Fahrenheit 451. By Ray Bradbury

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1 Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury 1

2 Fahrenheit 451 Reading and Writing Schedule Day Number Reading Writing One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twelve Thirteen Fourteen Afterword Fifteen Catch Up 34 Sixteen Catch Up Seventeen Catch Up 38 2

3 Fahrenheit 451 Summary The novel opens with Guy Montag, a fireman in a futuristic society where he and his coworkers start fires, rather than put them out. Books are banned and burned upon discovery, and Montag has no qualms about his responsibility. But then he meets Clarisse McClellan, a seventeen-year-old Bohemian girl who happens to be his neighbor. She s very chatty, and opens his eyes to the world of nature, dewdrops, and not being a stooge. After their first meeting, Montag returns home to find his wife overdosed on sleeping pills. He calls for help, but he gets plumbers instead of medics. This sort of thing happens all the time, they say. The next morning, his wife (Mildred) doesn t remember anything and is happy as a clam. Montag grows increasingly dissatisfied with his life and work as he talks more with Clarisse. He starts to wonder if perhaps books aren t so bad, and even steals one from a book burning. Meanwhile Clarisse disappears (probably dead), and his boss, Captain Beatty, is growing suspicious. He lectures Montag on the dangers of books and explains the origin of their profession. Far from rejuvenated, Montag feels more rebellious than ever. He spends the afternoon with his wife reading a secret stash of books he s been storing and decides he needs a teacher. He takes a Bible and tries to memorize some of it on the way. He settles on an old ex-professor named Faber, whom he met in the park one day. Faber is reluctant, but finally agrees to work with Montag against the firemen. Faber provides Montag with a two-way radio earpiece and sends him on his way. That evening Montag loses his cool and reads some banned poetry aloud to his wife s friends. Not such a great decision. That night at the firehouse, Beatty taunts Montag by quoting contradictory passages from the same books. He s trying to prove that literature is confusing and problematic. Then he takes Guy to a fire alarm at Guy s own house, called in by his wife, who flees the scene. Montag torches his own house on command, then turns on Beatty and torches him, along with the very scary Mechanical Hound sent after him. Now a fugitive, Montag makes his way to Faber s house, where he watches his own chase scene on TV. The men make plans to meet up later and in a different place, as the city is pretty much off limits for them. Montag flees to the river at the edge of the city and some other random pedestrian is killed in his place (the authorities wanted a happy ending to the televised chase). Guy gloats in the river and thinks about life for approximately 4 paragraphs before bumping into a series of forest-bound individuals who turn out to be ex-professors and other intellectuals. The head honcho, Granger, explains the situation: since books are now banned, they each have memorized one text. Guy would like to volunteer parts of the Bible he tried to memorize early, but his brain s a bit foggy right now. Then the city is bombed by a warring country. Everyone is dead except for Montag and these book people in the woods. They decide to rebuild society, and Montag remembers a very relevant passage from the Book of Ecclesiastes about a time to sew, a time to reap, and the tree of life. 3

