Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School Freshman English Mr. Williams 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? 2. In the opening scene, why are the books compared to birds? 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? 7. Why does Mildred need help when Montag gets home? 8. Describe the help that she receives. 9. According to the men who help Mildred, how common is her condition in this society? 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. How is the fire alarm that Montag answers on pages 35-40 different than other alarms he has answered in the past? 20. What crime does Montag commit during this alarm? 21. What happens to the woman whose house is burned on pages 35-40? What are her last words? Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School Freshman English Mr. Williams 22. What further evidence do we have that emphasizes the death of Montag’s marriage? 23. Who does Mildred interact with the most? 24. What has happened to Clarisse? 25. Who visits Guy and Mildred? How does Bradbury use dramatic irony to create suspense during this visit? 26. According to Beatty, why did the importance of books decrease after the Civil War? 27. Why does Beatty believe that books are dangerous? 28. What lies does Beatty tell Montag? 29. What secret does Montag share with Mildred at the end of this section? How does she react to the news? 30. What is the significance of section one’s title, “The Hearth and the Salamander?” Part II: The Sieve and the Sand 31. Of “that favourite subject, Myself,” Mildred says, “I understand that one.” (pg. 72) How does this show a contrast to her foil, Clarisse? 32. Mildred is horrified by the thought of a visit from Captain Beatty. What does she stand to lose? (pg. 73) 33. What case does Montag make to Mildred in defense of reading? (pg. 73-74) 34. What effect do Montag’s outbursts about their thoughtless world have on Mildred? (pg. 74) 35. Why does Montag seek help from Faber? Who is he? (pg. 74-75 & pg. 82) 36. What book in Montag’s possession is the last of its kind in his part of the world? (pg. 76) 37. What are Faber’s reasons for giving Montag his address? (pg. 74-75) 38. What does Montag imagine Beatty would say of the content of books? (pg. 76-77) 39. When does Montag believe his numbness began? What is his numbness? (pg. 77-78) 40. What is the significance of this section’s title, “The Sieve and the Sand”? (pg. 78) 41. What does Montag do when the train stops? (pg. 80) 42. Who does Faber blame for book burnings? Why do these people let go of the lovely books? (pg. 81-82) 43. Why does Faber consider himself a coward? (pg. 82) Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School Freshman English Mr. Williams 44. Why does Montag turn to books when he realizes he isn’t happy? (pg. 82) 45. Faber confirms Montag’s realization that something is missing from their lives. What three things does he say are missing? (pg. 83-85) 46. According to Faber, what is the difference between books and television? (pg. 84) 47. Faber inspires Montag’s rebellious plan. What is the plan? (pg. 85-86) 48. What shocking thing does Montag do that horrifies Faber? Why does Montag do this? (pg. 88) 49. What tool will Faber use to communicate with Guy? (pg. 90) 50. What does Guy say to Faber that shows he is becoming an independent thinker? (pg. 92) 51. How does Bradbury show the reader that Millie and her friends are examples of how sick the society in the novel is? (pg. 93-97) 52. What does Guy do that scares Millie and her friends? (pg. 97-101) 53. What metaphor does Bradbury use to show Guy’s evolution? (pg. 102-103) 54. How does Beatty taunt Guy at the fire station? (pg. 104-107) 55. At the end of this section, whose house to the firemen go to burn? (pg. 110) Part III: Burning Bright 56. What is the real beauty of fire according to Beatty? 57. Why can’t Montag run? 58. Beatty says to Montag, “Your house, your clean-up.” What does he mean? 59. Who turns in Montag? 60. What happens to the green bullet? 61. What does Montag do to arouse suspicion in Beatty? 62. How does Beatty die? 63. What becomes of the Mechanical Hound? 64. What does Montag suddenly realize about Beatty and his death? 65. What is nearly responsible for Montag’s death? 66. What is Montag’s purpose in going to Mrs. Black’s house? 67. Where does Faber tell Montag he should go? 68. What is the “one- man circus”? Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School Freshman English Mr. Williams 69. Why does Montag tell Faber to burn his furniture and turn on the lawn sprinklers? 70. What does “twenty million Montags running” mean? 71. What does the river give Montag time to do? 72. As Montag steps out of the river, what kind of shelter does he dream of for his first night out of the city? 73. What creature does he mistake for the Hound? 74. Describe the voices. About what do they speak? 75. Who is Granger? 76. Why does the chase continue on television? 77. Who is killed in Montag’s place? 78. Why can’t the government officials admit that Montag eluded them? 79. Why doesn’t Montag feel he belongs in the company of these men? 80. What book will Montag become? 81. What is significant about the “odd minority out in the wilderness”? 82. Why does Granger refer to this time as the Dark Ages? 83. Why does Granger trust Montag? 84. Why won’t Montag grieve if his wife dies? 85. Granger explains that one does not grieve for the person. One grieves for the things that person did and will never do again. What did Montag leave? 86. How does the war end? What happens to the city? 87. Where does Montag remember meeting Mildred for the first time? 88. What does Montag save for noon when they reach the city? How does it contribute to the ending of the novel?