By Ray Bradbury http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL_y6gtxL vQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq GQa-Hx110 Audio book https://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1366&bih=594&q=salamander+451&oq=Sal amander+451&gs_l=img.1.0.0.1553.9735.0.11409.14.11.0.3.3.0.189.1642.1j10.11.0....0...1ac.1.29.img..1.13.1531.JGCkuI2 Ml9M English 2201 Comparison/Contrast Essay Due Date: Assignment: A society reflects the power of the majority. In a well developed, five paragraph essay compare in terms of theme, symbol(s) and conflict(s) the respective societies of the worlds of Ray Bradbury and Billy Joel. Refer only to “ The Hearth and the Salamander” ( Part One of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury) and “We didn’t start the Fire” ( Billy Joel’s song). I will discuss part 1 on Friday. Nov./02 Day 2 in one class so you must have this part of the book read by this date. Should have entire book read by Nov. 15. Remember this novel is an independent study. You may choose another poem or song of your choice but you must check with me first and include a copy of the poem or lyrics with your essay. Organization of essay: Paper must be handed in folder that will contain all your essays for the year and be stapled in the following order: Rubric Cover page Good copy Include rough copy but do not staple it to good copy Words required: 400 words Double Spaced: 12 or 14 font - please do not use italics or bold! #1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a2SS0zqmzk Fire, Warmth, light, substance, center of home, love, safety, life… Constructive Fire, Coldness, darkness, fear, government, hate, law, punishment, death… Destructive Salamanders live in fire and can’t be destroyed by flames! On the subway, Montag feels numb. Flash back: He remembers a time as a child at the beach when he tried, unsuccessfully, to fill a sieve with sand. Now he realizes as he holds the Bible open on his lap that if he can read the text in front of him and memorize it, he keep some of the sand in the sieve. Note: the despairation and despair of Montag -almost as if he is dying or fears his society is self destructing. He hears the planes overhead and does not understand the involvement of 2 atomic wars since 1990. What do you think? Montag attempts to read a passage but he's distracted by an advertisement for toothpaste. He stands up, screams for the advertisement to shut up, and waves the Bible, alarming the other passengers, before he gets off. The sand falling through the sieve is a metaphor for knowledge in this society in general, and for Montag's effort to get 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. Tragic Hero? The neighbors come out to watch Montag looks toward Clarisse's empty house. Guess who notices? Cpt. Beatty notices and mocks Montag for being influenced by her nonsense. Mildred runs out of her house with a suitcase and disappears into a beetle that “hit seventy miles an hour far down the street,gone.” (114) Montag realizes Mildred was the one who raised the alarm. Mildred is so emotionally disconnected that she's able to betray her husband, take off in a taxi to start another life without saying good-bye or talking after 10 years of wedded bliss. Sadly, she can be with her TV "relatives" anywhere. Poor family…everything gone now. (114) Did you expect this to happen? Beatty orders Montag to destroy his own house with a flamethrower or get hunted down by the Mechanical Hound. Faber (speaking through the earpiece) begs Montag to run away, but Montag has no choice and burns his house. Traitor? Montag, while burning down his own house, remembers the old woman who burned down her house instead of allowing the firemen do it. What would you do? Courage? Handout #2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFTLKWw 542g Setting: Sometime in the twenty-fourth century; there have been two atomic wars since 1990 In and around an unspecified city Los Angeles Chicago The City Mood & Atmosphere: Rain throughout novel The war throughout novel You could feel the war getting ready in the sky that night. The way the clouds moved aside and came back, and the way the stars looked, a million of them swimming between the clouds like the enemy discs and the feeling that the sky might fall upon the city and turn it to chalk dust, and the moon go up in red fire;that was how the night felt. Mood ? Atmosphere ? Portents, ominousa Shakespearean night? And the war began and ended in that instant. Later the men around Montag could not say if they had seen anything…Once a bomb release was yanked , it as over… Mood? Atmosphere? The beginning of a new journey…walking until they reach the city. Themes are the fundamental to a literary work- main idea and connected to purpose of book Themes are universal ideas explored in a literary work Can have sub- themes in a work of literature Suggested themes: Censorship(the danger of censorship) Happiness (knowing you are happy)versus distraction ( thinking you are happy) Conformity versus individuality Knowledge versus ignorance MUST create a thematic statement