The Tell-Tale Heart
Modern Animation (with the same soundtrack)
The Cask of Amontillado
Modern short animation to go with an older song based on the story
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Fahrenheit 451 - Part One
Before starting the book, we looked at some video clips form the 1950's.
Fahrenheit 451 was published in 1953 - what was life like then?
The clips show that America in the 1950's had a strong focus on suburban family life - citizens were expected to work hard and spend their money on new household technology such as TVs, refrigerators and ovens. America was involved in the Korean War (1950-1953) soon after World War II, so people wanted to have a stable, safe life after all the conflict and killing. There was also a deep suspicion of the USSR and Communism, so Americans wanted to show they were good patriots who supported their country by putting their money back into the economy and following the rules and expectations of the time.
As we move through the book, you should think about this context and the technology of the time, and how it influences Bradbury's writing. It is a good idea to research the 50's yourself, or watch the videos again once you have read more of the book.
Videos
Ford car advert (featuring a suburban housewife)
PART ONE
The Hearth and the Salamander
The first part of the novel is named after two things associated with fire.
A hearth is a fireplace, traditionally the focal point of a family's living room, as shown by the expression "home is where the hearth is".
A salamander is an amphibian which comes in a variety of colours, though one of the best known is the black and yellow/orange fire salamander.
Salamanders can regenerate their tails and limbs if attacked by a predator - the salamander runs away leaving its tail or leg in the predator's mouth and grows a new one. Some salamanders also secrete poison through their skin.
Salamanders were believed to cause fires or be able to survive in fire.
This mythical version of the salamander often appears in fantasy games, anime and other media.
Charmander, I choose you!
The salamander is one of the symbols Montag has on his uniform (on the arm). On p.6 we learn that he also has a phoenix on his chest.
The phoenix was believed to die in flames and be reborn from the ashes.
What does Montag say on p.8 about ashes?
On page 4, Montag thinks about returning to the firehouse as a "minstrel man", referring to entertainers who would paint their faces black. Although this is not acceptable these days, don't forget when the book was written.
WORKSHEETS
Here are the questions we have covered in class. Once we have discussed them, I'll put your ideas together here. This doesn't mean you don't have to prepare your own answers - the information will only go up AFTER you've given your ideas.
Part I: The Hearth and the Salamander
What do the "firemen" do for a living?
They burn books.
In the opening scene, why are the books compared to birds?
As the books burn, they are flapping around in the heat and the pages are blowing around in the hot air. Consider why Bradbury is representing the books as living things.
What attitude does Montag have towards his job? How does it make him feel?
Montag obviously enjoys his job - as he burns the books his heart is pumping, his eyes light up and he grins. (p.3-4) He also feels powerful - "He strode in a swarm of fireflies." (p.3) After he returns to the station, Montag is clearly relaxed, whistling with his hands in his pockets, jumping down the station's pole and "thinking little at all about nothing in particular." (p.4)
Who does Montag meet on the way home?
He meets Clarisse McClellan, a new neighbour who tells him "I'm seventeen and I'm crazy" and says "I'm not afraid of you at all." (p.7)
Why is it ironic that so many people are afraid of firemen?
During his conversation, Montag says that "You never wash it off completely" referring to the kerosene. What could this mean symbolically?
This could mean that Montag always acts and thinks like a fireman, even when he's not working; that being a fireman affects the way you see the world. It could also mean that Montag doesn't want to wash off the smell completely, that he likes and is proud of it. There are other possible meanings.
Why does Montag laugh so often?
Clarisse seems to make Montag feel very uncomfortable and when people feel uneasy, they often laugh to hide their discomfort.
Why are billboards 200 feet long?
Because people drive so fast that they wouldn't be able to read a smaller billboard.
Why do you think that Bradbury would introduce Clarisse before Montag's wife, Mildred?
Montag gets home with the question she asks lingering in his mind. Does what he finds at home have a conection with Clarisse's question, "Are you happy"?
It is possible that Clarisse is a more important character than Mildred. In what way might she be more significant than Montag's wife? Consider this as we move through the story.
The atmosphere when Montag meets Clarisse is quite romantic in a ghostly way - she's pale and wearing a white dress, it's dark, the leaves are falling around her - might Montag have romantic feelings towards Clarisse?
How do the doors work?
There is a kind of glove at the side of the door that Montag puts his hand into and the door opens. It's a hand print reader.
Why are there so many sea images on page 12?
The image of the ocean gives us a sense of the distance between Mildred and Guy. The room seems empty because every night the waves of sound from the little radios carry Mildred away until morning.
What is etched on Montag’s igniter?
His igniter, or lighter, has a salamander on it.
What did Montag hit with his foot?
He hit an empty pill bottle.
What has Montag’s wife done?
She has taken an overdose of sleeping pills.
What are the two machines being used on Montag’s wife? What do they do?
They put a snake-like machine down her throat to clean out her stomach, and another machine gives her fresh blood.
What is the attitude of the men towards Mildred?
The men don't care about Mrs. Montag, they treat her like a machine. They are dressed like workmen and are very informal. As soon as they finish they are ready to move on.
Where does the laughter that Montag hears come from?
It comes from Clarisse's house next door.
How is life in Montag's house very different to that in Clarisse's house?
Montag sees that Clarisse's house is bright and full of life, the family are talking. When Montag returned home his house was dark and silent.
Explain Montag’s toaster. What does it do?
It makes the toast and then a hand like a spider takes the toast, puts butter on it and holds it out for Montag.
What did Mildred have in her ears?
Tiny little radios like thimbles
It makes the toast and then a hand like a spider takes the toast, puts butter on it and holds it out for Montag.
What did Mildred have in her ears?
Tiny little radios like thimbles
What did Mildred remember of the night before? Or what did she pretend to remember?
She doesn't appear to remember anything, or perhaps she is just denying it.
What kind of program is Mildred going to watch in the afternoon?
An interactive TV drama.
Explain Montag’s television. What does Mildred want for the television that Montag claims they cannot afford?
The TV screens take up one entire wall each. At the moment, they have 3 screens, so 3 walls of the room are TV screens, and Mildred wants a screen for the other wall so she can have the TV all around her. However, Guy thinks it is too expensive.
What does Clarisse rub under her chin? Why?
