English B50 Fahrenheit Exam Prep

Fahrenheit 451 Exam Prep Your exam on Fahrenheit 451 (this Wednesday) will be a short answer exam. You will be given 10 quotes from the novel; you will choose 8 to write on. For each quote, you will need to write a full paragraph (at least 5 sentences) about the quote. Explain who is talking, who they are talking to or about, and where the passage takes place in the novel. In addition, you’ll need to comment on how this passage illustrates one of the themes of the novel we discussed in class

Fahrenheit 451 Exam Prep Here’s an example quote. Take a minute to jot down a paragraph response to this quote. “Good God, it isn’t as simple as picking up a book you laid down half a century ago. Remember, the firemen are rarely necessary. The public itself stopped reading of its own accord” (87). Now turn and share with a partner.

Example Response The person who said this quote is Faber, a retired English professor whom Montag turns to for help in deciphering books. When Montag shows up at Faber’s house bearing what may be the last copy of the Bible, he naively assumes that reading will bring happiness back to society, since the removal of reading seemed to bring about societal despair. Faber, who becomes a mentor for Montag, explains that books themselves do not contain the answers Montag is looking for. Happiness comes from true fulfilment, from achieving depth through meaningful interactions with others and the world; the shallow, materialistic society that gave up all activities deemed to be unpleasant, lost all depth and therefore all meaning. Faber reminds Montag that we must first desire change before we can achieve it, and that the apathy of the population makes that solution seem unlikely.

Example Quote “What is there about fire that’s so lovely? No matter what age we are, what draws us to it?” Beatty blew out the flame and lit it again. “It’s perpetual motion. If you let it go on, it’d burn our lifetimes out. What is fire? It’s a mystery. Scientists give us gobbledegook about friction and molecules. But they don’t really know. Its real beauty is that it destroys responsibility and consequences. A problem gets too burdensome, then into the furnace with it. Now, Montag, you’re a burden. And fire will lift you off my shoulders, clean, quick, sure; nothing to rot later. Antibiotic, aesthetic, practical” (115).

Example Answer In this passage, Beatty and Montag have just arrived at Montag’s house after Mildred and her friends turned him in. Beatty has been walking a fine line between friend or foe thus far in the novel, but here he reveals himself decidedly as foe. Beatty uses fire to threaten Montag, seeing fire only as a weapon despite its many other qualities. For Beatty, and others in this society, elements of nature are meant to be controlled, conquered, taken advantage of. What is lost, then, is the beauty, magic, and wonder of the natural world, something Montag is just starting to appreciate; he awakens and realizes the nurturing qualities of fire as the novel comes to a close.

Exam prep cont’d To prepare for the exam, look over our discussion and quiz questions. Re-read passages of the novel that were confusing or gave you difficulty. Form a study group—talk about the novel with classmates to get a better understanding of key scenes. When in doubt, ask for help!