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?
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Why do you think some people are afraid of firefighters?
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According to Montag, what smells like perfume?
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Who is Mildred? What happened to her?
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Instead of emergency room doctors, why did technicians treat Mildred?
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What are parlor walls? Describe what they are like and what they do.
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What is the mechanical hound? What does it do and how does it work?
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Why is Montag suspicious of the mechanical hound? What are his reasons for being suspicious?
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How did Clarisse's school and psychologist describe her? Why?
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Who is Captain Beatty? Describe what he is like.
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Who is Faber? Describe what he is like.
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Why did Montag go see Faber?
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What is the plan that Montag and Faber came up with? Do you think the plan will work? Why or why not?
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How does Montag convince Faber to help him carry out the plan?
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What is the legend of Hercules and Antaeus? Explain how the legend relates to what Faber is saying.
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Why do you think Faber wears earplugs when he rides the subway jets?
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What is the little green bullet that Faber gives to Montag? What does it do?
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What book did Montag steal from the old lady's attic? What kind of significance do you think this will have?
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What did Montag do with the poetry book after he read it to the ladies? Why do you think he did that?
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Once the ladies leave the house, where does Montag hide his books?
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On the night of Montag's return to work, what is the destination of the first alarm?
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Who called in the multiple alarms for Montag's house?
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Why does Montag not run away when Captain Beatty is questioning him?
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Why did Montag kill Beatty?
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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?
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What saves Montag from being run over by the car?
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Where is Montag going? Why?
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What steps does Montag take to try to cover up his scent?
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After leaving Faber's house, where does Montag go?
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Who does Montag meet in the wilderness? What are they like?
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Granger gives Montag a liquid drink. What is it and why does Montag drink it?
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Why did the mechanical hound and the camera incriminate an innocent man?
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Why do the men at the river identify themselves as famous authors?
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What do the men by the river do with the books after they have read them? Why?
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What book does Montag memorize?
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How does the phrase 'Don't judge a book by its cover' relate to the men at the river?
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What happened to the city Montag lived in?
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Once the war ends, what do Montag and the men by the river want to do?
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What smell can Montag never clean from his clothes?
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Why did they need a machine to help Mildred?
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Why did Montag stop talking to Clarisse for a few days? What happened to her?
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Why did Beatty say Montag isn't in trouble for having books?
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What does Montag do instead of answering the doorbell?
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How does Montag get Mrs. Phelps to cry? What was the poem?
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Where does Mildred hide Montag's books?
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When Montag arrives back at work, what does he hand to Captain Beatty?
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Whose house is the 'special case'?
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What does Beatty make Montag use to burn his house?
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What does Montag do to Beatty to escape?
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When he is being chased, how does Montag lose the trail of the hound?
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What does Granger give Montag to drink? What will it do?
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How does Mildred die?
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Incomprehensible
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Outrage
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Waver
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Falter
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Oblivion
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Dwindle
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Silhouette
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Warily
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Converge
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Avenge
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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.