A dandelion. She says that if it makes your chin yellow, you are in love. Her chin becomes yellow, but Montag's does not. He realizes the truth of this - that he doesn't really love anyone.
What does Clarisse’s psychiatrist want to know?
Why she goes out and hikes around in the forests and watches butterflies.
According to Clarisse, how is Montag “not like the others”?
Because when she talks, he looks at her and actually listens. The other firemen would not do that.
Describe the Mechanical Hound.
She doesn't appear to remember anything, or perhaps she is just denying it.
What kind of program is Mildred going to watch in the afternoon?
An interactive TV drama.
Explain Montag’s television. What does Mildred want for the television that Montag claims they cannot afford?
The TV screens take up one entire wall each. At the moment, they have 3 screens, so 3 walls of the room are TV screens, and Mildred wants a screen for the other wall so she can have the TV all around her. However, Guy thinks it is too expensive.
What does Clarisse rub under her chin? Why?
A dandelion. She says that if it makes your chin yellow, you are in love. Her chin becomes yellow, but Montag's does not. He realizes the truth of this - that he doesn't really love anyone.
What does Clarisse’s psychiatrist want to know?
Why she goes out and hikes around in the forests and watches butterflies.
According to Clarisse, how is Montag “not like the others”?
Because when she talks, he looks at her and actually listens. The other firemen would not do that.
Describe the Mechanical Hound.
Here are some 'visual interpretations' of the Mechanical Hound.
How close are they to your image of the machine?
What do the firemen bet on on dull nights?
They bet on how long it will take the hound to catch and kill small animals.
What happens when Montag touches the muzzle of the Mechanical Hound?
It growls and extends its needle, which makes him feel threatened.
How did Montag escape the Hound and get to the upper level of the firehouse?
He grabbed hold of the pole and it automatically lifted him upstairs.
What is Montag’s theory on why the Hound reacted the way it did?
He thinks that someone programed it to react aggressively towards him.
How many times before had the Hound reacted this way toward Montag?
"Last month it happened twice."
Why has Montag never had any children?
He says Mildred never wanted any.
What is different about Montag’s laugh?
It sounds much more relaxed that it did before.
Explain a school day in the world of Fahrenheit 451.
At school, the students are kept busy and just listen and copy down answers. School is only for indoctrinating the students; they never have to think for themselves. Subjects include sports, transcription history and painting. The 'teacher' is on film, telling the students answers without them asking questions.
Why does Clarisse find it odd that people find her to be antisocial?
She thinks it is weird because she is always trying to talk to people, but her topics are not the sort of topics people talk about anymore, so people don't like her.
Name one thing that Clarisse talks about that is different today than in the past.
She says her uncle can remember a time when children didn't used to kill each other.
These days young people go to special theme parks or game centres where they can bully people, smash cars and break windows. The also race cars and play chicken. Chicken involves driving at each other or towards a cliff, and seeing who 'chickens out' first.
What did the radio in the firehouse say?
It said that war was imminent.
What happens to people that try to fool the government?
They get locked up in asylums.
Why was Montag foolish to use the phrase “Once upon a time”?
This phrase comes from fairy stories, so Beatty knew that Montag must have read it in a book. At the last book burning, he had looked at one line from a book.
What is the history of Firemen of America?
The invented history is that the firemen were established in 1790 to burn English-influenced books in America.
How is the fire engine described?
It's described as an orange dragon.
What was different at Mrs. Hudson’s? What did Montag not like about the way things were being done?
Usually, the police go to a house before the firemen and arrest the people in the house. Because they are taken away first, Montag thinks they are not hurting anyone, just clearing up things. This time, the police didn't go first, so the woman was still there. Montag felt irritated and embarrassed because he felt that she was spoiling the usual ritual and he felt guilty about the way the firemen were behaving.
What does Montag do with the book that lands in his hand?
He put it under his arm to hide it. He felt as if his hand did it by itself.
What does Beatty say to Mrs. Hudson about the books?
He said that the people in the books were not real and that none of the books agreed with each other. Beatty talks about what is in the books - he seems to know more about literature than the other firemen.
Who started the fire at Mrs. Hudson’s house?
Mrs Hudson was holding a match and she let it drop onto the kerosene, so she started the fire herself. This is an important scene in the novel, and you can watch the same scene from the movie version of F451 here.
What piece of information does Beatty share with Montag that refers back to something Mrs. Hudson had said?
He describes where the quote that Mrs Hudson had said came from. This illustrates the depth of Beatty's knowledge. The quote was originally said by a man who was burned for what he believed (in his case, religious beliefs).
What question does Montag ask his wife when he finally talks to her?
He asks her where and when they first met. Neither of them could remember.
What does Montag cry about?
About the emptiness of his life.
What does Montag notice about the television shows?
He realizes that there is no actual story to any of the TV shows.
What does Mildred say about Clarisse to Montag?
She says that Clarisse's family has moved away because Clarisse has been killed in a traffic accident.
What did Montag imagine being outside his window?
He imagined the Mechanical Hound outside his window. Was it really there? We don't know, but Montag seems convinced that it knows his secrets.
What excuse is Montag trying to use to avoid going to work?
He says that he is sick. He has chills and a fever, which may be manifestations of his own conscience weighing upon him.
Why does Montag not want to go to work anymore? What are some revelations he has had?
Montag has realized that he is dissatisfied with his work, his marriage and his life. Mrs Hudson's willingness to die with her beloved books has emphasized the fact that Montag has nothing that he cares deeply about and that his job involves the destruction of people and their thoughts and ideas. He is now convinced that there must be something meaningful in books; meaningfulful enough to die for.
Who comes to visit Montag?
Captain Beatty comes to his house to talk to him.
What does Mildred find behind Montag’s pillow?
She finds the book that he had hidden the night before as she tries to adjust his pillow.
What word became a swear word?
The word "intellectual" has become a swear word because if people have too much knowledge, (a) they think too much and become depressed, and (b) they make others who are less intelligent feel stupid, which leads to inequality and social unrest.
Why does society lower the kindergarten age year after year?
It was noticed that although society tried to educate children in one way, the childrens' families might undo the work of the schools, so it became important to try to start educating the children as early as possible to make sure they were educated in the "correct" way.
According to Captain Beatty, if you don’t want a man unhappy politically, what do you do?