The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance-Socrates To thine ownself be true- Shakespeare Society honors its conformists and its dead troublemakers-Mignon McLaughlin Wisdom is gained through suffering- Sophocles If they give you ruled paper, write the other way-Juan Ramon Jimenez What about one for truth? What about one about mirrors/symbols? People allowed censorship. Beatty tells Montag how censorship became necessary: The problem with censorship is only those in power have access to knowledge. Raises? Why are there so many suicides and why are they always at war? If they give you ruled paper, write the other way. Juan Ramon Jimenez "Don't step on the toes of the dog lovers, the cat lovers, doctors, lawyers, merchant, chiefs, Mormons, Baptists, Unitarians, second-generation Chinese, Swedes, Italians, Germans, Texans, Brooklynites, Irishmen, people from Oregon or Mexico The bigger your market, Montag, the less you handle controversy." (57). Our civilization is so vast that we can’t have our minorities upset…What do we want in this country above all? People want to be happy… p.59 Capt. Beatty to Montag The fireman's responsibility is to destroy knowledge and promote ignorance in order to ensure equality. Ignorance, however, promotes suicide, poor decisions, and empty lives. It also allows government to do what it pleases. Beatty explains, “Let him forget there is such a thing as a war.If the government is inefficient, top heavy, and tax-mad, better it be all those than that people worry over it." (p.61). Give them Peace , Montag AND supposedly breeds happiness through conformity… So is Ignorance bliss? p.61Capt.Beatty Contests Stuff them full of facts Clubs, parties, jet cars, pills, T.V.walls, seashells, etc. Discuss: Then they feel they’re thinking, they’ll get a sense of motion without moving, Capt. Beatty p.61 In Montag's society, schools no longer teach. They merely fill kids with knowledge and make them think they're smart. Beatty recognizes that lack of information is not the problem, knowing what to do with it is. What would he say about the Internet? Montag, Faber, and Beatty’s struggle revolves around the opposing viewpoints/ philosophies between knowledge and ignorance.. Captain Beatty’s dream (106-107) The fireman’s duty is to destroy knowledge and promote ignorance in order to equalize the population and promote sameness and uphold the law of the land They were given a new job, as custodians of our peace of mind, the focus of our understandable and rightful dread of being inferior , official censors, judges and executors. That’s you, Montag, and that’s me. Capt. Beatty p. 59 Knowledge is power! (107) Montag’s encounters with Clarisse, the old woman, and Faber causes in him doubt, and therefore internal conflict about this idea. He is driven to search for knowledge, thus destroying the unquestioning ignorance he used to share with almost everyone he associated with as well as beliefs upon which his society is founded. Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, and literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text’s major themes. Animal and nature imagery pervades the novel. Nature is presented as a force of innocence and truth, beginning with Clarisse’s adolescent, reverent love for nature. She convinces Montag to taste the rain, and the experience changes him irrevocably. His escape from the city into the country is a revelation to him, showing him the enlightening power of unspoiled nature. Much of the novel’s animal imagery is ironic. Although this society is obsessed with technology and ignores nature, many frightening mechanical devices are modeled after or named for animals, such as the Electric-Eyed Snake machine and the Mechanical Hound. By: Jonathan Mallay In the novel Fahrenheit 451, the use of animal imagery is quite ironic compared to real life. Many of the animals portrayed in the book contradict the way they act and exist in real life. Additionally, nature is not respected in Guy Montag’s society, ironically though many key technologies are named after animals. The Mechanical Hound and the Electric Eyed Snake are both examples of ironic animal imagery in the novel. Jonathan Mallay The Mechanical Hound is described as a frightful creature, which Guy Montag is afraid of. This contrasts greatly to how dogs are viewed in real life; a companion of man. In real life dogs act as companions for the firemen, by sniffing out the injured to help in rescuing them. In the novel the Mechanical Hound performs the opposite tasks of a traditional dog; it is enforcer that kills those who disobey the laws set by the government. They are not the companions of the people, they are the enemy, sniffing for their next target. "That's sad," said Montag, quietly,(referring to The Hound) "because all we put into it is hunting and finding and killing. What a shame if that's all it can ever know." Jonathan Mallay Snakes are most often viewed as a threatening, lethal creatures in real life, contrarily in the novel, the Electric Eyed Snake saves lives by pumping out the toxic substances within a person. The Electric