Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury

Author Information Ray Douglas Bradbury- born August 22, 1920 in Illinois He is a science fiction writer, but he has also earned acclaim in poetry, drama, and screenwriting.

As a boy, his life revolved around magic and reading. His family’s favorite holiday was Halloween (more celebrated than Christmas).

He began writing in 1931 at the age of eleven. In 1937, he published his own newspaper called Futuria Fantasia. He wrote by recalling his own experiences and emotions.

Book Information Fahrenheit 451 began as a short story called “The Fireman” (1951). He expanded it and published Fahrenheit 451 in 1953.

The central theme of the novel is Censorship. “Book Burning” = the suppression of writing. The central theme of the novel is Censorship.

Significance to the title = the temperature at which book paper burns.

Significance of the epigram=. If they give you ruled Significance of the epigram= If they give you ruled paper, write the other way (a challenge to authority).

Homes in the book are fireproofed so that the firemen no longer put out fires – instead they start fires.

Firemen are the caretakers of this future society’s peace of mind. Firemen burn books as a means of maintaining social order.

  Guy Montag’s (main character) job is to seek out and destroy any home in which books have been found.

Books are evil and they must be destroyed. Government Motto: Books are evil and they must be destroyed.   The government believes that when books and ideas are available to people, conflict and unhappiness occur.