Beatty says that you shouldn't give people too many choices otherwise they just worry. Better to give people only one choice or even no choice at all. Notice that Beatty uses the word "man" here rather than "people". This kind of use of language would be considered sexist by many people nowadays.
What does Beatty say about firemen taking books?
He says that some firemen become curious about books and take one to read. A fireman who does this is allowed to keep the book for 24 hours. If he hasn't handed it in by then, the other firemen will come and burn it (and the rest of his house) for him.
According to Clarisse’s uncle, why did the architects get rid of front porches?
Front porches were places where people used to relax, think about various things and chat to each other. Society didn't want people to do things like that, so they stopped people having porches.
What did the radio in the firehouse say?
It said that war was imminent.
What happens to people that try to fool the government?
They get locked up in asylums.
Why was Montag foolish to use the phrase “Once upon a time”?
This phrase comes from fairy stories, so Beatty knew that Montag must have read it in a book. At the last book burning, he had looked at one line from a book.
What is the history of Firemen of America?
The invented history is that the firemen were established in 1790 to burn English-influenced books in America.
How is the fire engine described?
It's described as an orange dragon.
What was different at Mrs. Hudson’s? What did Montag not like about the way things were being done?
Usually, the police go to a house before the firemen and arrest the people in the house. Because they are taken away first, Montag thinks they are not hurting anyone, just clearing up things. This time, the police didn't go first, so the woman was still there. Montag felt irritated and embarrassed because he felt that she was spoiling the usual ritual and he felt guilty about the way the firemen were behaving.
What does Montag do with the book that lands in his hand?
He put it under his arm to hide it. He felt as if his hand did it by itself.
What does Beatty say to Mrs. Hudson about the books?
He said that the people in the books were not real and that none of the books agreed with each other. Beatty talks about what is in the books - he seems to know more about literature than the other firemen.
Who started the fire at Mrs. Hudson’s house?
Mrs Hudson was holding a match and she let it drop onto the kerosene, so she started the fire herself. This is an important scene in the novel, and you can watch the same scene from the movie version of F451 here.
What piece of information does Beatty share with Montag that refers back to something Mrs. Hudson had said?
He describes where the quote that Mrs Hudson had said came from. This illustrates the depth of Beatty's knowledge. The quote was originally said by a man who was burned for what he believed (in his case, religious beliefs).
What question does Montag ask his wife when he finally talks to her?
He asks her where and when they first met. Neither of them could remember.
What does Montag cry about?
About the emptiness of his life.
What does Montag notice about the television shows?
He realizes that there is no actual story to any of the TV shows.
What does Mildred say about Clarisse to Montag?
She says that Clarisse's family has moved away because Clarisse has been killed in a traffic accident.
What did Montag imagine being outside his window?
He imagined the Mechanical Hound outside his window. Was it really there? We don't know, but Montag seems convinced that it knows his secrets.
What excuse is Montag trying to use to avoid going to work?
He says that he is sick. He has chills and a fever, which may be manifestations of his own conscience weighing upon him.
Why does Montag not want to go to work anymore? What are some revelations he has had?
Montag has realized that he is dissatisfied with his work, his marriage and his life. Mrs Hudson's willingness to die with her beloved books has emphasized the fact that Montag has nothing that he cares deeply about and that his job involves the destruction of people and their thoughts and ideas. He is now convinced that there must be something meaningful in books; meaningfulful enough to die for.
Who comes to visit Montag?
Captain Beatty comes to his house to talk to him.
What does Mildred find behind Montag’s pillow?
She finds the book that he had hidden the night before as she tries to adjust his pillow.
What word became a swear word?
The word "intellectual" has become a swear word because if people have too much knowledge, (a) they think too much and become depressed, and (b) they make others who are less intelligent feel stupid, which leads to inequality and social unrest.
Why does society lower the kindergarten age year after year?
It was noticed that although society tried to educate children in one way, the childrens' families might undo the work of the schools, so it became important to try to start educating the children as early as possible to make sure they were educated in the "correct" way.
According to Captain Beatty, if you don’t want a man unhappy politically, what do you do?
Beatty says that you shouldn't give people too many choices otherwise they just worry. Better to give people only one choice or even no choice at all. Notice that Beatty uses the word "man" here rather than "people". This kind of use of language would be considered sexist by many people nowadays.
What does Beatty say about firemen taking books?
He says that some firemen become curious about books and take one to read. A fireman who does this is allowed to keep the book for 24 hours. If he hasn't handed it in by then, the other firemen will come and burn it (and the rest of his house) for him.
According to Clarisse’s uncle, why did the architects get rid of front porches?
Front porches were places where people used to relax, think about various things and chat to each other. Society didn't want people to do things like that, so they stopped people having porches.
About how many books had Montag hidden in the ventilator?
About 20 books.
What happens right before Montag and Mildred begin to read the books?
Just before they start, the front door calls them to say there is someone at the door. They assume it is Beatty who has returned.
NB
There is one very important point that Beatty mentions when he is talking to Montag. The government did not ban books at first. Photography, film and television made it possible to present ideas in an easy way, so people stopped buying books. In addition, there were so many people who were offended by things written in books that people stopped buying books altogether. The government then started burning books to "protect" people. As we have seen, there are many people today who feel offended by books and want to ban them. In fact, some people even want to ban Fahrenheit 451 because they are offended by it. Watch a video news report here.
Fahrenheit 451 - Part Two
Montag and Mildred think someone is at the door. Why doesn’t the door-voice tell them if someone is there?
Because Montag had turned it off before they started reading the books.
What does Mildred think is at the door? What is at the door?
Mildred thinks it is a dog that is at the door. In fact it is the Mechanical Hound which is tracking Montag.
What is Montag talking about when he says he saw a snake?
He is talking about the time when Mildred took an overdose and the men came with a machine to pump her stomach. Montag sees the snake as a symbol of Mildred's deep depression that she is trying to deny. That is why he feels they should read books - they might have the answer to what is missing in their lives and why they feel so empty.
What is a rumor Montag has heard?
He has heard a rumor that while their country (America although this is never stated) is rich and people have so much leisure time they are "entertained" out of their minds, the rest of the world is working hard and starving, perhaps exploited to make rich countries richer and thus the rest of the world hates America. This situation of rich versus poor exists in the world today and it also existed at the time Bradbury was writing his novel. It is interesting that he felt it might continue to exist in the future.