4 Ray Bradbury Ray Douglas Bradbury was born on August 22, 1920, in Waukegan, Illinois. He was the third son in the family. His father, Leonard Spaulding Bradbury, was a telephone lineman and technician. His mother, Esther Marie Bradbury (nee Moberg), was a Swedish immigrant. His grandfather and great-grandfather were newspaper publishers. In 1934 his family settled in Los Angeles, California. There young Bradbury often roller-skated through Hollywood, trying to spot celebrities. Young Bradbury attended Los Angeles High School. There he was involved in the drama club and planned to become an actor. He graduated from high school in 1938 and had no more formal education. He learned from reading the works of such writers as Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoevsky, among others. From he was selling newspapers on the streets of Los Angeles, spending his nights in the local library and his days at the typewriter. At that time he published his stories in fanzines. In 1941 he published his first paid work, a short story titled "Pendulum", in the pulp magazine Super Science Stories, and became a full-time writer by the end of He published a collection of stories as his first book, "Dark Carnival" (1947). That same year he married Marguerite McClure ( ), whom he met at a book store a year earlier. They had four daughters and eight grandchildren. Bradbury shot to international fame after publication of his short story collection "The Martian Chronicles" (1950), which was partially based on ideas from ancient Greek and Roman mythology. Then he followed the anti-utopian writers Yevgeni Zamyatin and Aldous Huxley in his best known work, "Farenheit 451" (1953). The 1966 film adaptation (Fahrenheit 451 (1966)) by director 'Francois Truffaut', starring Julie Christie, received several nominations. Bradbury was not happy with the 1980 TV adaptation ("The Martian Chronicles" (1980)) starring Rock Hudson. His other novels and stories also have been adapted to films and television, as well as for radio, theatre and comic books. Bradbury has written episodes for Alfred Hitchcock's TV series, as well as for many other TV productions. His total literary output is close to 600 short stories, more than 30 books and numerous poems and plays. In 2004 Bradbury received a National Medal of Arts. He was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6644 Hollywood Blvd. An asteroid is named in his honor, "9766 Bradbury", and the Apollo astronaut named a crater on the moon "Dandelion Crater", after his novel, 'Dandelion Wine'. Bradbury also received the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement, the Grand Master Award from Science Fiction Writers of America, an Emmy Award for his work as a writer on 'The Halloween Tree', and many other awards and honors. His works were translated in more than 40 languages and sold tens of millions of copies around the world. Ray Bradbury is currently residing in Los Angeles, California. He has never driven a car and does not have one. He writes daily. 4

5 Fahrenheit 451 Background Presentations In a group of no less than three, but no more than five you are going to be developing a futuristic version of the United States. Just like our forefathers over two hundred years ago, you will sit down and figure out exactly what it takes to re-create a fully functioning country from the ground up. Your tasks are as follows: I. Revise our current name (The United States of America). II. III. IV. Modify our flag. Add at least fifteen amendments to our Constitution a. Your Amendments to the Constitution should i. Clarify the rights of your citizens ii. Re-state the laws of the land iii. Re-state the consequences for breaking those laws Re-create the monetary system i. Prepare at least three examples of the proposed implements V. Create a tax system VI. Re-establish the military i. Create at least two branches ii. Describe how the military will be funded iii. Describe how the military will be staffed This assignment will be worth 50 points, and will be graded on an extreme curve. Much like in life, your performance will be measured against your peers. With that being said, feel free to use any means necessary to make your presentation (yes, you will present this to the class) the best. Visuals and/or multimedia presentations are encouraged. 5

6 Hurst Notes Reading books is for suckers! The people that use their cool cards know that the only books to read aren t the ones that you get in English class, but are instead, the shortened, summarized, small-brainified Hurst Notes! Who needs to spend hours and hours reading a full book, when you can bust through an edition of Hurst Notes in twenty minutes? Your task is to create a one-page summary for one of the chapters or characters listed below. Your summary will start with..a section titled Summary (duh). Make sure you include the chapter number or name of the character that you are summarizing. The second section will be titled Characters and will describe each of the characters involved in this section or with this person, as well as why they are involved. The last section will be titled Analysis and will provide your own analysis on the overall importance of this section or character to the book. The summary will be in Times New Roman font, the font size will be 12-point, and it will be ed to your publisher no later than 3:00 on the due date (misterhurst@hotmail.com). Here are the sections: Part One (The Hearth and the Salamander): Day Six Part Two (The Sieve and the Sand): Day Eleven Part Three (Burning Bright): Day Fifteen Guy Montag: Day Fifteen Mildred Montag: Day Fifteen Clarisse McClellen: Day Fifteen Captain Beatty: Day Fifteen 6

7 Fahrenheit 451 Opinionnaire Below is a series of statements. Circle the response which most closely indicates how you feel about the statement. 1. In the name of national security, a government should be allowed to eavesdrop on its own people. Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree 2. A citizen of legal age has the right to do anything he/she wants to do so long as it does not directly harm another human being. Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree 3. If the people feel a government is not working fairly for them, they have the right to start a revolution to overthrow that government. Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree 4. Technological advances pose a great threat to freedom. Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree 5. The United States is as close to a Democracy as one could hope for. Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree

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12 Fahrenheit 451 Response Notes Pgs 3-40 A. Plot: Write 5 CDs about the plot of these pages: B. Select one significant quote in this chapter. Write it below, the include page number, and describe why it is significant to you. Page # Quote: Why: 12

13 C. Questions: What questions did you have while you were reading? List them below. Supply answers when you find them D. Predictions: Describe what you believe is going to happen next E. What connections did you make to the real world?