Eyed Snake is a savior in the dystopian society whereas in real life it is viewed as a bringer of demise, that injects lethal toxins rather than sucking them out. “One of them slid down into her stomach like a black cobra down an echoing well, looking for all the old water and the old time gathered there. It drank up the green matter that flowed to the top in a slow boil.” Jonathan Mallay Blood Fire Books Hearth Hands People/characters Places Titles of part 1 and 2 and 3 The Phoenix Mirrors /Walls Technology Religion Symbols Guy Montag Captain Beatty Major Clarisse Mildred Faber (Pencil) Clarisse’s uncle Granger Granger’s grandfather pp.155-158 life’s lesson and wisdom Minor Introducing characters In order of appearance By: Brooke Robson And Rabecca Snelgrove Montag is the protagonist of Fahrenheit 451. He is not a perfect hero. But you can sympathize with Montag’s mission, the way he works for his goal seems clumsy and misguided. When he starts reading books for the first time, he is often confused, frustrated, and overwhelmed but also guilty. Sometimes he feels like he loses control of himself. His actions can be quite horrific, like when he finds himself setting his supervisor on fire, but they also represents what he really wants which is to rebel against the normal and find meaning to his life. Montags relationship with his wife, Mildred was once very close and full of love, but eventually becomes quite distant and lacks interest in one another. Deep down Montag loves his wife and really cares about her and wants to take care of her but overall they aren’t very close, Mildred watches television mostly and refuses to engage in meaningful conversation with her husband about their marriage and each others lives, she seems uninterested in Montag and finds him hard to understand him and doesn’t really care to either . Neither of them even remember how they first met. Brooke Robson & Rabecca Snelgrove Fire, Heat and Light. Montag’s character is a symbol of fire, not only because of the burning of the books in this story but also because fire can be a symbol of anger or guilt burning inside of him, When Montag senses Clarisse’s presence, it’s because he feels body heat. At the end of the story he finds fire as a source of heat and comfort. Showing that fire can be good and bad, destructive and also constructive. Much life Guy Montag’s character. Another source of symbolism brought out in Montag’s character is when he strips himself of his clothing and runs into the river, he is a man who went through many identity crisis's therefore this is symbolizing him leaving the old Montag behind and cleansing himself of his old identity and also all his guilt and issues. So that he can take on a new identity and move on with his life. The fact that another man is captured and killed in Montag’s place is a great importance in this moment. Rabecca Snelgrove Beginning of the Story He is careless. He is a fireman and is considered a hero on the “good side” Burns Books End of the Story At the end of the novel the character of Montag changed drastically the cold careless old Montag transferred into an insightful optimistic character . Brooke Robson Married Montag is the protagonist. Burns books Montag’s faith in his profession and his society begins to decline almost immediately. Beatty is a complex character, full of contradictions cared passionately about books. He is quick to stress that he prefers his life of instant pleasure. Brooke Robson “and suddenly remembered that something lay hidden behind the grill, something that seemed to peer down on him now. He moved his eyes quickly away.” “Montag had done nothing. Is hand had done it All, with a brain of its own, with conscience and curiosity in each trembling finger, had turned thief.” By: Rhiannon Cooper and Matthew Raske “What a shame, she said. “You’re not in love with anyone.” Pg 22 – Fahrenheit 451 A young girl who has independent thoughts and knows who she is. Has strong beliefs and enjoys reading books and gaining new knowledge. Changes Guy Montag’s perspective on life and on his situation. Clarisse makes Guy question his position in the community he lives in. She is the reason why the plot unfolds the way it does and sets a spark off inside Montag. Understands what is right and what is wrong. Determined, bold and innocent. (MR,RC) Symbolizes the change that unfolds throughout the story How? Inspired Guy Montag to challenge common beliefs and alter his reality within the community. This is achieved by Clarisse sharing with him her perspective on life. Quote: “Are you happy?” pg10 “People don’t talk about anything” pg31 Clarisse interrogates Guy and slowly changes his perception of life. Guy is inspired to do what’s right for his community and alters his situation thanks to Clarisse's influence. (MR,RC) http://www.postavy.cz/foto/clarissemcclellan-foto.jpg In a world where citizens are afraid to open a book, Clarisse McClellan provides a stark contrast through her love of life and knowledge. Quote: “Sometimes I am ancient” pg 30 “What incredible power of identification the girl had.” (Said about Clarisse) pg11 Clarisse is visibly different than the rest. She is more mature than those around her and provides a contrast between knowledge and ignorance. Clarisse is wiser, acts older and has insight. The other citizens of the town are lacking in these areas. Clarisse shows a contrast between these two very different traits. (MR, RC) http://f451news.