What does Montag remember when he is wondering where to get a teacher?
He remembers meeting a man in a park a year ago and he realizes that he has been thinking about that incident a lot recently. We noticed that too on page 10 and page 34. Perhaps his unconscious mind has been leading him towards Faber.
Who is the English Professor?
He is Professor Faber, who used to teach English at a college. Bradbury named the character after a publishing company (Faber & Faber) and a brand of pencils - both things related to the written word.
Why did the last liberal arts college shut down?
It closed because there were no students and no one was giving it money. This is an important point: the government didn't ban liberal art colleges; people lost interest and stopped studying things like literature because they thought it was boring.
When Faber was about to leave Montag, he said some things. What did Montag think he was reciting?
Montag thought he was reciting a poem.
What does Faber mean by “I don’t talk things, sir. I talk the meaning of things. I sit here and know I’m alive” (p75)?
In Montag's world, people are very superficial; they don't think or talk deeply about anything, and seem to even be scared to do so. Faber, on the other hand, thinks very deeply about everything and what those things mean about us and society as a whole.
What does Faber give Montag at the end of their meeting?
At the end of their first meeting in the park, Faber gave Montag his name and address on a piece of paper and handed it to Montag. Perhaps because Montag didn't arrest him, Faber felt Montag had similar feelings about society and they might meet again.
What are some of the books that Montag asks Faber about?
Montag asks Faber about the Bible, Shakespeare and Plato. All classic pieces of literature and among the most important works in Western culture.
Why is Faber afraid to answer?
Faber thinks Montag is trying to trap him by getting him to admit that he has some copies of these books. In this world, people like Faber have to be very careful who they talk to and what they say, or else they might be arrested and have their house burned down.
Why is Mildred excited?
Mildred gets excited when her friend Ann calls and arranges to come over to watch TV together. Mildred is very relieved to stop thinking about the books they are reading and get back to the TV, something that she knows well and is comfortable with.
What is the name of the show that Mildred plans to watch?
It is called the White Clown. Clowns are usually associated with children, and by choosing this example Bradbury shows us that in Montag's world, adults have become like children in terms of the entertainment they like. There is no thinking involved, just mindess entertainment. Compare this to many of the shows on TV in Japan and other countries today...
What question does Montag ask Mildred?
He asks her if the White Clown loves her. The entertainment Mildred chooses is superficial and meaningless, but the books Montag has read make him feel something. However, while Montag engaged with Clarisse's question about love, Mildred dismisses him as stupid.
While Montag is on the train what does he remember about when he was a child?
He remembers trying to fill a sieve with sand at the beach after his cousin promised him money is he could do it. It was an impossible task. This is a metaphor for the knowledge that he is trying to retain (the sand) and his inability to retain it (the sand pouring through the sieve).
Why is he trying to remember the Bible?
He wants to remember it and then rewrite it so he can hand it back to Beatty. Of course, this is an impossible task and illustrates one reason that books are so vital: to pass on more knowledge that any one person can remember.
What is causing Montag to have a difficult time reading the Bible?
He can't concentrate in the subway because of the very loud and repetitive toothpaste advert playing in the train. This is so common that the other people in the train don't even notice that they are tapping their feet in time to the advert and mouthing the words. Notice the contrast here between the bible (full of meaning) and the meaningless advert which is forcing itself into his mind and forcing the bible out.
How does Montag begin to behave? What is the reaction from the other riders?
He starts toget angry and stand up and shout with the book in his hands. The other passengers recoil in horror.
Whom does Montag visit?
He visits Professor Faber.
How is Professor Faber described?
He is described as being very old and frail and delicate.
According to Faber, what does Jesus do on the parlor walls?
Faber says that Jesus is now in the parlor TV and is used to advertize products.
According to Faber, why is he a coward?
Because when the colleges were closing and books were disappearing and people were becoming more and more simple, he could see how things were moving but he did nothing about it.
What are the three qualities that Faber says are needed?
Montag says that he feels there is something missing in life and he thinks books might give him the answer. Faber says that he is right, but there are three things missing in life in their society:
First, the quality of information - in their world, the TV and other information is very superficial, it has no quality.
Second, leisure time - Although people have lots of leisure time in their world, they fill it up with things to distract them, so they don't have time to just think.
Third, the freedom to do what we want to do after we get high quality information and have time to think about it.
What idea did Montag have?
Montag thinks they should get a printing press and print extra copies of books.
What is Faber’s reaction to Montag’s idea?
Faber doesn't want to listen, because he knows that if they printed books, they would be arrested or killed.
What idea does Faber suggest to Montag about printing extra copies?
He suggests that the only way to be successful would be to print extra copied of books and then put them in the houses of firemen so that the firemen wouldn't know who to trust. This might lead to the collapse of the whole organization of firemen.
What does Montag do to the Bible to try to get Faber to agree to help?
He starts tearing pages out of the bible. Faber is horrified and agrees to help. Of course, he probably wanted to help anyway, but his natural cowardice held him back.
What does Faber give Montag to help him out with his meeting with Beatty?
He gives him a seashell radio that is a microphone as well as a speaker. This way, Faber can speak to Montag and hear what he is doing and what he says.
Describe the bank.
The bank is open 24 hours a day and has robot staff. Remember, in the 1950s there were no ATMs and banks were very old-fashioned offices.
Describe the show that Mildred and her friends are watching?
The show has no continuity. It jumps from one thing to the next at high speed and instead of a plot or story, the emphasis is on color, noise, action and violence. At one point 3 clowns chop each other up while people laugh and then car crashes are shown in graphic detail. This is exactly what Faber meant when he talked about a lack of "quality"; this show is pointless.
What does Montag do to the parlor walls?
He pulled out the plug.
What questions does he ask?
He asks about their husbands and their children.
What happened to Gloria’s husband?
He killed himself by jumping off a building.
How did Mrs. Bowles have two children?
She had them by Caesarian section. Although this is common today for women who may have problems during childbirth, the fact that she chose to have them this way reflects her lack of interest in her children and her family; she chose the easiest way to get it over with.
What were Mrs. Bowles’s reasons for having children?