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15 Fahrenheit 451 Writing Assignment SECTION 1 PREWRITING: Create a graphic organizer that compares and contrasts the society of Fahrenheit 451 with that of your own. 15

16 SECTION 1 Fahrenheit 451 Writing Assignment DRAFTING: Compose two paragraphs in which you focus in on two things that Fahrenheit 451 s society has in common with that of the contemporary United States. PART OF ESSAY Topic sentence for paragraph 1 YOUR EXAMPLE MEET STANDARD? Subject & an opinion? With 3+ cm Concrete detail 1 Is this a detail? What kind? Transition? Lead-in? actions? detail 1 detail 1 Is this an opinion that extends or explains the detail? With 3+ cm Is this a different opinion that extends or explains? With 3+ cm Concrete detail 2 Is this a detail? What kind? Transition? Lead-in? actions? detail 2 detail 2 Concluding sentence which summarizes paragraph 1 Topic sentence for paragraph 2 Is this an opinion that extends or explains the detail? With 3+ cm Is this a different opinion that extends or explains? With 3+ cm Use any similar words from the paragraph? Give an overall opinion of subject in TS? W/3+ cm Subject & an opinion? With 3+ cm 16

17 Concrete detail 1 Is this a detail? What kind? Transition? Lead-in? actions? detail 1 Is this an opinion that extends or explains the detail? With 3+ cm detail 1 Is this a different opinion that extends or explains? With 3+ cm Concrete detail 2 Is this a detail? What kind? Transition? Lead-in? actions? detail 2 Is this an opinion that extends or explains the detail? With 3+ cm detail 2 Is this a different opinion that extends or explains? With 3+ cm Concluding sentence which summarizes paragraph 2 Use any similar words from the paragraph? Give an overall opinion of subject in TS? With 3+ cm 17

18 To Live or Not to Live! Imagine that you are Guy Montag, and you are living in his time. You have a secret place in your room that nobody can see, and you have begun recording your daily thoughts in a journal in that secret place. In a journal entry, describe what your typical day is like. Go into detail about your surroundings, the people around you, and how you perceive your existence. 18

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20 Fahrenheit 451 Response Notes Pgs A. Plot: Write 5 CDs about the plot of these pages: B. Select one significant quote in this chapter. Write it below, the include page number, and describe why it is significant to you. Page # Quote: Why: 20

21 C. Questions: What questions did you have while you were reading? List them below. Supply answers when you find them D. Predictions: Describe what you believe is going to happen next E. What connections did you make to the real world?

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23 Fahrenheit 451 Writing Assignment SECTION 2 PREWRITING: Create a visual organizer or a bulleted list, where you illustrate the job of the firemen in the book. 23

24 SECTION 2 Fahrenheit 451 Writing Assignment DRAFTING: Compare and contrast the job of the firemen in the novel with firemen of today. PART OF ESSAY Topic sentence for paragraph 1 YOUR EXAMPLE MEET STANDARD? Subject & an opinion? With 3+ cm Concrete detail 1 Is this a detail? What kind? Transition? Lead-in? actions? detail 1 detail 1 Is this an opinion that extends or explains the detail? With 3+ cm Is this a different opinion that extends or explains? With 3+ cm Concrete detail 2 Is this a detail? What kind? Transition? Lead-in? actions? detail 2 detail 2 Concluding sentence which summarizes paragraph 1 Topic sentence for paragraph 2 Is this an opinion that extends or explains the detail? With 3+ cm Is this a different opinion that extends or explains? With 3+ cm Use any similar words from the paragraph? Give an overall opinion of subject in TS? W/3+ cm Subject & an opinion? With 3+ cm 24

25 Concrete detail 1 Is this a detail? What kind? Transition? Lead-in? actions? detail 1 Is this an opinion that extends or explains the detail? With 3+ cm detail 1 Is this a different opinion that extends or explains? With 3+ cm Concrete detail 2 Is this a detail? What kind? Transition? Lead-in? actions? detail 2 Is this an opinion that extends or explains the detail? With 3+ cm detail 2 Is this a different opinion that extends or explains? With 3+ cm Concluding sentence which summarizes paragraph 2 Use any similar words from the paragraph? Give an overall opinion of subject in TS? With 3+ cm 25

