Reading Guide

PART THREE  -  Burning Bright

            1. What is the significance of the title of this section of the novel?   (It is from a famous poem…..which one is it from?)   How does it apply to the action of this part of the novel and to Montag?

            2. Summarize the fire at Montag’s house. 

            3. Why was Montag afraid to run?   What happened to him?

            4. What does Beatty discover, and what does he threaten to do?  Why   does Beatty quote the lines from Shakespeare?

            5. What happens to The Hound? 

            6. What did Montag mean by “We never burned right…”?  What kind of burning might he consider to be right?

            7. Montag realized that Beatty wanted to die. What explanation can you give for this?

            8. Why is it appropriate that war is declared at this point in the novel?   How does the war relate to Montag?

            9. How does Montag relate to Faber?   Where is Faber going?

10. What is the new game that the police invented?   Later, what “snap ending” had to be created for the “chase show” on TV?  What is ironic about the search for Montag?

11. What did the river give to Montag?  What fantasy did Montag enjoy as he floated    down the river?

12. How was the fire in the woods different from the fires that Montag was used to?

13. What was the “special silence that was concerned with all over the world?

14. Why is “He screamed!” so significant?

15. Granger welcomes Montag to the group and asks him what he has to offer? What is Montag’s reply?  Why is he worried?

16. Discuss the general plan of the book people.   How do they think of themselves?

17. Discuss the symbolic meaning of “the men all moved their hands, putting out the fire together.”

18. Where was Faber when the bombs hit?   Mildred?

19. What is the importance of the stories told by Granger about his grandfather?

20. Now that the city is destroyed, what does fire stand for?

21. How is the legend of the phoenix related to the story?   What does Granger say they should build?

22. Why did Granger want Montag to lead them back to the city?   How does Granger view Montag?

23. What verse was Montag saving for their arrival in the city?  WHY?

Afterword and CODA

1.      What words describe Bradbury’s feelings about books and writers?

2.      Do you think the two-act play Bradbury describes should have become part of the novel?

3.      Why is it so ironic that Fahrenheit 451 was censored?

4.      What is meant by “digression is the soul of wit”?

5.      To what poem was Bradbury referring in the phrase, “I will not go gently onto a shelf…..”?

            I hope that you enjoyed this novel.   It is on the selected reading list for high school students who plan on going to college.   I will familiarize you with this list as we spend time together in ADVANCED ENGLISH 10.   I believe that this novel should make you think about reading and appreciating quality literature.

            I am sure that you will be reading other books during the summer.   I have mine,  and I will start reading them when I am on vacation sitting on the beach or enjoying nature up north.   You will be surprised at my list.   We can share titles on the first day of school.   Until then, ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR SUMMER!!!!!       GK  

Reading Guide

PART TWO – The Sieve and the Sand

1. What happens when you put sand in a sieve?  What do you think is the meaning and significance of this title?
2. How does Mildred react to Montag’s reading?
3. What did Faber mean when he said, in the park, “I talk the meaning of things”?
4. How do Mildred’s comments and actions show she is never going to understand what Montag is trying to tell her?
5. What THREE things does Faber say are missing from A WORLD WITHOUT BOOKS?
6. Compare books to Caesar’s praetorian guard.
7. Does Faber think that firemen are the only problem?
8. What book does Montag take to Faber?  Why was the Book of Job an appropriate one for Faber to read to Montag?
9. Describe the plan devised by Faber and Montag.
10. What approaching disaster will give intellectuals a chance to be heard?
11. Faber says Beatty “may be one of us”? Do you think it is possible?  Give reasons.
12. Characterize “the ladies”: Mrs. Phelps and Mrs. Bowles.  Why does Bradbury choose to have the women discuss war, children and politics?
13. What did Mildred want Montag to read “Dover Beach”?
14. What is the dual personality of Montag?  How does Beatty make Montag doubt his newly emerging self?
15. After Beatty’s speech at the firehouse, what did Faber tell Montag?
16. What is suspenseful about the end of this section of the book?

READING GUIDE

            These questions are to guide your reading and more importantly, guide our discussion of            the key points of the book.  Write on loose leaf, concise answers for each of the following     questions for the parts of the novel.  

PART ONE – The Hearth and the Salamander

1. Who is Montag?  How does he feel about his job?
2. What metaphor does Bradbury use to describe the burning books?
3. What kinds of powers did Clarisse seem to have immediately over Montag?  What is her life like?  Is she “insane” as she describes herself?
4. How does Mildred pass the time of her life?  What is she like?  Is Montag in love with her?
5. Explain the title of this section of the book.
6. What is the significance / symbolism of the mascot of the fire department?   How does it react to Montag?
7. How do the conversations differ that Montag has with Mildred and with Clarisse?
8. Describe school in the world of Fahrenheit 451.
9. Give three reasons why the firemen might be suspicious of Montag.
10. Summarize the anecdote about the Seattle fireman’s suicide?
11. What do the rule books say about the Firemen of America?
12. What reasons did Beatty give for the burning of the books?
13. What is the effect about the announcement of impending war?
14. Describe the firemen and describe Stoneman and Black.
15. What can you infer about the government when it comes to a national fire department?
16. Summarize the old woman’s fire.   Who does she quote?
17. What has happened to Clarisse?   How does Montag feel about his wife?
18. What is the significance that the smell of kerosene makes Montag sick?
19. There is a whole conversation about books by Beatty.  What is said about BOOKS?
20. What is your reaction to Beatty’s statement that everyone must be alike – not born free and equal BUT made equal?
21. Before Part One in the book there is a quote by Juan Ramon Jimenez – comment on it: “If they give you ruled paper, write the other way.”
22. What is Montag looking for in books?