Just to help to continue the population. She didn't really want them personally.
Describe Mrs. Bowles’s way of parenting.
She puts them in bording school most of the time and when they are not at school, she puts them in front of the TV and leaves them there. She shows no love towards her children.
How did the women vote? What did they use for criteria when voting for president?
They voted for the incumbent (the man who is already President). They thought he was the nicest looking candidate. The fact that the other candidate seemed ugly and couldn't speak clearly hints that the media is tightly controlled by the existing President and is purposely showing the other candidate to be a less attractive choice.
What does Montag do after he can’t take the women anymore?
He goes and gets a book to read to them.
What is the name of the poem Montag reads?
It is a poem called "Dover Beach" which expresses the poets deep feelings while looking at the sea and landscape.
What is Mrs. Phelps’s reaction to the poem?
She starts to cry.
What does Montag do with the book after he has read the poem?
He takes it to the incinerator and burns it.
What does Beatty say when he sees Montag in the firehouse?
He calles him a fool, but says that he was sensible to come back and welcomes him back to work.
According to Beatty, why does he quote from the books that Montag clings to?
He wants to show Montag how books are very contradictory, so they cannot be relied on to give him the answers he is looking for.
What house do the firemen go to?
They go to Montag's house.
Because Montag had turned it off before they started reading the books.
What does Mildred think is at the door? What is at the door?
Mildred thinks it is a dog that is at the door. In fact it is the Mechanical Hound which is tracking Montag.
What is Montag talking about when he says he saw a snake?
He is talking about the time when Mildred took an overdose and the men came with a machine to pump her stomach. Montag sees the snake as a symbol of Mildred's deep depression that she is trying to deny. That is why he feels they should read books - they might have the answer to what is missing in their lives and why they feel so empty.
What is a rumor Montag has heard?
He has heard a rumor that while their country (America although this is never stated) is rich and people have so much leisure time they are "entertained" out of their minds, the rest of the world is working hard and starving, perhaps exploited to make rich countries richer and thus the rest of the world hates America. This situation of rich versus poor exists in the world today and it also existed at the time Bradbury was writing his novel. It is interesting that he felt it might continue to exist in the future.
What does Montag remember when he is wondering where to get a teacher?
He remembers meeting a man in a park a year ago and he realizes that he has been thinking about that incident a lot recently. We noticed that too on page 10 and page 34. Perhaps his unconscious mind has been leading him towards Faber.
Who is the English Professor?
He is Professor Faber, who used to teach English at a college. Bradbury named the character after a publishing company (Faber & Faber) and a brand of pencils - both things related to the written word.
Why did the last liberal arts college shut down?
It closed because there were no students and no one was giving it money. This is an important point: the government didn't ban liberal art colleges; people lost interest and stopped studying things like literature because they thought it was boring.
When Faber was about to leave Montag, he said some things. What did Montag think he was reciting?
Montag thought he was reciting a poem.
What does Faber mean by “I don’t talk things, sir. I talk the meaning of things. I sit here and know I’m alive” (p75)?
In Montag's world, people are very superficial; they don't think or talk deeply about anything, and seem to even be scared to do so. Faber, on the other hand, thinks very deeply about everything and what those things mean about us and society as a whole.
What does Faber give Montag at the end of their meeting?
At the end of their first meeting in the park, Faber gave Montag his name and address on a piece of paper and handed it to Montag. Perhaps because Montag didn't arrest him, Faber felt Montag had similar feelings about society and they might meet again.
What are some of the books that Montag asks Faber about?
Montag asks Faber about the Bible, Shakespeare and Plato. All classic pieces of literature and among the most important works in Western culture.
Why is Faber afraid to answer?
Faber thinks Montag is trying to trap him by getting him to admit that he has some copies of these books. In this world, people like Faber have to be very careful who they talk to and what they say, or else they might be arrested and have their house burned down.
Why is Mildred excited?
Mildred gets excited when her friend Ann calls and arranges to come over to watch TV together. Mildred is very relieved to stop thinking about the books they are reading and get back to the TV, something that she knows well and is comfortable with.
What is the name of the show that Mildred plans to watch?
It is called the White Clown. Clowns are usually associated with children, and by choosing this example Bradbury shows us that in Montag's world, adults have become like children in terms of the entertainment they like. There is no thinking involved, just mindess entertainment. Compare this to many of the shows on TV in Japan and other countries today...
What question does Montag ask Mildred?
He asks her if the White Clown loves her. The entertainment Mildred chooses is superficial and meaningless, but the books Montag has read make him feel something. However, while Montag engaged with Clarisse's question about love, Mildred dismisses him as stupid.
While Montag is on the train what does he remember about when he was a child?
He remembers trying to fill a sieve with sand at the beach after his cousin promised him money is he could do it. It was an impossible task. This is a metaphor for the knowledge that he is trying to retain (the sand) and his inability to retain it (the sand pouring through the sieve).
Why is he trying to remember the Bible?
He wants to remember it and then rewrite it so he can hand it back to Beatty. Of course, this is an impossible task and illustrates one reason that books are so vital: to pass on more knowledge that any one person can remember.
What is causing Montag to have a difficult time reading the Bible?
He can't concentrate in the subway because of the very loud and repetitive toothpaste advert playing in the train. This is so common that the other people in the train don't even notice that they are tapping their feet in time to the advert and mouthing the words. Notice the contrast here between the bible (full of meaning) and the meaningless advert which is forcing itself into his mind and forcing the bible out.
How does Montag begin to behave? What is the reaction from the other riders?
He starts toget angry and stand up and shout with the book in his hands. The other passengers recoil in horror.
Whom does Montag visit?
He visits Professor Faber.
How is Professor Faber described?
He is described as being very old and frail and delicate.
According to Faber, what does Jesus do on the parlor walls?
Faber says that Jesus is now in the parlor TV and is used to advertize products.
According to Faber, why is he a coward?
Because when the colleges were closing and books were disappearing and people were becoming more and more simple, he could see how things were moving but he did nothing about it.
What are the three qualities that Faber says are needed?
Montag says that he feels there is something missing in life and he thinks books might give him the answer. Faber says that he is right, but there are three things missing in life in their society:
First, the quality of information - in their world, the TV and other information is very superficial, it has no quality.
