Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury

Fahrenheit 451 Published: 1953 –Originally a short story called The Firemen

Fahrenheit 451 Origin of title: 451 degrees is the temperature at which paper burns While reading, notice that 451 is the main character’s firemen ID number

Fahrenheit 451 Bradbury’s inspiration : – social atmosphere Emphasis on TV, radio Culture bombards people with sensation that substitutes for thinking – book burning in Nazi German

Fahrenheit 451 Genre : – science fiction The art of the possible!

Fahrenheit 451 Bradbury on IMPORTANCE OF BOOKS: – “Without the library, you have no civilization.” Ray Bradbury

Fahrenheit 451 Bradbury on LOVE OF BOOKS: – One might consider oneself to be able to fall in love with a book. One keeps a book by the bed and turns to it. Bradbury wants his readers to fall in love.

Fahrenheit 451 Bradbury on CENSORSHIP – Be on guard for special interests groups interfering with aesthetics. –Watch one another!

Fahrenheit 451 Characters : – Montag (protagonist): subconsciously, Bradbury named his character after the maker of paper. – Faber: again, subconsciously, Bradbury named him after the maker of pencils.

Fahrenheit 451 Characters : – Beatty (antagonist): a lover of books, who, after losing everything he loved, could not find the answers he sought in books; they were empty; therefore, he gave up on them and burned them.

Fahrenheit 451 Characters : –Firefighters: Bradbury wondered what would become of firefighters if houses were made so they could not burn. He reasoned that a firefighter could be one who then causes fires. –Clarisse: innocence, belief

Fahrenheit 451 The hero goes on a journey Blind participant in a suppressive society Aware individual in a sterile, thoughtless environment Rebel against the status quo in a forest of free thinkers

Fahrenheit 451 While you are reading, look for rich –imagery –symbolism –metaphors –allusions

Fahrenheit 451 Themes –Consider this as well: how is the novel challenging our sense of duty as citizens in a democracy to resist censorship think critically think and speak freely

Daily Assignments Each day will begin with a free write. The prompt will be from the previous night’s reading. A “round-table” discussion will follow. Each day, a group of students will be responsible for coming up with three questions based on the previous night’s reading and leading the discussion. All students are expected to participate in discussion. Culminating activities: –1.Revise, and make more robust, one of your free writes (make it longer and stronger). –2.Creative writing activity

Starting Points for Creating Discussion Questions Formulate questions that require analytical thought. Possible starting points: How do characters interact? How do characters evolve? Who or what is in conflict? What types of conflicts (inner, external, society) exist? What kind of world/society is portrayed? What social message is the author sending? What are the principal recurring elements in the work? Consider symbols, allusions. What are the themes? What is the protagonist’s attitude toward the matter he or she is relating? What does the writer think of the protagonist? What is the effect of the way that the work begins? Of the way it ends? How does the work resemble other works you have read, movies you’ve seen, songs you’ve heard?

Note: the previous slide shows points– you must formulate a question. Do not ask, “What are the themes in this part of the book?” Rather, ask, “How does the theme of ____________ illuminate one character’s relationship with another?” or “How does the author symbolically use __________?” or “How does so-and-so’s meeting with so-and-so chang his perspective on life?”

Discussion Lead Assignments 5 th pd. –pp 1-31: Laura Grace, Micah, Alex –pp 32-68: Jessica, Eli, Jordan H., Andrew –pp : Kevin, Maria, Rachel –pp : Luke, Jordan D., Emily –pp 146 – end: Amanda, Grant, Jordan K.

Discussion Lead Assignments 7 h pd. –pp 1-31: Srihith, Sophie, Jamie, Miles –pp 32-68: Sam, Nora, Conor, Claire, –pp : Keith, Jillian, Tyler, Zach F. –pp : Zach G., Bradlee, Federico, Alex –pp 146 – end: Chase, Sarah, Sasha, Matt