Pre-Reading Activity

·        On loose-leaf

·        Two paragraphs of 8-10 sentences

1) Go to any website of your choice and do some research on books that have been banned from schools, are on banned lists of books or books that have been censored.   Make a list of at least twelve of these books.   Have you read any of them?   Should they be on this list or censored?   What is your opinion of censorship in general?   Copy the website for the source of your information.

2) When in history have books been burned or destroyed in mass?   What were the circumstances?   What were the results?    What is your favorite book?   What is your least favorite book?   WHY?   Copy the website for the source of your information.

From Honors English 9, some of you might have the handout HOW TO WRITE IN A BOOK.   The new students do not have it.   For everyone, here is a summary of the key points.

“Marking up a book is not an act of mutilation but of love.”  Mortimer J. Adler

1)      Marking a book keeps you alert and aware as a reader.

2)      It makes you an ACTIVE thinking reader.

3)      It helps you to remember the thoughts of the author.

You may HIGHLIGHT the book and do vertical lines along the side of the text.   It is easier than horizontal lines.   Use the following to NOTE a KEY POINT:

·        char – for an important character point

·        k image – for any of the five senses

·        symbol – for something that represents an idea

·        k ev – for a key event of the plot

·        rep – for a significant repeated idea

·        conf  or  ? – for a confusing point that needs clarification

·        rem – this point reminds you of a different book or movie

·        theme – a possible thematic idea

·        wow  or  ! – for a particularly interesting point

·        sum – to summarize a main point

You may also wish to note the following:

• killer quotes / clever phrases
• allusions, metaphors and similes / figures of speech
• setting information
• lighting, weather and seasonal changes
• irony – verbal, situational, dramatic
• literary movements / periods
• examples of the author’s writing style / organization

**** The next blogs will be on QUESTIONS to guide your reading of FARENHEIT 451. ****

You may use any dictionary or web site to get your definitions.   Include the PART OF SPEECH and the DEFINITION.   Sentence assignment will be to select 25 words of your choice…..words that are really new to you and write an original sentence that is: 1) at least seven words long,

2) shows a clear understanding of the word in context 3) underline the vocabulary word, and 

4) you can also use a form of the word with: s, ed, ing, ly. 

Example: The politician always gave a lucid speech.   This is NOT an acceptable sentence.

Using several charts and graphs, the candidate was able to speak lucidly to the group on the environment.

VOCABULARY   —   Fahrenheit 451

pages 3-68

            phoenix                       

salamander                  

olfactory                      

morphine

            ballistics                       

trajectory                     

marionette                   

pulverized

            stratum                        

contrasedative             

proboscis                    

procaine

            abstract                       

proclivities                   

odious                         

centrifuge

            cacophony                   

luminescent                  

radical                         

feigning

            pratfall                         

intellectual                    

theremin                      

pages 71-110

            cadence                       

suffused                       

retaliate                       

romantic

            intuitively                     

insidious                      

welter                          

contemptible

            subaudible                   

ruinous            

quavered                     

manifested

            parried                        

rebut                           

beatific                        

tyranny

            perfunctory                  

phosphorescent

pages 113-165

            incomprehensible         

liquefaction                  

fugitive             

quarry

            phantom                      

limned                         

grotesque                    

juggernaut

            pedants                       

status quo                    

incessant

            I hope that you are enjoying the beginning of summer vacation…..I am.   It feels good to do what I want, when I want to do it.   The only problem is that I do not sleep-in late, yet.   I’m still on “school wake-up time” for around 5:00 AM.   I’m certain that another few days will take care of that.   I will be going up North during the first three weeks of July…..that should be fun and relaxing.

            1)  If at any time you want to send an email, you can do it at the school address:

Kudrong@wy.k12.mi.us     I will answer you ASAP.   You can also let me know how your summer is going along.

2)      Please make sure that NEW students/friends are receiving the BLOGS.

3)      When you go “back to school shopping” please buy a standard three ring binder with five tabs…..but do not mark them yet.   So far they will be:  Grammar & DOL; Vocabulary; Notes; Handouts; Homework / Class Work.

4)      Your NEXT BLOGS are: the vocabulary for Fahrenheit 451 and HOW TO WRITE IN A BOOK.  Questions for the book chapters to guide your reading will follow soon.

Enjoy your summer!   —   GK