Second, leisure time - Although people have lots of leisure time in their world, they fill it up with things to distract them, so they don't have time to just think.
Third, the freedom to do what we want to do after we get high quality information and have time to think about it.
What idea did Montag have?
Montag thinks they should get a printing press and print extra copies of books.
What is Faber’s reaction to Montag’s idea?
Faber doesn't want to listen, because he knows that if they printed books, they would be arrested or killed.
What idea does Faber suggest to Montag about printing extra copies?
He suggests that the only way to be successful would be to print extra copied of books and then put them in the houses of firemen so that the firemen wouldn't know who to trust. This might lead to the collapse of the whole organization of firemen.
What does Montag do to the Bible to try to get Faber to agree to help?
He starts tearing pages out of the bible. Faber is horrified and agrees to help. Of course, he probably wanted to help anyway, but his natural cowardice held him back.
What does Faber give Montag to help him out with his meeting with Beatty?
He gives him a seashell radio that is a microphone as well as a speaker. This way, Faber can speak to Montag and hear what he is doing and what he says.
Describe the bank.
The bank is open 24 hours a day and has robot staff. Remember, in the 1950s there were no ATMs and banks were very old-fashioned offices.
Describe the show that Mildred and her friends are watching?
The show has no continuity. It jumps from one thing to the next at high speed and instead of a plot or story, the emphasis is on color, noise, action and violence. At one point 3 clowns chop each other up while people laugh and then car crashes are shown in graphic detail. This is exactly what Faber meant when he talked about a lack of "quality"; this show is pointless.
What does Montag do to the parlor walls?
He pulled out the plug.
What questions does he ask?
He asks about their husbands and their children.
What happened to Gloria’s husband?
He killed himself by jumping off a building.
How did Mrs. Bowles have two children?
She had them by Caesarian section. Although this is common today for women who may have problems during childbirth, the fact that she chose to have them this way reflects her lack of interest in her children and her family; she chose the easiest way to get it over with.
What were Mrs. Bowles’s reasons for having children?
Just to help to continue the population. She didn't really want them personally.
Describe Mrs. Bowles’s way of parenting.
She puts them in bording school most of the time and when they are not at school, she puts them in front of the TV and leaves them there. She shows no love towards her children.
How did the women vote? What did they use for criteria when voting for president?
They voted for the incumbent (the man who is already President). They thought he was the nicest looking candidate. The fact that the other candidate seemed ugly and couldn't speak clearly hints that the media is tightly controlled by the existing President and is purposely showing the other candidate to be a less attractive choice.
What does Montag do after he can’t take the women anymore?
He goes and gets a book to read to them.
What is the name of the poem Montag reads?
It is a poem called "Dover Beach" which expresses the poets deep feelings while looking at the sea and landscape.
What is Mrs. Phelps’s reaction to the poem?
She starts to cry.
What does Montag do with the book after he has read the poem?
He takes it to the incinerator and burns it.
What does Beatty say when he sees Montag in the firehouse?
He calles him a fool, but says that he was sensible to come back and welcomes him back to work.
According to Beatty, why does he quote from the books that Montag clings to?
He wants to show Montag how books are very contradictory, so they cannot be relied on to give him the answers he is looking for.
What house do the firemen go to?
They go to Montag's house.
Fahrenheit 451 - Part Three
Part Three: Burning Bright
What hint does Captain Beatty say he sent to Montag that he must not have picked up on?
Beatty sent the Mechanical Hound to Montag's house as a hint that he was watching him.
What does Mildred have in her hand when she walks out of the house?
She has her suitcase in her hand and she gets into a taxi and drives off.
What does Montag suspect Mildred of doing?
He suspects that she called the fire department.
What does Beatty say is the real beauty of fire?
He says that fire erases all worries and responsibilities.
Instead of using kerosene, Captain Beatty wants Montag to use what to burn down his house?
He wants him to use the flamethrower like the one above. This is much more personal, because Montag has to go from room to room burning each item in turn rather than destroying the house all at once with kerosene.
How does Montag figure the books got back into the house?
He thinks Mildred must have found them in the garden and put them back in the house.
What does Beatty say to Montag as he is finishing burning the house?
He tells him that he is under arrest.
Who called in the alarm?
Mildred's friends called in an alarm, but Beatty says they ignored it. Then Mildred called in and they decided to act on that one.
What did Beatty do to Montag?
Beatty started talking to Montag, who wasn't responding because he was listening to Faber speaking to him via the "green bullet", so Beatty hit him on the head.
What happened to the “green bullet” radio that Faber gave to Montag?
When Beatty hit Montag, it flew out of his ear and landed on the ground. Beatty picked it up and listened to it and he could hear Faber speaking to Montag.
What does Beatty say he will do with the radio?
He said he would use it to track down Faber.
What did Montag do to Beatty?
Beatty goads Montag and insults him. Eventually, it is too much for Montag and he pulls the trigger and fires the flamethrower at Beatty, killing him.
What was the reaction of the other two firemen?
They don't react at all. They are absolutely stunned by what has just happened. Montag thumps them over the head with the flamethrower and knocks them unconscious.
Explain Montag’s dealing with the Hound.
The hound leaps at Montag and he fires the flamethrower at it. The flames destroy the robot, but it still manages to stab him slightly with its needle, injecting some poison into his leg.
What happens to Montag as he leaving the Hound?
He steps back from the Hound, but he steps onto the road. Suddenly, a car races by, hitting him on the knee and knocking him down.
Why was Montag having a hard time getting away?
With the poison in his leg and the injury caused by the car, his leg is very painful. He can't walk properly on it.
What does Montag find in his old garden?
He finds some books that Mildred must not have noticed.
Montag thinks to himself that Captain Beatty probably wanted to do what?
Montag becomes convinced that Beatty wanted to die. He feels that Beatty pushed and bullied him so hard that he wanted Montag to kill him.
Why is Montag having a difficult time getting up?
His leg still hurts, but also he is filled with emotion about what he has done. Eventually, he talks to himself and manages to move.
What does Montag hear in the Seashell?
Montag puts the regular seashell in his ear and hears the police report about himself. The police have issued an alert to everyone to look out for him.
To where does Montag realize he is running?
Montag realizes that he is unconsciously running towards Faber's house.