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27 Fahrenheit 451 Response Notes Pgs A. Plot: Write 5 CDs about the plot of these pages: B. Select one significant quote in this chapter. Write it below, the include page number, and describe why it is significant to you. Page # Quote: Why: 27

28 C. Questions: What questions did you have while you were reading? List them below. Supply answers when you find them D. Predictions: Describe what you believe is going to happen next E. What connections did you make to the real world?

29 Overcoming the Past Some of the best stories are often the hardest to understand.at first. Whether it is William Shakespeare or Charles Dickens, or even Mary Shelley, great stories are often hidden to students behind a mass of words and phrases that would crash Twitter. The best way to understand these pieces, or overcome the past, is to break them down in to smaller pieces. Your task is to break down the following selections from Fahrenheit 451. Each table will have two selections (as labeled) that each team member will have to translate and connect to the present. Team 1 He strode in a swarm of fireflies (Pg 3) Faber to Montag: So now do you see why books are hated and feared? They show the pores in the face of life. Team 2 Her dress was white, and it whispered. (Pg 5) Faber to Montag: They re Caesar s praetorian guard, whispering as the parade roars down the avenue Remember, Caesar, thou art mortal. Team 3 The walked in the warm-cool blowing night on the silvered pavement... (Pg 6) Faber to Montag: Do your own bit of saving, and if you drown, at least die knowing you were headed for shore. Team 4...what a shadow she threw on the wall with her slender body. (Pg 11) Faber to Montag: Our society is flinging itself to pieces. Stand back from the centrifuge. Team 5...The electrical murmur of a hidden wasp snug in its special pink, warm nest. (Pg 12) Faber to Montag: Those who don t build must burn. It s as old as history and juvenile delinquents. 29

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32 The Lighter Side of Fahrenheit 451 Directions: I think we've lived in the grim, totalitarian state of F451 long enough. It is time we took a break to look on the bright side of book-burning. In groups of no more than four members (you will be graded in increasing degrees of expectation due to the number of members you have in the group), you must consider one of the following*: Due Date: To Be Determined Points: 50 points Commercials: In a 30 to 60 second spot, SELL an item from the novel. The item should be one that is really used in the novel--either by the firemen or the resistance. Perhaps a commercial for a new restaurant like The Salamander Grill. Maybe a commercial for the library, Borrowing books is HOT! The commercial should have the look and feel of a real commercial. Try imovie! * * * * * * * * * * * * Fahrenheit 451 the Graphic Novel: Graphic novels are all the rage right now! Take one scene from the novel and create a chapter for your up coming graphic novel based on the book. Try Comic Life, or your own artistic skills for this one. * * * * * * * * * * * * Fahrenheit 451 the Movie: Create a 60 second movie trailer for the film. This film trailer should have the look and feel of a real movie trailer, the one that might be coming to a theater near you! Lines should be memorized, and the location should be true to the film. Voice overs and music are certainly a must. * * * * * * * * * * * * Fahrenheit 451 the Musical. You loved Wicked. High School Musical is like, far out! Now create a musical number from the novel. It can be a ballad or an all out 11:00 number. The music should be original--and if not, should be based on music from some other musical, but lyrics catered to the novel. Choreography, strong and serious singing voices might make this a must see * * * * * * * * * * * * Guy Montag and SpongeBob: Create a 60 second cartoon. See Guy Montag trying to burn up the Krusty Krab! Watch SpongeBob accidentally burn Patrick with a flamethrower. But be careful with this one. Good animation takes a long, long time 32

33 Fahrenheit 451 Response Notes Pgs 114-END A. Plot: Write 5 CDs about the plot of these pages: B. Select one significant quote in this chapter. Write it below, the include page number, and describe why it is significant to you. Page # Quote: Why: 33

34 C. Questions: What questions did you have while you were reading? List them below. Supply answers when you find them D. Predictions: Describe what you believe is going to happen next E. What connections did you make to the real world?

