Pages 3-18
1. When Guy Montag first meets Clarisse, immediate differences can be noted between the two characters. What does Montag enjoy doing and what does Clarisse enjoy doing? What do these differences say about their characters?
2. Clarisse uses three verbs that Montag seems surprised about: thinking, talking, and reading. Why does Montag think these things “startling”?
3. What does Clarisse ask Montag before they part (p. 10) that he finds surprising? Why?
4. Discuss the three similes used by Montag to describe Clarisse on page 10 and 11. Explain these comparisons.
5. What does Montag find has happened to his wife when he returns home? What is the method of treatment for her? What does this say about the society in which the Montags live?
6. Note the differences between Montag’s house and Clarisse’s house at night. What is this saying about the two families?
7. What is the implication of Montag’s last thought before sleep on p. 18- “I don’t know anything anymore.”
pp. 18-40
8. Guy and his wife have a running conversation the morning after Mildred’s “treatment” the night before (pp. 18-22). Explain the significance of the “script” and the TV walls. What part of our current society might this be a comment on? What is it saying about this society in context?
9. How does Clarisse compare to Montag’s wife? Besides their age, how else are they different? Which do you most relate to? Have you ever known anyone remotely like Mrs. Montag? Clarisse? Explain.
10. According to Clarisse, why does Guy not fit with the job of fireman? How is he different from others she’s met? What could this character trait be foreshadowing?
11. Why do you think the Mechanical Hound growls at Montag?
12. What are some of the things that Montag does when he is with Clarisse that he hasn’t done in a long time? Why is he moved by her to act differently? How does he feel around her?
13. According to history books, when did the fireman’s job, as described in the novel, begin? What does this tell us about the way history is manipulated in “the future”?
14. On page 38, Beatty tells Mrs. Riley, “You know the law….Where’s your common sense? None of those books agree with each other…. You’ve been locked up here for years with a regular damned Tower of Babel….The people in those books never lived.” What are the implications of the allusion to the Tower of Babel? (Use a computer to run a Google search on Tower of Babel if you need to.)
15. What did Mrs. Riley say when they arrived, who had said it before, and what might this foreshadow? (40)
pp. 41-68
16. From pages 41-48, there seems to be much confusion between Montag and his wife. What is going on here? What has he done and, according to Mildred, what has happened to Clarisse? Why did she not tell Montag sooner?
17. What entertains Mildred while Montag is at work? What does she mean by “programs”?
18. How would you characterize the conversation Montag has with his wife? Note especially the conversation about burning “an old woman with her books.” (49-50)
19. When Montag tells his wife about the woman burning with her books, what is he most interested in? Why is she so uninterested? Have you ever felt like what happens to others is so far removed from you that it isn’t important (tsunamis, war, hurricanes, suicide bombers, etc.?)
20. “It took some man a lifetime maybe to put some of his thoughts down, looking around at the world and life, and then I come along in two minutes and boom! It’s all over” (52). Explain what this quotation says about the importance of books and what it tells us about how Montag is changing.
21. Beatty discusses the history of books, and in several paragraphs encapsulates the whole of modern society. Reread the paragraph at the bottom of page 55 beginning, “School is shortened…” along with the several paragraph on 57 and 58. How many of the items mentioned are actually true today (don’t forget this novel was first published in 1953).
22. According to Beatty, what happened to intellectuals as time went on?
23. Beatty says that “People want to be happy, isn’t that right?” He even calls the firemen the “Happiness Boys.” How does burning books help to keep people happy?
24. Beatty explains what happened to Clarisse. What happened and why?
25. How has education changed in the world of this novel? Do you see any foreshadowing to this trend in our real society?
26. Has Beatty’s visit changed Montag’s view of his job or the world? How do you know?
27. Clarisse told Montag that people used to have front porches. What has happened to them? What do they symbolize?
28. At the end of the section, it is clear that Montag has been reading from a book called Gulliver’s Travels in which a whole civilization is built on which end one breaks their soft boiled eggs. How is this civilization like Montag’s world?
"The Sieve and the Sand"
29. Montag mentions that he hears planes going overhead while he and Mildred are reading (93). How can books help “get us half out of the cave?”
30. On page 74 Montag remembers a chance encounter with a former English Professor. In hindsight, what does Montag realize about this man? How does he foreshadow the future for Montag?
31. As we read this chapter what do we learn about Montag’s book stealing? What must he do in order to keep Beatty from discovering his secret?
32. Montag mentions the Bible, Plato, and Shakespeare. How does one choose which book is the most important to save? Which books would you save if you had to and why?
33. On page 78, Montag remembers a story about “the sieve and the sand,” also the title of this section. How is the story a metaphor for what Montag is trying to do?
34. While on the train, Montag says, “Consider the lilies of the field ...” This can be found in the Bible (Luke, 12:27 or the Sermon of the Mount as it has been recorded by Matthew, 6:28). What gets in the way of Montag finishing the quotation? What does this say about the society in which he lives?
35. When Montag meets with Faber, he is told that “It’s not books you need, it’s some of the things that once were in books”(82). What does he mean by this and what are some of the “things” he is talking about?