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/1 /3/12138403/8655874_orig.png Once, long ago, Clarisse had walked here where he was walking now.(145) The railway track…was the path to wherever he was going. Here was a famliar thing, the magic charm… A world of silence but not emptiness. “ ‘We cannot tell the precise moments when friendship is formed. As in a vessel drop by drop, there is a last drop which makes it run over; so in a series of kindnesses there is one which makes the heart run over.’” “Montag sat listening to the rain.” p.72 Part 2 Montag reading from a book to Mildred after Clarisse’s death Cold November Rain By: Alex Matthews & Jack Giannou Mildred is the wife of the main character in the book, Guy Montag. She is obsessed with watching TV (the family) and uses it to avoid talking to people such as her husband. Mildred wants to avoid Guy because she doesn’t want to talk about her marriage. Mildred severally struggles with interpersonal conflict as she tries to commit suicide by popping 30 sleeping pills however it doesn't work. “ Her face was like a snow-covered island upon which rain might fall, but it felt no rain. ” Mildred is different from the other characters of the book because she is the only person in the book that seems as if she has no hope of resolving her conflict. She is the only character in the book that hates socializing with people and only watching TV. Also, unlike all the other characters she is in self denial. A good example of this in the book is when she says “Oh, I wouldn't do that. I wouldn't do a thing like that. Why should I do a thing like that?” We think that a good symbol for Mildred would be a bottle of sleeping pills as it shows the struggle that she has with her depression and is the tool she uses in trying to commit suicide. ‘The small crystal bottle of sleeping tablets which earlier today had been filled with thirty tablets and which now lay uncapped and empty in the light of the tiny flare’… Montag sees Mildred as dying… Montag asks Mildred why she took the pills and challenges her when she answers that she would not to this…but she did! Note: the lack of time awareness, memory, consciousness! “I’m numb, he thought . When did the numbness really begin in my face? In my body? The night I kicked the pill bottle in the dark, like kicking a buried mine…” (78) “The woman on the porch reached out with contempt for them all and struck the kitchen match against the railing.” (40) Heresy? pp.38-40 “Play the man, Master Ridley: we shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out.” (p.36) By: Jennifer Brown Adele Forward Fire Chief. Guy Montag’s boss. He upholds the law of book burning. Read books. Great knowledge of books. He uses his knowledge of books as a weapon to use against Montag. He is the symbolism of the people as a upholder of the law of book burning. The books were offending the public “Guardian Angel” towards Montag. He in a way does help Montag in certain situations. He becomes a “Vengeance Angel” afterwards when he felt threaten by Guy. Both work at the fire department Both have a perspective on books Both are not happy with their life Both have great knowledge The main difference between them are their opinion on books. Beatty has a fear of books and their information, Guy on the other hand thinks it has the answers. Beatty took the easy way out and Montag believes it would get better. Montag you are looking at a coward (82) Faber was a grey moth asleep in his ear for the moment. (104) Isled in the midnight air, Musked with the dark's faint bloom, Out into glooming and secret haunts The flame cries, 'Come!' Lovely in dye and fan, A-tremble in shimmering grace, A moth from her winter swoon Uplifts her face: Stares from her glamorous eyes; Wafts her on plumes like mist; In ecstasy swirls and sways To her strange tryst. Walter de la Mare One of the scholar-outcasts Montag meets on the railroad tracks in the countryside but model citizens with photographic memories. Contrasts to Faber: Granger has had the courage to act on his convictions and leave civilization. He and his comrades memorize works of literature, waiting for the day when books will no longer be banned and humanity is ready to learn from its past. “Welcome back from the dead.”