Why was Montag having such a difficult time getting across the street?
The street that he is trying to cross is 10 lanes wide, and as he is trying to cross, some teenagers in a car are trying to run him down. Again, we see the heartless, uncaring people that teenagers have become. They don't even know who Montag is; they just want to hit him for fun.
After Montag makes it across the street, from whom does he hide?
He hides from the teenagers in the car. They missed him the first time, and have come back to try to hit him again. Once they realize he is gone, they drive off. Montag wonders if they are the people who killed Clarisse.
What does Montag do to the Black family?
Black is one of the other firemen. To start carrying out his plan that he discussed with Faber, Montag sneaks into Black's house and plants one of the books he carried from his own garden. Then he goes outside and calls in the alarm. Once he hears the Salamander coming, he leaves.
What does Faber say there are a lot of along the railroad tracks?
A lot of "Harvard degrees." Faber means that there are a lot of educated people living outside the city in the countryside. They have been driven there because they were hunted by the police, or just to escape life in the city where so many things are censored.
Where does Faber say he is going? Why is he going there?
Faber says he is going to take the bus to St Louis to visit a retired printer that he knows there. He is going to start on their plan of printing books to plant them in firemen's houses.
What has been brought from a different district to track down Montag?
Another Mechanical Hound.
Why does Montag tell Faber to burn the bed spread and the chair?
The Hound tracks people by scent, so he tells Faber to burn them to destroy his scent. He is worried that the Hound will attack Faber and then continue after him.
Why doesn’t Faber give Montag another “green bullet”?
Because he doesn't have another one.
What does Montag watch on the parlor walls?
Montag watches the hound chasing him. He is fascinated by the chase but finally tears himself away and heads to the river.
What do the police suggest everyone do at the same time?
They ask everyone to stand up and look out their windows to try to spot Montag. Montag is amazed that the police haven't tried this idea before. In this world, people are so conditioned to obeying authority, that they all do as they are told. Would this work in our society today?
What did Montag do when he got to the river?
He changed into Faber's old clothes and threw his own clothes into the river to try to disguise his scent and hide himself from the hound.
Because the __________ wouldn’t stop burning, Montag would.
Sun. Montag thinks a lot as he drifts down the river. He thinks about the sun and the way that it rises ad sets every day. The days of our lives disappear and it's as if they are eaten up by the sun as it rises and sets. He realises that if the firemen burn things and the sun burns time, then that means everything is gone. He decides then that he will never burn things again.
What does Montag think of when he smells the hay?
He is reminded of an idyllic trip to the countryside when he was a boy.
What did Montag think was looking at him?
He thought it was the Hound.
What was it that was looking at him?
Montag is still paranoid and terrified of being caught by the Hound, but it's only a deer which feels just as scared as him and runs away. The deer is a good contrast to the Hound - one of them artificial and destructive, the other natural and gentle.
What did Montag hit with his foot?
He wanders through the woods and finally hits the railroad.
What was the single fact that Montag could not prove?
He is convinced Clarisse has been there, although he has no evidence for it.
What does Montag see?
He sees a fire through the trees, but this is a very different kind of fire than he is used to. It is warming, and welcoming. Montag has only ever seen fire as destructive.
What do the men offer Montag?
When he sits down, they offer him some coffee in a collapsible tin cup.
What is the name of the man that is talking to Montag?
His name is Granger.
What is the colorless fluid in the small bottle supposed to do?
It is a chemical that will quickly change his scent so that the hound can't track him.
Why is the chase still going on if they have lost Montag?
In this world, the authorities control society tightly. If people thought they were stupid or imcompetent, they wouldn't be able to control the public so well. Once they have started the chase, they must appear to catch him or it would send the message to everyone that the police aren't infallible, so they continue the chase until they catch "Montag".
What does Montag see in the portable viewer?
He watches the chase being filmed from a police helicopter. This is exactly like we see on TV nowadays. Look at this example.
How was it possible that not even Montag’s friends would recognize that the man they caught wasn’t him?
When the police finally caught someone, they made sure that the cameras did not focus on the person's face so that people would not know that it was not Montag.
Where is Montag keeping the Book of Ecclesiastes?
He is keeping it in his head. He tells Granger that he doesn't think he can remember it all, but Granger says that they have developed techniques to help him remember.
What does Granger think their job is?
Granger says that all the people in the woods are just receptacles for the knowledge in the books. They are like human libraries and they just carry the knowledge until it is needed again.
How does Montag feel about Mildred still being in the city?
He feels sad. It is interesting that Montag still has some feelings for Mildred.
What does Montag see happening in the city?
Bombers fly over the city and drop at least one enormous nuclear bomb on the city, destroying it completely. The city is literally reduced to dust.
What other book does Montag realize he has remembered?
What does Granger compare man to?
What kind of factory does Granger say they are going to build?
What hint does Captain Beatty say he sent to Montag that he must not have picked up on?
Beatty sent the Mechanical Hound to Montag's house as a hint that he was watching him.
What does Mildred have in her hand when she walks out of the house?
She has her suitcase in her hand and she gets into a taxi and drives off.
What does Montag suspect Mildred of doing?
He suspects that she called the fire department.
What does Beatty say is the real beauty of fire?
He says that fire erases all worries and responsibilities.
Instead of using kerosene, Captain Beatty wants Montag to use what to burn down his house?
He wants him to use the flamethrower like the one above. This is much more personal, because Montag has to go from room to room burning each item in turn rather than destroying the house all at once with kerosene.
How does Montag figure the books got back into the house?
He thinks Mildred must have found them in the garden and put them back in the house.
What does Beatty say to Montag as he is finishing burning the house?
He tells him that he is under arrest.
Who called in the alarm?
Mildred's friends called in an alarm, but Beatty says they ignored it. Then Mildred called in and they decided to act on that one.
What did Beatty do to Montag?
Beatty started talking to Montag, who wasn't responding because he was listening to Faber speaking to him via the "green bullet", so Beatty hit him on the head.
What happened to the “green bullet” radio that Faber gave to Montag?
When Beatty hit Montag, it flew out of his ear and landed on the ground. Beatty picked it up and listened to it and he could hear Faber speaking to Montag.
What does Beatty say he will do with the radio?
He said he would use it to track down Faber.
What did Montag do to Beatty?