36. According to Faber, what three things are missing in order to understand the importance of books? (83-85)
37. Another truth stated by Faber about books is that “books are to remind us what asses and fools we are” (86). Think of a book or play that reminds us of that and explain.
38. The names Montag and Faber are both associated with writing. Do some research to discover their origin. Why do you think Bradbury chose those names for these two characters?
39. What does Faber mean by “Those who don’t build must burn”?
40. Faber reveals to Montag his “electronic cowardice.” What has he invented and how will it help them in their subversive activities?
41. Faber begins to read to Montag from “The Book of Job,” a famous book of the Bible. What is this biblical story about? Why is this an appropriate story for Montag to hear at this point?
42. On page 96, the women visiting the Montag’s discuss “having children.” What does their conversation tell you is important in the society of the novel?
43. Next, they converse about politics, specifically the two political candidates. How do their reasons for voting for one person over the over compare to our standards today?
44. Montag reads parts of a poem called “Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold (100) Why does it make Mrs. Phelps cry? Why aren’t the women interested in reading these kinds of things?
45. Montag finally blows up at the women and on page 101 he tells them to go home and think. What he is really attacking is apathy. Define the word and explain what he is so upset about. Do we have apathetic people in our world? How do you feel about apathy?
46. When Montag returns to the firehouse, he is very conscious of his hands. At this point, what do his hands symbolize? (reread the large paragraph on p. 105 to help you)
47. Beatty quotes a number of literary pieces to argue his point with Montag. Why is this ironic?
48. What is ironic about the end of Part II? Where does the “salamander” stop?
"Burning Bright"
49. Discuss the literary allusion used in the following: “Old Montag wanted to fly near the sun and now that he’s burnt his damn wings, he wonders why”(113). To whom is Beatty alluding and how is this mythological character like Montag?
50. Examine the paragraph on 119 (“And then he was a shrieking blaze...”) for style. First, what is going on in this paragraph? What is the tone of this paragraph? Choose some especially effective words and images which help support your tone. What literary devices does Bradbury use in this paragraph?
51. Discuss whether or not the beginning of section three is the climax of the novel or not. If you think it is the climax, how does all the action turn or change after these incidents? If not, then what is the climax of the novel?
52. What is the “Seashell” to which several characters are constantly referring? What does the use of this device say about the society of the novel?
53. On page 153, helicopters are compared to several things found in nature. To what are they compared and how are these similes ironic?
54. As a fugitive, what has Montag taken with him from his destroyed home? What does this tell you about what is important to him now? Where does he hide these and why?
55. When Montag gets to Faber’s house, Faber tells him, “I feel alive for the first time in years.” Why does he feel somehow reborn?
56. Explain the statement, “they say there’s lots of old Harvard degrees on the tracks between here and Los Angeles” (132).
57. Montag and Faber turn on the TV and there is news that a new Mechanical Hound will be tracking Montag and “this network is proud to have the opportunity to follow the Hound by camera helicopter as it starts on its way to the target” (133). What do we do today that is comparable to this? What does this say about us as a society?
58. Why is Montag so fascinated with watching his own escape on TV as he escapes? What is it about human beings that we all want our “15 minutes of fame?” Discuss this in light of modern reality shows and celebrity.
59. As Montag’s escape becomes a reality once he reaches the river, how does the tone of the novel change? Find words and phrases on pages 140 which support the tone you’ve chosen.
60. How is the river which Montag uses as a mode of escape symbolic? What epiphany does he have while on that river? (141)
61. The movement from the city to the country is best described in the paragraph on p. 144 (“There must have been a billion leaves on the land...”). What sense is used to draw this contrast? Why? Note your favorite example, and explain.
62. How is the fire in the country different from the fire in the city?
63. How do the city officials resolve the hunt for Montag? What does this tell you about the society? Do we do anything like this today?
64. What do the clan of forest dwellers have in common besides their photographic memories?
65. Discuss Granger’s comment: “That’s the wonderful thing about man; he never gets so discouraged or disgusted that he gives up doing it all over again, because he knows very well it is important and worth the doing.”
66. As Montag looks over the rebels in the daylight, he notices there is nothing “bright” or significant about them. Discuss the humor in the line, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”(155).
67. Reread Granger’s view on death (pp. 155-156). What do you think about the idea that when someone dies we are not crying for them, but for “all the things [they] did.” Do you agree or disagree?
68. “It doesn’t matter what you do...so long as you change something from the way it was before you touched it into something that’s like you after you take your hands away.” How is Granger’s comment true for you? Have you, or someone you loved made a difference in this way?
69. What is Bradbury saying about war in this novel? Note especially pages 158-160.
70. How does the symbolism of fire change from the beginning to the end of the novel?
71. Discuss Granger’s reference to the Phoenix (page 163). What does it symbolize and how does it help the reader understand the theme of the novel?
72. Some readers think Montag is the “savior” of the book? What do you think? Reread Granger’s final words (bottom of 163 -164) to help support your response.
73. What “book” is Montag responsible for? Why is that significant? (note the allusion at the end of the book to help you)
74. What is the theme of the novel? List as many as you can think of and write a short response to the one you think is most valuable for us to heed today.
75. Why is this science fiction novel considered a classic? Why is science fiction a valuable genre?
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