Fahrenheit 451 An Introduction

Historical Context World War II had ended only a few years before Era of McCarthyism Threat of nuclear warfare loomed Many Sci-Fi books and movies reflected this fear

Predict or Prevent? Bradbury claimed he was trying to “prevent the future”. He did foresee many future developments: – Walkmans, earbuds, big- screen and interactive t.v., rise in violence, growing illiteracy, condensation of info into “sound bites” Bradbury claimed he was trying to “prevent the future”. He did foresee many future developments: – Walkmans, earbuds, big- screen and interactive t.v., rise in violence, growing illiteracy, condensation of info into “sound bites”

Settings Historical Setting Physical Setting Social Setting

Themes To Watch For Individual self- expression is important. Violence is self- destructive. Mindless pleasure seeking and materialism make for an empty life. Humanity should preserve and value the culture of the past.

More Themes Humanity has the ability to be reborn or revived. In the wrong hands, modern technology can be dangerous. Commercialism can erode spiritual values. People lose their humanity when not able to communicate and interact with each other on a personal level.

Symbols To Investigate Fire Burning Water The salamander The Mechanical Hound Seashells Parlor Walls Titles of each section

Names Guy Montag – Guy Fawkes? – Name of a paper company Clarisse – Form of Clara, from the Latin for “bright” – Clarisse is often associated with a brightness different from that of a fire Faber – Name of a pencil company Guy Montag – Guy Fawkes? – Name of a paper company Clarisse – Form of Clara, from the Latin for “bright” – Clarisse is often associated with a brightness different from that of a fire Faber – Name of a pencil company

Fire Imagery Many cultures have gods associated with fire – Egyptian goddess Sekhet Many myths try to explain the origin – Greek myth about Prometheus stealing fire from the gods Scientists used to believe all matter was made of the 4 elements: fire, earth, water, & air

Connections & Background Info: The Hearth and the Salamander Ben Franklin helped organize America’s first fire company and founded its first circulating library. Franklin was also a writer and printer who believed in free speech and press. Ben Franklin helped organize America’s first fire company and founded its first circulating library. Franklin was also a writer and printer who believed in free speech and press.

Connections & Background Info: The Hearth and the Salamander Dante: Dante Alighieri was an Italian poet who wrote The Divine Comedy Jonthan Swift: Author of Gulliver’s Travels Marcus Aurelius: Roman philosopher and emperor Hamlet: Shakespeare play Little Black Sambo: children’s book with racial stereotypes that are offensive Uncle Tom’s Cabin: novel that condemns slavery

Connections & Background Info: The Sieve and the Sand Authors mentioned by Montag: Thomas Jefferson Henry David Thoreau: author of famous essay on civil disobedience, and Walden.

Connections & Background Info: The Sieve and the Sand Texts: “Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold -Reflects a personal sense of isolation and doubt. Montag does not read aloud the first two stanzas. Texts: “Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold -Reflects a personal sense of isolation and doubt. Montag does not read aloud the first two stanzas.

Connections & Background Info: The Sieve and the Sand Texts: The Bible: – Montag attempts to read a portion of Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount that criticizes materialism. – Another character reads to Montag from the Book of Job, about a man whose faith is tested by a series of great calamities. – The Bible has often been a target of censorship. – When the New Testament was 1st transalted into English by William Tyndale, copies were seized and burned. (He was also burned at the stake as a heretic.)

Connections & Background Info: The Sieve and the Sand Beatty’s Quotes and Paraphrases: Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice – “Truth will come to light; murder cannot be hid long.” – “He doth nothing but talk of his horse.” – “The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.”

Connections & Background Info: Burning Bright William Blake’s “The Tyger” Tyger! Tyger! Burning bright In the forests of the night, What immortal hand or eye Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

Connections & Background Info: Burning Bright “Old Montag wanted to fly near the Sun and... he's burned his wings” – Daedalus and Icarus

Connections & Background Info: Burning Bright “You think you can walk on water” There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats, for I am arm’d so strong in honesty that they pass by me as an idle wind, which I respect not” – Julius Caesar, IV, iii

Connections & Background Info: Burning Bright Thomas Hardy: British novelist & poet Charles Darwin: Survival of the fittest Aristophanes: Ancient Greek playwright

Connections & Background Info: Burning Bright “Mr. Lincoln”: yes, it’s Abraham Lincoln Machiavelli: The Prince The Phoenix