What is so different about Clarisse? What question does she ask Montag?
Immediately after meeting her, how does Montag feel? Why do you think she
disappears without an explanation?
What methods do they use to fix Mildred? What might this show us about their
society?
Compare and contrast Clarisse and Mildred. Consider their attitudes, how they
approach life, what they expect from themselves and other people and how they
react to their world.
Which character is described as “it slept but did not sleep, lived but did not live?”
Why does it growl at Montag? Does this foreshadow something? Explain your
answer.
What does Montag take from the women’s house? What does this woman do at
the end
Would you like to live in Montag's society? Why?
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Describe the history Bradbury creates for firemen. Why do you suppose he does
this?
The fire in the old woman's house is a crisis for Montag. A case can be made for
considering this the climax in the plot. What changes are made at this point?
Beatty takes great pains to give reasons for burning books. What points could
you make to his arguments?
Section II: The Sieve and the Sand
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What has happened to Clarisse?
What significant events have happened twice since 1990
Explain who Professor Faber is and why Montag visits him.
What are Faber's reasons for the fear this society has for books?
Montag gets Faber to help him. What is their plan?
Montag reads a poem to Mildred and her friends. What is their reaction to this
reading?
How does Beatty try to intimidate Guy (think about the tactics that he takes and
why he may do this)?
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Section III: Burning Bright
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When he returns to work, what is ironic about the first call he answers?
Who ends up turning in the alarm on Guy? What does this tell us about their
relationship?
Montag attacks Beatty. Would you consider this as murder? Why?
How does Montag escape from the city and where does he end up?
Who almost runs Guy over? Why do you think they chose to do this? What
comment do you think Bradbury is making about society with this section?
Who are the outcasts that Guy runs into?
Where does the title of this section come from?
If you were the "dust jacket for a book," which book(s) would you choose to
remember?
When Bradbury first titled the book, he called it The Fire Man. The current title,
Fahrenheit 451, is the temperature at which paper burns. Which title do you think
is better? Give your reasons.