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36 Fahrenheit 451 Writing Assignment SECTION 3 PREWRITING: Using a graphic organizer, bulleted list, or outline, describe in detail, how Montag changes from Section 1 to Section 3. Keep in mind that the relationship with Clarisse, and how that altered him. 36

37 SECTION 3 Fahrenheit 451 Writing Assignment DRAFTING: In two paragraphs, compare and contrast the society that was established in section one, with the one that Montag would like to be a part of in section three. PART OF ESSAY Topic sentence for paragraph 1 YOUR EXAMPLE MEET STANDARD? Subject & an opinion? With 3+ cm Concrete detail 1 Is this a detail? What kind? Transition? Lead-in? actions? detail 1 detail 1 Is this an opinion that extends or explains the detail? With 3+ cm Is this a different opinion that extends or explains? With 3+ cm Concrete detail 2 Is this a detail? What kind? Transition? Lead-in? actions? detail 2 detail 2 Concluding sentence which summarizes paragraph 1 Topic sentence for paragraph 2 Is this an opinion that extends or explains the detail? With 3+ cm Is this a different opinion that extends or explains? With 3+ cm Use any similar words from the paragraph? Give an overall opinion of subject in TS? With 3+ cm Subject & an opinion? With 3+ cm 37

38 Concrete detail 1 Is this a detail? What kind? Transition? Lead-in? actions? detail 1 Is this an opinion that extends or explains the detail? With 3+ cm detail 1 Is this a different opinion that extends or explains? With 3+ cm Concrete detail 2 Is this a detail? What kind? Transition? Lead-in? actions? detail 2 Is this an opinion that extends or explains the detail? With 3+ cm detail 2 Is this a different opinion that extends or explains? With 3+ cm Concluding sentence which summarizes paragraph 2 Use any similar words from the paragraph? Give an overall opinion of subject in TS? With 3+ cm 38

39 Room 101 Imagine a place called Room 101 which contains everybody s worst fear. What would Room 101 contain for you? You can answer this question in either of the following ways: 1. Compose a written response to the following questions: What would Room 101 contain for Montag? What would he do to avoid meeting this fear face to face? This response needs to be typed, double spaced in 12 point Times or Times New Roman font, 1 margins, no extra space. Be sure to proofread. 2. Draw Montag s Room 101. Use a piece of paper that is at least 8.5x11. Your drawing will be evaluated on the quality of the artwork, so do not simply draw a stick figure screaming. 39

40 Final Essay for Fahrenheit 451 Pre-Write due day NINETEEN. First draft due day TWENTY-ONE. Second draft is due day TWENTY-THREE, and the final draft (with cover sheet, pre-write, and rough draft) is due day TWENTY-SIX. The following topic is to be done by everybody: How do we balance the rights of the individual with the rights of the group? For extra credit, choose one of the following questions to develop into a 2 to 3 page essay. How realistic is the future that is described in the novel? What things did the author predict that ultimately came true? What things might still come true? Give specific examples from the text that support your answer. Compare and contrast Montag with yourself? In what ways are your lives similar? In what ways do your jobs differ? What causes would you share the same feelings on? Give specific examples from the text that support your answer. Describe Montag s relationship with his wife, Mildred. How are the interactions between them similar to what you would expect of a typical marriage? Do either of them give up on the other one? What is their home-life like? How does Mildred feel about Montag when she is around her friends? Give specific examples from the text that support your answer. Describe Clarisse s effect on Montag within the novel. Why is her character included in the novel? What purpose does she serve? Would the novel have been the same if she was not included? Give specific examples from the text that support your answer. Requirements: an attention getting introduction that provides the necessary background information scope of the topic, and includes the title and author of the novel a clear, concise thesis that is supported by textual evidence that is effectively integrated into the writer s own syntax, is clearly explained, and is cited correctly a conclusion that moves beyond summary of the essay clear topic sentences and concluding sentences in each paragraph correct use of punctuation / grammatical correctness (no contractions) 2-3 pages 12 point Times or Times New Roman font (heading, title, and body) 1 margins (top, bottom, left, right) double spaced, no extra spaces between paragraphs, after heading, etc. uses the language of speculation, and does not overstate creates a sophisticated argument through structural, logical-building sentences mid paragraph 40