(150) Identification by Clarisse Cause of Montag’s internal strife? References to needing to see “A book lit, almost obediently, like a white pigeon, in his hands, wings fluttering.” (37) GUILT Simile Nature Imagery Didn’t firemen prevent fires rather than stoke them up and get them going? Clarrisse McClellen To burn Englishinfluenced books in the colonies Rules: 1. Answer alarm swiftly 2.Start fire swiftly 3. Burn everything 4.Report back to firehouse immediately 5. Stand alert for other alarms Pp.34-35 …we’re the Happiness boys… Capt. Beatty p.61 They were given a new job, as custodians of our peace of mind, the focus of our understandable and rightful dread of being inferior , official censors, judges and executors. That’s you, Montag, and that’s me. (Capt. Beatty p. 59) What atmosphere/mood is What literary elements does visualized here? Focal point? this quote highlight? Fire is bright and fire is clean A fireman’s philosophy Captain Beatty, p.60 “Montag had done nothing. Is hand had done it all, with a brain of its own, with conscience and curiosity in each trembling finger, had turned thief…” (37) Guilt & Betrayal? Internal Strife? Montag’sHands Readp.12-13 The bottle was empty (19) My wife is dying (81) “We can’t do anything. We can’t burn these. I want to look at them, at least look at them once. Then if what the Captain says is true, we’ll burn them together. We’ve got to start somewhere here, figuring out why we’re in such a mess. We’re heading right for the cliff, Millie. God, I don’t want to go over. This isn’t going to be easy. We haven’t anything to go on, but maybe we can piece it out and figure it and help each other.” (66) " Light the first page. Light the second page. Each becomes a black butterfly.” (76) Lecture’s over. I hope I’ve clarified things. The important thing for you to remember, Montag, is we’re the Happiness Boys, the Dixie Duo, you and I and the others. We stand against the small tide of those who want to make everyone unhappy with conflicting theory and thought. We have our fingers in the dike. Hold steady. Don’t let the torrent of melancholy and drear philosophy drown our world. We depend on you. I don’t think you realize how important you are, we are, to our happy world as it stands now.” (62) Number 1:Quality of Information What does the word quality mean? Faber equates it will texture- they show the pores in the face of life (83) Result: Hated and feared Number 2 Leisure to digest it But time to think? P.84 Number 3: The right to carry out actions based on what we learn from the interaction of the first 2 Conflict: external, interpersonal, internal By: Malcolm Jesperson and Rachel Neveu A conflict between two people, most often from a mutual dislike or personality clash. RN, MJ Mildred’s thoughts, morals and beliefs are the same as everyone else’s in their community, very dull, which cause internal conflict between her and her husband Montag. She is in denial Reference: "Oh,I wouldn't do that. I wouldn't do a thing like that. Why should I do a thing like that?“ - When her husband decides to confront her about her problems she becomes very defensive, she doesn’t admit to having any problems or admit to wanting to kill herself. Mildred Montag’s thoughts, morals and beliefs are very different from Mildred’s, he is much more optimistic then she is, he beliefs more in having a real family, feelings and life then she does. He feels and knows he feels, Mildred feels but nor doesn’t want to feel or doesn’t realize she feels things. He realizes he is unhappy Reference: 'wore his happiness like a mask and the girl had run off across the lawn with the mask'‘ -He realizes he is unhappy and he wants to do something about it, he no longer wants to live in a life which he is unhappy with. RN, MJ Montag Mildred in this relationship, didn't have the same emotions towards Montag, as Montag did for her, Mildred refers to her family as the fictional characters on the tv. Mildred perspective on life is she takes it for granted, she makes an attempt to kill herself and brushes it off like nothing happens. She has no interest in loving or showing any sort of affection towards her husband while Montag is fighting very hard for a relationship with Mildred. She takes her like for granted and doesn’t treat it the way she should be treating it. RN, MJ Mildred Montag had much more feelings and emotions for Mildred, feeling broken and hurt after she overdosed Montag realized that Mildred didn't feel the same way about life as he did. Montag is more realistic then Mildred when it comes to life, Montag is more social, he understands what life should be like and what its like in their community, he wants his wife to realize or to treat her life like he treats his. He treats his life like a life, he doesn’t take it for granted. Reference: “ I'm antisocial, they say. I don't mix. It's so strange. I'm very social indeed. It all depends on what you mean by social, doesn't it? Social to me means talking to you about things like this.” Montag In the novel Fahrenheit 451, written by Ray Bradbury, there is a marriage. Most marriages are very loving and caring, or at least in the beginning, although in this community that is not the case, people don't feel towards other people, they don't have feelings or don't realize they have feelings. In the main marriage of this novel, it consists of a man named Montag and a woman named Mildred. Now in this marriage at the very beginning you don’t see as many problems as they do have half way through the novel. Montag is very blind to say at the beginning he doesn’t realize his wife isn’t happy until he comes