Fahrenheit 451
The temperature at which book paper catches fire, and burns…
Ray Bradbury
Part Three: Burning Bright
Part 3: Burning Bright
1. Discuss the choice of the title in part three. How does this title reflect characterization
and plot?
The title Burning Bright gives us hope that the characters will actually remember these
great novels because the world does not have any books anymore in result of the nuclear
war that has wiped everything out. It also refers to the fact that Montag burned Beatty
and told him : “We never burned right…”
2. Explain the following sentence in your own words: “A problem gets too burdensome,
then into the furnace with it.” (p. 115). How does this sentence reflect the attitudes of
certain characters in this novel?
This sentence shows us not only the attitude of the speaker, Captain Beatty, but also of
the society in which they live in. This is due to the fact that everyone follows. It is
saying that if you don’t like something, than you should get rid of it, burn it.
3. a) As Montag’s house burns, what startling information do we learn about Mildred?
(p. 117)
We learn that Mildred gave the call to rat Montag out. ““Was it my wife turned in the
alarm?” Beatty nodded. “But her friends turned in an alarm earlier that I let ride.”
b) What do you think of Mildred’s actions? Do you agree or disagree? Explain.
I think Mildred’s actions are cowardly and reflect the society they live in, but I also
understand why she would do so. She didn’t want to be involved with what Guy was
up to, she didn’t want to get into trouble with the law or even get killed.
4. After Beatty places Montag under arrest, a series of important events occur, leading up
to Guy’s daring escape. Briefly summarize these events. (p. 118…)
First of all, Beatty insults him. He then hits him so hard that the bullet came out of his ear
and he knew what was going on. Montag finally gets up and grabs the flame thrower and
burns Beatty to death. He then hit the other two firemen and fought and won the Hound
before he could begin his daring escape.
5. Explain why Montag felt that it was necessary to kill Captain Beatty. Give two
reasons. (p. 118-120)
Guy felt that it was necessary to kill Captain Beatty because he would be going after his
friend Faber: “We’ll trace this and drop it on your friend.” Another reason is that Beatty
was daring him to do it. “Go ahead now, you second-hand litterateur, pull the trigger.”
6. What is ironic as Montag says good-bye to Captain Beatty?
It is very ironic that Montag took Captain Beatty’s suggestion in order to eliminate him:
“Beatty, he thought, you’re not a problem now. You always said, don’t face a problem,
burn it. Well, now I’ve done both. Good-bye Captain.”
7. Discuss the following passage: “War has been declared. The gas was being pumped
outside. The men in the beetles were talking about the engines, the gas, the money owed.”
(p. 125)
This passage shows us that the people don’t even care if there is a war going on outside.
They are talking very nonchalantly about engines and gas and debts.
8. On pages 129 and 130, Montag seeks revenge on one of his former co-workers.
Explain how he goes about this.
Montag plants a book in the house of his co-worker and then calls the alarm so that his
house will get burnt down just as his had. Although we can hint to what he has done on
pages 129 and 130, we know for sure on page 131: “…and I planted a book in a
fireman’s house…”.
9. a) On page 132, what advice does Faber give to Montag?
Faber tells Montag to head for the river to find the railroad tracks and follow them. Here
he will find old scholars who will help him understand literature more extensively.
b) What figure of speech is contained in the following sentence: “they say there’s
lots of old Harvard degrees on the tracks between here and Los Angeles” (p. 132)
The figure of speech contained in this sentence is synecdoche because he uses paper
(Harvard University degrees) to describe the people who have them.
10. On page 149, the search for Montag finally comes to an end. Explain how Guy can
be sure that he will no longer be considered as a fugitive from the law.
Guy is sure he is safe when: “an announcer on the dark screen said, “The search is over,
Montag is dead; a crime against society has been avenged.””.
11. Explain the following sentence: “…the books were on file behind their quiet eyes…”
(p. 155). How can this guarantee Granger and his men’s safety?
The sentence means that they had all those books memorized behind their eyes, in their
brains. This means that Granger and his men don’t need to worry for they don’t have
actual books that the firemen or Hound can find, besides they don’t instil it on others: “A
few crackpots with verses in their heads can’t touch them, and they know it and we know
it; everyone knows it. So long as the vast population doesn’t wander about quoting the
Magna Carta and the Constitution, it’s all right.”
12. At the end of the novel, how is the nuclear war a blessing in disguise?
The nuclear war is a blessing in disguise because it ponders hope for the future. The
author explains this by giving the example of the Phoenix rising from the ashes on page 163.
They then try to find more humans to teach them about literature on p. 163-164:
“Someday the load we’re carrying with us may help someone.”
13. Do a plot diagram for the novel Fahrenheit 451.
Initial stability / exposition:
The initial stability consist of the description of the protagonist: Guy Montag, a ten-year
veteran of the fire department. It is set in the future, about 500 years from now, during
autumn. Montag has just burnt a house down and is returning home from work.
Inciting event:
The inciting event in the story is the meeting with Clarisse McClellan, an unusual teenage
girl out of step with the non-thinking, pleasure-seeking majority, and she asks him the
question: “Are you happy?” on p. 10. He then reflects on this subject…
Rising action:
First of all, Mildred almost dies. After that, Clarise dies. Then Guy witnesses the killing
of an old woman who wanted to die. Afterwards, Guy starts questioning his relationship
with Mildred. All this questioning results in Montag beginning to feel ill and Beatty visits
him. Montag also begins to read, meets up with Faber and starts reading poetry.
Climax:
There is almost a double climax here. It all begins when Beatty attacks Montag with
words by taunting him in a game of wits. After that, the Salamander stops at Montag’s
house and the firemen burn it. The climax ends with Montag burning Beatty.
Falling action:
The falling action begins with the escape of Montag and the pursuit of the authorities. He
finally is able to escape when they hunt and kill another man. We also find out what the
life of the exiles is. It ends when the nuclear war kills the tainted society.
Final denouement or conclusion:
The exiles plan for the future in the final denouement. Their goal is to change the world
as they knew it. As the Pheonix rises out of the ashes, so will the new society of
Fahrenheit 451. This very sombre book ends with a very hopeful view of human
resilience.