Beatty goads Montag and insults him. Eventually, it is too much for Montag and he pulls the trigger and fires the flamethrower at Beatty, killing him.
What was the reaction of the other two firemen?
They don't react at all. They are absolutely stunned by what has just happened. Montag thumps them over the head with the flamethrower and knocks them unconscious.
Explain Montag’s dealing with the Hound.
The hound leaps at Montag and he fires the flamethrower at it. The flames destroy the robot, but it still manages to stab him slightly with its needle, injecting some poison into his leg.
What happens to Montag as he leaving the Hound?
He steps back from the Hound, but he steps onto the road. Suddenly, a car races by, hitting him on the knee and knocking him down.
Why was Montag having a hard time getting away?
With the poison in his leg and the injury caused by the car, his leg is very painful. He can't walk properly on it.
What does Montag find in his old garden?
He finds some books that Mildred must not have noticed.
Montag thinks to himself that Captain Beatty probably wanted to do what?
Montag becomes convinced that Beatty wanted to die. He feels that Beatty pushed and bullied him so hard that he wanted Montag to kill him.
Why is Montag having a difficult time getting up?
His leg still hurts, but also he is filled with emotion about what he has done. Eventually, he talks to himself and manages to move.
What does Montag hear in the Seashell?
Montag puts the regular seashell in his ear and hears the police report about himself. The police have issued an alert to everyone to look out for him.
To where does Montag realize he is running?
Montag realizes that he is unconsciously running towards Faber's house.
Why was Montag having such a difficult time getting across the street?
The street that he is trying to cross is 10 lanes wide, and as he is trying to cross, some teenagers in a car are trying to run him down. Again, we see the heartless, uncaring people that teenagers have become. They don't even know who Montag is; they just want to hit him for fun.
After Montag makes it across the street, from whom does he hide?
He hides from the teenagers in the car. They missed him the first time, and have come back to try to hit him again. Once they realize he is gone, they drive off. Montag wonders if they are the people who killed Clarisse.
What does Montag do to the Black family?
Black is one of the other firemen. To start carrying out his plan that he discussed with Faber, Montag sneaks into Black's house and plants one of the books he carried from his own garden. Then he goes outside and calls in the alarm. Once he hears the Salamander coming, he leaves.
What does Faber say there are a lot of along the railroad tracks?
A lot of "Harvard degrees." Faber means that there are a lot of educated people living outside the city in the countryside. They have been driven there because they were hunted by the police, or just to escape life in the city where so many things are censored.
Where does Faber say he is going? Why is he going there?
Faber says he is going to take the bus to St Louis to visit a retired printer that he knows there. He is going to start on their plan of printing books to plant them in firemen's houses.
What has been brought from a different district to track down Montag?
Another Mechanical Hound.
Why does Montag tell Faber to burn the bed spread and the chair?
The Hound tracks people by scent, so he tells Faber to burn them to destroy his scent. He is worried that the Hound will attack Faber and then continue after him.
Why doesn’t Faber give Montag another “green bullet”?
Because he doesn't have another one.
What does Montag watch on the parlor walls?
Montag watches the hound chasing him. He is fascinated by the chase but finally tears himself away and heads to the river.
What do the police suggest everyone do at the same time?
They ask everyone to stand up and look out their windows to try to spot Montag. Montag is amazed that the police haven't tried this idea before. In this world, people are so conditioned to obeying authority, that they all do as they are told. Would this work in our society today?
What did Montag do when he got to the river?
He changed into Faber's old clothes and threw his own clothes into the river to try to disguise his scent and hide himself from the hound.
Because the __________ wouldn’t stop burning, Montag would.
Sun. Montag thinks a lot as he drifts down the river. He thinks about the sun and the way that it rises ad sets every day. The days of our lives disappear and it's as if they are eaten up by the sun as it rises and sets. He realises that if the firemen burn things and the sun burns time, then that means everything is gone. He decides then that he will never burn things again.
What does Montag think of when he smells the hay?
He is reminded of an idyllic trip to the countryside when he was a boy.
What did Montag think was looking at him?
He thought it was the Hound.
What was it that was looking at him?
Montag is still paranoid and terrified of being caught by the Hound, but it's only a deer which feels just as scared as him and runs away. The deer is a good contrast to the Hound - one of them artificial and destructive, the other natural and gentle.
What did Montag hit with his foot?
He wanders through the woods and finally hits the railroad.
What was the single fact that Montag could not prove?
He is convinced Clarisse has been there, although he has no evidence for it.
What does Montag see?
He sees a fire through the trees, but this is a very different kind of fire than he is used to. It is warming, and welcoming. Montag has only ever seen fire as destructive.
What do the men offer Montag?
When he sits down, they offer him some coffee in a collapsible tin cup.
What is the name of the man that is talking to Montag?
His name is Granger.
What is the colorless fluid in the small bottle supposed to do?
It is a chemical that will quickly change his scent so that the hound can't track him.
Why is the chase still going on if they have lost Montag?
In this world, the authorities control society tightly. If people thought they were stupid or imcompetent, they wouldn't be able to control the public so well. Once they have started the chase, they must appear to catch him or it would send the message to everyone that the police aren't infallible, so they continue the chase until they catch "Montag".
What does Montag see in the portable viewer?
He watches the chase being filmed from a police helicopter. This is exactly like we see on TV nowadays. Look at this example.
How was it possible that not even Montag’s friends would recognize that the man they caught wasn’t him?
When the police finally caught someone, they made sure that the cameras did not focus on the person's face so that people would not know that it was not Montag.
Where is Montag keeping the Book of Ecclesiastes?
He is keeping it in his head. He tells Granger that he doesn't think he can remember it all, but Granger says that they have developed techniques to help him remember.
What does Granger think their job is?
Granger says that all the people in the woods are just receptacles for the knowledge in the books. They are like human libraries and they just carry the knowledge until it is needed again.
How does Montag feel about Mildred still being in the city?
He feels sad. It is interesting that Montag still has some feelings for Mildred.
What does Montag see happening in the city?
Bombers fly over the city and drop at least one enormous nuclear bomb on the city, destroying it completely. The city is literally reduced to dust.
What other book does Montag realize he has remembered?
What does Granger compare man to?
What kind of factory does Granger say they are going to build?
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