home and she has tried to kill herself by taking pills. Montag realizes that he needs to make a change in their marriage, he tries his best to show all of his interest into reading books together, although his wife has no interest in reading the books with him or at all. The books that him and his wife were suppose to read together, he stole them, those are the books that he was suppose to catch on fire as his job. Because of his actions he loses his job while his wife Mildred doesn’t lose anything, although she is accused of choosing her husband over her community and everyone in the community is upset by that. RN, MJ The internal conflict that is between him and his wife, is that his wife has no interest in having a real loving marriage, she won’t put any effort into it. Montag puts all of his effort into having a loving marriage, he brings homes books, loses his jobs and doesn’t get anything in return. He would do anything for his wife while his wife wont return the favor, she doesn’t notice that they don’t have a normal healthy relationship. RN, MJ By: Matt Marshall and Derek Burton Montag struggles with the fact that he is unhappy. “He wore his happiness like a mask and the girl had run off across the lawn with the mask...” (pg. 12) “He was not happy. He was not happy. He said the words to himself.” (pg. 12) Montag struggles with the fact that he was forced to burn his house down. “Montag could not move. A great earthquake had come with fire and leveled the house and Mildred was under there somewhere and his entire life was under there and he could not move.” (pg. 118) Montag internally struggles with his new perspective on life. He wants to live life the way it was meant to be lived, although, that means breaking the law and losing his job. “He would be Montag-plus-Faber, fire plus water, and then, one day, after everything had mixed and simmered and worked away in silence, there would be neither fire nor water, but wine.” (pg. 103) By Miranda Morrissey, Donna Pearce and Peter Staubitzer Clarisse is from a society were they read books where she lives to now reading books is illegal and they also burn them The fighter fighters slogan is “burn them to ashes they burn the ashes” The people think she’s odd and anti social The society that she lives in and the society in which she is from are almost pretty much opposite D.P, M.M, P.S “If they give you ruled paper, write the other way.” This shows her commitment to not conform Also, they say that she’s antisocial. In our society, social means talking to people and making friends. Social in their society is the opposite it’s talking about the same stuff and participating in fun parks and racing cars. All their activities are violent, and it’s all okay as long as you have insurance. She’s happy even though her society is an unhappy society D.P, M.M, P.S She lives in a society which is careless. This shows the carelessness of the society that she lives in Reread pp.96-102 Discussion Turning point for Montag and Mildred – there is no going back now! Did Montag make a terrible error? Now he knew he was two people, that he was, above all. Montag who knew nothing, who didn’t even know himself a fool, but only suspected it. And he knew he was the old man who talked to him…(102) He would be Montag plus Faber Fire plus water and after time and mixing and simmering…there would be wine (paraphrased p.103) He would look back and know the fool! We’re twins we are not alone anymore The Insidious Plot …Act of Treason “The Salamander devours its tale!” (88) Faber is describing how the firemen will destroy themselves if books are found in their homes, their hearths. Fireman = Salamanders Salamanders are capable of regenerating lost limbs, as well as other body parts! By: Nathan, Colin, and Zaid ❖ The irony in the book Fahrenheit 451 is a dramatic irony which lies within the role of the protagonist, Guy Montag, and his profession. ❖ In the book, Guy Montag’s profession is that of a fireman but unlike the real world, Guy’s job requires him to start fires instead of stopping them! ❖ Instead of solving problems and conflicts they create them instead by burning books and destroying the possibility of new ideas! In the beginning of the novel, we are introduced to a society in which books are resented and frowned upon. However, the protagonist later discovers that his hatred towards books is unjustified, and after being exposed to these books, Guy actually starts to fall into love with books as they are a pathway to escapism and knowledge. In the futuristic society of Fahrenheit 451, books are considered a Taboo, since nobody is allowed to read books, everybody watch’s TV. Mildred, Montag’s spouse, is obsessed with television. In her house she makes sure that there is a television on every wall, so that she can always be watching her program. Since she is so obsessed with this she lives in the world of television, this is ironic because her reality isn’t reality, it is what is on TV. In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury creates an environment in which everyone's intelligence level must be equal. If