Day 53!

1. How does Montag answer Mildred when she asks why she should read? What does their exchange indicate about the differences between them?

2. Although Montag’s country has won “two atomic wars since 2022” (p. 69), the threat of another war grows stronger. What reason does Montag give for the country being hated so much? How might books help Montag’s countrymen relate to peoples of other countries?

3. How does the sieve and the sand analogy apply to Montag?

4. When Montag visits Faber, Faber calls himself a coward. Why? In what way has he acted cowardly?

5. Faber tells Montag; “It’s not books you need, it’s some of the things that once were in books” (p.78). What is it that Montag needs and is searching for?

6. According to Faber, what three things are necessary to the pursuit of happiness? To what degree has Montag gained each of these three factors in his life at this point of the novel?

Day 51!

Review pages 51-65. Then, in a few brief paragraphs on a Google Doc, answer the questions below.

According to Beatty, how did books become the enemy of mankind? What forces contributed to the changes in books and magazines? What role did different minorities have in causing controversy about books? How did the society try to eliminate the controversy and how effective are they in achieving this goal? Ultimately, how do fireman act as "...custodians of our peace of mind" (56)? How did the society end up where they are and what is your reaction to their logic? Use evidence from the book to support your answer. 

When you have finished, please submit your response using this form.

Day 50 Discussion Questions

1.  On page 21, after Montag and Clarisse finish talking, Montag turns his head up into the rain and opens his mouth. What does this suggest about Montag?
2. Why does the mechanical hound growl and threaten Montag?
3. What is the significance of the Phoenix on Beatty's helmet? What about the number 451?
4.  Clarisse says, “I haven’t any friends. That’s supposed to prove I’m abnormal” (27). Is Clarisse abnormal?What does she do that keeps people her own age from relating to her?
5. There is a list of a million forbidden books (31) on the firehouse wall. What type of books are probably on this list, and why?
6.  In a book in the house he has come to burn, Montag reads,“Time has fallen asleep in the afternoon sunshine”  (34). How does this line affect him, and why?
7. What is the difference for Montag during this particular fire call? 
8.  Why does Beatty call books a “Tower of Babel” (35)?
9. Several times throughout the book so far, Montag has mentioned the ventilator grill outside his house. What does he think about each time he looks at or thinks about the grill? 

Day 48!

Discussion Questions :

1. Why does Montag grin with a “fierce grin” (p. 2) before and after he is fighting fires?

2. Describe Clarisse—how does she look and act? How is her face like a candle in the light it gives off?
Give specific details.

3. What is the effect of Clarisse’s questions on Montag? Why do her questions have this effect?

4. Compare Montag’s wife, Mildred, with Clarisse. Are they alike in any way? How are they different?

5. What is Montag’s reaction when he discovers his wife has taken an overdose of sleeping pills? Why does he react this way? Does he love his wife?

6. What is the effect of the wall-sized TVs on Mildred? What kinds of programs are playing on them?

7. Why are Clarisse and Montag fascinated with each other? What do they find attractive; what do they findupsetting about each other?

Fahrenheit 451 Vocabulary

Here are the vocabulary words for today in Fahrenheit 451 (you've already done the first three). Make sure you have the word, part of speech, definition, and an example sentence:

stolid
minstrel
pedestrian
mausoleum
tallow
tamped
pulverize
stratum
contrasedative

olfactory
proboscis
incinerator
pick 2 more as you read 18-38

Words that you chose for pages 18-38: 
peculiar
condemnation
trajectory
procaine
bombarded
flaky
proclivities
rollick
multifaceted
illuminated
staggering

Pages 38-65
Pick 4 words as you read

Day 40!

Good morning! Happy 40th day of school!

To begin class today, please discuss your primary sources notes you took on Friday with a partner.

If you were gone Friday, please read pages 1002-1006 in your text book and complete the notes first.

After that, you will have the rest of the class period to create your own editorial, editorial cartoon, or advertisement poster (see book for definitions if you have forgotten which each thing is).

Your main task is to create a political editorial, editorial cartoon, or advertisement poster about an issue that is happening in the US today. Your  goal is to clearly portray your opinion on the matter in the same fashion that they did in the 1940s, and try to persuade people to think or act the way you do.

You may select any cause that you think is important. This will be due tomorrow. You are welcome to use any materials you need. The supplies are in that back cabinet; help yourselves to what you need, but please clean up after yourselves!