Fahrenheit 451: Test Review

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Fahrenheit 451 Test Review

• Is it hot in here?

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Basic 451 information

• Authored by Ray Bradbury in 1950
• Written mostly in UCLA library
• Science fiction genre
• Plot covers about 3 weeks time
• Based on what Bradbury thought we might be like
  someday

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Setting

• Set in an unspecified large city in an
  unspecified time in the future
• This allows readers to put themselves in the
  position of the characters for a more personal
  experience

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Characters

• Montag Protagonist of novel, decides he wants to
  change, fights inner war and outer war, forced to
  burn his house down
• Beatty Antagonist of novel, upholds societal
  rules, symbol of whats wrong with society,
  killed in the climax

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More characters

• Clarisse Supporting character, symbol of
  goodness, what used to be society, opens Montags
  eyes with her question, Are you happy?, killed
  in apparent drive-by violence

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More characters

• Mildred Guys wife, represents effects of
  society, turns husband in for books, family is
  parlor walls
• Faber Retired English professor, helps Montag
  reach goal, headed to St. Louis to begin again,
  invites Montag

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Basic terms

• Paradox Statement that seems to be false or
  contradict, but actually could be true
• Irony An outcome or event that turns out to be
  much different from what is expected
• Metaphor Comparison w/o like or as

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Symbols

• Seashells Like headphones
• Mechanical hound 8 legged predator, does dirty
  work for humans in this story
• Phoenix Bird that rises from its ashes to live
  again, represents Montag and his life

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More symbols

• Colors such as red, orange, yellow, black, gray
  FIRE
• Uniforms are orange and black
• River Montags rebirth
• Wars Internal and external
• Snake Unhappiness in society
• Dandelion Love, happiness

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Arent symbols fun??

• Hearth Keeps fire inside, contained, what
  Clarisse is and Montag is later
• Salamander Burning, what firemen are
• Books forbidden knowledge, government control of
  lives

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451 Themes

• Censorship can be dangerous
• Individuality is a good thing
• It is better to have knowledge than be ignorant
• Even when it is difficult, we must stand up for
  what is right

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Random, yet important facts

• Dover Beach, by Matthew Arnold, is a poem about
  knowledge and what the lack of it can do to a
  person
• This ultimately symbolizes Montags quest for
  something different

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How about one more?

• The fact that society is glued to the parlor
  walls during Montags pursuit and capture shows
  how uncaring and unfeeling it really is
• It is also willing to believe anything seen on
  TV. Sound familiar??

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What can you learn from 451?

• Be an individual
• Stand up for what is right
• Question things you dont believe or dont
  understand
• Never stop learning and wanting knowledge
• Never take freedom for granted