someone is found to be more intelligent than others, they are either taken away from society, or killed, this is why books are frowned upon. This is a great example of irony, as in today’s day and age, it is recommended to read, and be as intelligent as they can be. “Well,” said Beatty “now you did it. Old Montag wanted to fly so near the sun and now that he’s burnt his damn wings, he wonders why? Didn’t I hint enough when I sent the Hound around to your place? (113) "I've never known any dead man killed in a war. Killed jumping off buildings, yes, like Gloria's husband last week, but from wars? No." - Mildred Montag This quote shows a great example of an irony found in fahrenheit 451, as war is known to us only as “a state or period of fighting between countries or groups,” and what is a war without death, what are they fighting with, that causes no death. This is truly ironic as in the real world a deathless war does not exist. Beatty wanted to die (122) Third-person, limited omniscient Follows Montag’s point of view, often articulating his interior monologues Tone Foreboding Ominous Menacing Angry Frustrated Bitter Ironic Satirical The Grill Where has Clarisse gone? Are you guilty…Cpt. Beatty to Montag The mechanical hounds reaction to Montag Mildred: will she die from an overdose Mildred’s reaction to books Cpt. Beatty’s visiting the sick Did The Hound visit Montag’s house? The Let’s talk scene What will Montag do with the last Bible? What will Faber do? Montag’s inability to move his feet-will he go into the firehouse? (104) Why did Captain Beatty drive the Salamander that night? (109) “Why,” said Montag slowly, “we stopped in front of my house.” (S10) Conclusion to Part 2: The Sieve and the Sand Where is Mildred going? “No!”cried Montag helplessly. “ The Hound! Because of the Hound!” And with that he sets fire to his house Creates suspense, illustrates conflict and irony and…? Read pp.116-117 And then he is arrested! Will Beatty catch Faber? “We never burn right…” And the [Beatty]was a shrieking blaze, a jumping, sprawling gibbering mannikin, no longer human…” Did you see this coming? Thinking back later he could not decide whether the hands or Beatty’s reaction to the hands gave him the final push towards murder Climax Police Alert: Wanted Fugitive in city. Has committed murder and crime against the State. Name: Guy Montag. Occupation: Fireman. Last seen… Watch for running man…alone…watch. (124) I’m sorry (123) And at this time…War has been declared…irony?(125) Will he be hit with beetle? A carful of children who would have killed him! Were they the ones who killed Clarisse Montag wondered. What will happen next? Mrs. Black- revenge- of a fireman’s wife Framed by books and Montag Follow the river Find the hobos-old Harvard degrees on the tracks between here and Los Angeles-Walking Books! Living Books! I might be dead by noon…especially with the new Mechanical Hound that can track 10,000 odor indexes! By Sejla Vujovic It is a seemingly absurd or contradictory statement which when investigated may prove to be well founded or true. Simply put, it is a situation that is created which cannot possibly exist, because different elements of it cancel each other out. For example, the novel, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens opens with a very famous paradox; It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” They can be humorous and confusing, but they can also have serious meanings as symbols and motifs, which is what Ray Bradbury uses very often throughout the novel. This helps to develop the major themes. Things, or people are… Dead and alive For example, the “Electric Eyed Snake” used to revive Mildred, or the “Mechanical Hound”. Though they are not living, they are perceived as living creatures and given the very much alive characteristics of those creatures (snake, dog). There and not there At the opening of Part I, when Montag goes home, his bedroom is described at first as "not empty" and then as "indeed empty". Mildred is there, but her mind is floating away with the music of her seashell radio and she is almost lost to a sleeping pill overdose. This is saying that a character is there yet not there. It appears frequently with Mildred, and it suggests her half-empty, half-full condition. Seeing but not seeing At the beginning, Montag was ignorant to the knowledge and wisdom that can come from books, and thought that he and the other firemen were helping the city by burning books. The culture of Fahrenheit 451 is a culture that has insubstantiality and unreality. The more books that Montag hordes, the more substantial truths he seeks. Another example is how truth is portrayed in the novel. Actual truth is hidden from society, or more accurately, burned. Many people in Montag's life, including Millie and her friends, believe they live in reality when in fact they live in a superficial world dominated by television, government oppression and the media. Society is blind to the truth. In Fahrenheit 451 paradoxes question the reality of beings that are apparently living but spiritually dead. Ultimately, Mildred and the rest