Fahrenheit 451 Flashcard Quiz

Questions and Answers

Who is Guy Montag and what is his job?

The protagonist, is a fireman, is middle-aged, and is Mildred's husband.

Describe Montag's job as a fireman. What does he do?

Montag's job as a fireman is to burn books. He does this by using an igniter and kerosene.

Who is Clarisse McClellan? What is she like, and how old is she?

Clarisse McClellan is an outcast who thinks differently than everyone else and actually observes things. She is Montag's neighbor and she is sixteen.

What inferences can you make about the society they live in when Clarisse says, 'because they never see them slowly,' in reference to the billboards?

The society they live in is very fast-paced and no one stops to just take everything in and observe the little things. Signup and view all the answers

Why do you think some people are afraid of firefighters?

Some people are afraid of firefighters because they burn books and don't care what or who is in the way of that goal. Signup and view all the answers

According to Montag, what smells like perfume?

Montag compares the smell of kerosene to perfume. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Mildred? What happened to her?

Mildred is Montag's wife who always has seashells in her ears. She overdosed on sleeping pills and technicians had to come to pump her blood. Signup and view all the answers

Instead of emergency room doctors, why did technicians treat Mildred?

People attempting suicide in this society is so common that they are letting anyone work the machines. Signup and view all the answers

What are parlor walls? Describe what they are like and what they do.

Parlor walls are TV walls and are interactive. Mildred watches the TV and acts as a part of the show. Signup and view all the answers

What is the mechanical hound? What does it do and how does it work?

The mechanical hound is a robot dog. Its purpose is to hunt down and kill. It has a steel needle that injects morphine and is programmable. Signup and view all the answers

Why is Montag suspicious of the mechanical hound? What are his reasons for being suspicious?

Montag is suspicious because the hound has gone after him before and thinks that it is programmed to kill him. Signup and view all the answers

How did Clarisse's school and psychologist describe her? Why?

Clarisse's school and psychologist describe her as a regular onion and anti-social because she likes to talk. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Captain Beatty? Describe what he is like.

Captain Beatty is the captain of the firemen and is Montag's boss. He knows what he is doing is right and is hard-headed. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Faber? Describe what he is like.

Faber is a retired English professor. He is smart, cowardly, paranoid, and knows a lot about books. Signup and view all the answers

Why did Montag go see Faber?

To learn more about books, wanted advice, and wanted another copy of the book. Signup and view all the answers

What is the plan that Montag and Faber came up with? Do you think the plan will work? Why or why not?

They plan to plant books in firemen's houses, turn on an alarm, and see the houses burn. I don't think it will work because they have to break into the houses and deal with families. Signup and view all the answers

How does Montag convince Faber to help him carry out the plan?

He rips the Bible pages out. Signup and view all the answers

What is the legend of Hercules and Antaeus? Explain how the legend relates to what Faber is saying.

Antaeus was a great fighter, but Hercules beat him. Faber and Montag represent Hercules and Antaeus represents society. Signup and view all the answers

Why do you think Faber wears earplugs when he rides the subway jets?

He doesn't want to listen to the advertisement. Signup and view all the answers

What is the little green bullet that Faber gives to Montag? What does it do?

It is a walky-talky. It lets the two people communicate. Signup and view all the answers

What book did Montag steal from the old lady's attic? What kind of significance do you think this will have?

He stole the Bible. It signifies that he will notice that the world now wasn't what God planned. Signup and view all the answers

What did Montag do with the poetry book after he read it to the ladies? Why do you think he did that?

He burned it because he was afraid they would alarm the firemen. Signup and view all the answers

Once the ladies leave the house, where does Montag hide his books?

Montag hides them in a bush. Signup and view all the answers

On the night of Montag's return to work, what is the destination of the first alarm?

His house. Signup and view all the answers

Who called in the multiple alarms for Montag's house?

Montag's wife and her friends call the alarms. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Montag not run away when Captain Beatty is questioning him?

He didn't run because he saw the Hound. Signup and view all the answers

Why did Montag kill Beatty?

He killed him to escape and to protect Faber. Signup and view all the answers

While talking to Montag, Captain Beatty makes a reference to Phaeton and his ride in Helio's sun chariot. How does this relate to what Montag did?

Montag was becoming too overconfident like Phaeton. Signup and view all the answers

What saves Montag from being run over by the car?

He fell flat. Signup and view all the answers

Where is Montag going? Why?

He is going to Faber's house to warn him. Signup and view all the answers

What steps does Montag take to try to cover up his scent?

Montag wears dirty clothes, brings Faber's whiskey, and tells Faber to clean his house with alcohol. Signup and view all the answers

After leaving Faber's house, where does Montag go?

He goes to the river. Signup and view all the answers

Who does Montag meet in the wilderness? What are they like?

He meets writers and philosophers. They are like Montag and thinkers. Signup and view all the answers

Granger gives Montag a liquid drink. What is it and why does Montag drink it?

He gives Montag colorless fluid which is supposed to change Montag's scent. Signup and view all the answers

Why did the mechanical hound and the camera incriminate an innocent man?