of her society seem to be not much more than machines, thinking only what they are told to think. “The man’s thinking!” (p.19) Mildred to Montag The culture of Fahrenheit 451 is a culture of insubstantiality and unreality, and Montag desperately seeks more substantial truths in the books he hoards. Remember the mirrors! The Mechanical Hound Slept but did not sleep Lived but did not live … the dead beast , the living beast. Bradbury’s repeated use of such paradoxical statements—especially that a character or thing is dead and alive or there and not there… Montag’s bedroom is described first as “not empty” and then as “indeed empty,” because Mildred is physically there, but her thoughts and feelings are elsewhere. Bradbury’s repeated use of such paradoxical statements—especially that a character or thing is dead and alive or there and not there—is frequently applied to Mildred, suggesting her empty, half-alive condition Existing but not truly living The living dead Mildred, the mechanical hound, and the electric-eyed snake pump. Increase in suicides rational for it use Bradbury also uses these paradoxical statements to describe the “Electric-Eyed Snake” stomach pump. Read p.73 IMPT The New Mildred Slept but did not sleep Lived but did not live Made of brass, copper and steel. Sensitive capillary hairs “eight legs spidered under it rubber paws.”p. 24 “It was sleeping the evil out of itself.” p.24 “ ‘Hello,’ whispered Montag, fascinated as always with the dead beast , the living beast.” “ ‘It doesn’t like me,’ said Montag.” (p.26) Ex: bittersweet Living dead Can you find any in Fahrenheit 451? Living room? Moving from an unreality or a reality (140) Italics Paradoxes Oxymoron Monologues Imagery and figurative language-descriptive devices Pp.29-30, 73-74, & 96 -101. How would you like to attend school in this society? Are there parallels to present day society? Clarisse is considered antisocial What do people do with their leisure time? A glass of milk, an apple, a pear “There was a silly damn bird called a phoenix back before Christ, every few hundred years he built a pyre and burnt himself up. But every time he burnt himself up he sprang out of the ashes, he got himself born all over again. And it looks like we’re doing the same thing, over and over, but we’ve got one damn thing the phoenix never had. We know the damn silly thing we just did. We know all the damn silly things we’ve done for a thousand years and as long as we know that and always have it around where we can see it, someday we’ll stop making the goddamn funeral pyres and jumping in the middle of them.” (163) And on either side of the river was there a tree of life, which bare twelve manners of fruit, and yielded her fruit every month; And the leaves of the tree were for the healings of nations.(165) Nick Fogwill and Mitchell Edwards In the book, the ’parlour walls’ broadcast dull shows all day In our world, people sit down in front of their TV sets for hours and watch ‘reality TV’ It’s really fun. It’ll be even more fun when we can afford to have a fourth wall installed . How long you figure before we save up and get the fourth wall torn out and a fourth TV wall put in. It’s only two thousand dollars -Mildred. Page 20 Fahrenheit 451 Our world In the world of Fahrenheit 451, nuclear war is frequent and uncontroversial. In our world, nuclear war has never occurred, and nuclear weapons are a big deal. Why doesn’t someone want to talk about it! We’ve started and won two atomic wars since 1990! -Montag. Page 73 Fahrenheit 451 Our world In the book a reason why books are banned is because they don’t want people to think of new ideas and theories. Fahrenheit 451 In our world people in the past have done this to keep people reformed and under control. Ex.( The church in the scientific revolution) Our world In Fahrenheit 451, the firemen frequently burn books. While the flapping pigeon-winged books died on the porch and lawn of the house. While the books went up in whirls and blew away on a wind turned black with burning. In our world, firemen put out fires, not start them. Also, burning books is uncommon it the first world. -page 3,4 Fahrenheit 451 Our world In the book, violence amongst adolescents is common. “I'm afraid of children my age. They kill each other. Did it always used to be that way?” In our world, violence amongst adolescents is becoming more common in recent years. Clarisse, page 30 Fahrenheit 451 Our world In the book, it would seem that there is little concern for nature, on a small or large scale. “”I sometimes think drivers don’t know what grass is, or flowers, because they never see them slowly.” In our world. There are many people who care about the environment, and fight to prevent harm to it. -Clarisse. Page 9 Fahrenheit 451 Our world https://www.google.ca/search?q=montag+451+fahrenheit&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.55123115,d.aWc,pv.xjs.s.en_US.Ag3CcnQBszM. O&biw=1173&bih=594&dpr=1&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=5dpmUt7KLub4yQGupIHAAg Bradbury, R. (1953)Fahrenheit 451 New York: Del Ray Books Personal notes Students notes