So it seems like they have won and to make the citizens stop worrying. Signup and view all the answers

Why do the men at the river identify themselves as famous authors?

They recite famous novels. Signup and view all the answers

What do the men by the river do with the books after they have read them? Why?

They burn them so they don't get in trouble. Signup and view all the answers

What book does Montag memorize?

Ecclesiastes. Signup and view all the answers

How does the phrase 'Don't judge a book by its cover' relate to the men at the river?

The men look poor, but they are really smart and well-educated. Signup and view all the answers

What happened to the city Montag lived in?

It got destroyed by the war and was engulfed in flames. Signup and view all the answers

Once the war ends, what do Montag and the men by the river want to do?

Build a mirror factory; they want to share their knowledge. Signup and view all the answers

What smell can Montag never clean from his clothes?

Kerosene. Signup and view all the answers

Why did they need a machine to help Mildred?

She overdosed on sleeping pills; tried to commit suicide. Signup and view all the answers

Why did Montag stop talking to Clarisse for a few days? What happened to her?

She disappeared; she got hit by a car. Signup and view all the answers

Why did Beatty say Montag isn't in trouble for having books?

He knows that firemen always have an 'itch' to read; they are allowed to have them for 24 hours. Signup and view all the answers

What does Montag do instead of answering the doorbell?

He ignores the doorbell and reads the book. Signup and view all the answers

How does Montag get Mrs. Phelps to cry? What was the poem?

He reads a poem, Dover Beach. Signup and view all the answers

Where does Mildred hide Montag's books?

Behind the fridge. Signup and view all the answers

When Montag arrives back at work, what does he hand to Captain Beatty?

He hands him a book. Signup and view all the answers

Whose house is the 'special case'?

Montag's. Signup and view all the answers

What does Beatty make Montag use to burn his house?

A flamethrower. Signup and view all the answers

What does Montag do to Beatty to escape?

He uses the flamethrower. Signup and view all the answers

When he is being chased, how does Montag lose the trail of the hound?

He jumps into the river and floats downstream. Signup and view all the answers

What does Granger give Montag to drink? What will it do?

A colorless liquid that changes his chemical composition and changes his scent. Signup and view all the answers

How does Mildred die?

The bombing from the war. Signup and view all the answers

Incomprehensible

incapable of being explained or accounted for. Signup and view all the answers

Outrage

a feeling of righteous anger. Signup and view all the answers

Waver

pause or hold back. Signup and view all the answers

Falter

move hesitatingly. Signup and view all the answers

Oblivion

the state of being disregarded or forgotten. Signup and view all the answers

Dwindle

become smaller. Signup and view all the answers

Silhouette

an outline of a solid object. Signup and view all the answers

Warily

in a manner marked by keen caution. Signup and view all the answers

Converge

move or draw together. Signup and view all the answers

Avenge

take action in return for a perceived wrong. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Characters

Guy Montag: Protagonist, middle-aged fireman, married to Mildred.
Clarisse McClellan: Montag's 16-year-old neighbor, an outcast who observes the world differently.
Mildred Montag: Montag's wife, obsessed with technology, survives a suicide attempt.

Societal Context

Firefighters in this society burn books rather than extinguish fires, reflecting a dystopian regime suppressing knowledge.
The society is fast-paced; people are disconnected from their surroundings and fail to appreciate the slower aspects of life.

Montag's Journey

Montag becomes curious about books and seeks knowledge, leading him to visit Faber, a retired English professor.
He steals a Bible, signaling his awakening to the importance of literature and spiritual guidance.

Technology and Control

Parlor walls serve as interactive TV screens, providing entertainment while isolating individuals from real interactions.
The mechanical hound, programmed to hunt down dissenters, represents the oppressive surveillance and enforcement of societal norms.

Key Events

Montag's internal conflict escalates after he reads poetry to women, which triggers an emotional response.
After killing Captain Beatty, Montag must evade both the mechanical hound and the oppressive societal forces that track him.

Symbolism

Kerosene symbolizes the destructive force of ignorance and the intoxicating nature of rebellion.
The river acts as a cleansing and transformative element in Montag's journey towards enlightenment.

Themes

The danger of censorship and the importance of intellectual freedom are central, explored through Montag's rebellion against societal norms.
The contrast between ignorance and knowledge is depicted as a profound struggle for truth.

Vocabulary

Incomprehensible: Incapable of being explained or understood.
Outrage: A feeling of righteous anger against injustice.
Oblivion: A state where something is disregarded or entirely forgotten.

Final Outcomes

The war devastates Montag's city, serving as a catalyst for potential change and rebuilding among surviving intellectuals.
Montag’s desire to share knowledge leads to aspirations of a new beginning, symbolized in his discussions with Granger and the other thinkers by the river.

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Description

Test your knowledge of 'Fahrenheit 451' with these flashcards that cover key characters and their roles. Explore the significance of Guy Montag, his job, and the enigmatic Clarisse McClellan. Perfect for students looking to deepen their understanding of this classic novel.