1. Fahrenheit 451—Background
Set in a dystopian future, Fahrenheit 451 presents a world wherein individuality is seen as dangerous
Our protagonist, Guy Montag, is a fireman whose job is to destroy books by burning
The government views books and educated people as criminals
These people can stir up the population with new ideas
These people think outside of what the government views as right
Free-thinking individuals are oppressed as law-breakers
Fahrenheit 451—Background
Written in 1953, Fahrenheit provides a glimpse into the future of a dystopian society.
A dystopian society is one that highlights human misery through oppression, disease or overcrowding.
In the novel, we see a world wherein the government oppresses literature and free-thinking individuals.
For the author, Ray Bradbury, this was meant to be a warning of the dangers of government control and censorship.

2. Fahrenheit 451—Background
In America in the 1950’s, Senator Joseph McCarthy initiated a search for citizens/officials who he viewed as traitors
“Our job as Americans and as Republicans is to dislodge the traitors from every place”
Although we are protected by the Constitution, this time period in America was marked by fear of communism and government control
In this way, we see how the oppression Bradbury spoke of was not that far off
Fahrenheit 451—Background
Fiction always has a foundation in reality. Although it may seem far- fetched, Bradbury was writing about a topic present in the U.S.
In the 1950’s, Americans were experiencing a similar level of oppression from the government in response to McCarthyism.
If the government thought you opposed democracy or favored communism, you could be arrested with little or no evidence.

3. Fahrenheit 451—The Hearth and the Salamander
The first part of the novel is entitled, The Hearth and the Salamander
Both images stand out symbolically
The hearth in a home is the fireplace, tying to the imagery of flames being produced
The salamander, a lizard, is mythically referred to as living within fire
He can survive the flames
Myth due in part to the venom salamanders can secrete
Fahrenheit 451
The temperature at which paper burns
Symbolism presents the narrative focus in the title
Fahrenheit 451—The Hearth and the Salamander
Symbolically, the novel is rich in its presentation to the reader.
Relating to its content, the title of the novel is the temperature at which paper holds a flame and burns.
Immediately, we are given insight into what the novel will have in store for us. We mark it as significant that the title refers to burning and launch into the reading wondering who is burning books and why.

4. Fahrenheit 451—Figurative Language
“It was a pleasure to burn”
The opening scene sees Montag at his job, burning books
For Montag, the ideaof burning is on level with the highest joy
He values himself insofar as he can wield the power to burn and destroy books
Montag takes a “special pleasure” in seeing “things eaten”
Figurative language brings the action of the scene to life
“this great python spitting its kerosene”
The hoses he uses take on a life of their own under his control
Montag views himself in a high position as he undertakes the task of burning
“his hands were the hands of some amazing conductor playing all the symphonies of blazing and burning”
Fahrenheit 451—Figurative Language
The novel’s opening is rich in figurative language, presenting strong imagery pertaining t0 the main character, Montag.
A fireman, Montag’s main role is to burn books, which are seen as offensive and dangerous to the populace.
Montag relishes in his job, seen through the presentation of his book- burning in the opening scene.

5. Fahrenheit 451—Plot “He turned the corner”
The inciting incident in the novel sets the plot in motion
We begin to see here how the character will be affected/changed
Hereafter, Montag’s emotions begin to change through his interaction with Clarisse
In talking with the girl, Montag begins to question his choices in life
“Are you happy?”
By thinking about his own happiness, Montag is able to reflect on his life
“Something lay hidden behind the grill”
We are told that Montag is hiding something
This section is left purposefully vague
As readers, we must draw the conclusion about what he is hiding—and why
This conflict will deepen our understanding about Montag
As the novel opens, we are engaged by the actions of Montag and his role in society.
Soon, his sentiments about his job begin to change through his interaction with a neighbor.
What we learn is that Montag is not clearly the character he is portrayed as. There is more to him—more which he is trying to hide for his own safety.

6. Fahrenheit 451—Character
Clarisse describes herself as ‘crazy’
Despite her own feelings, the narrator tells us that she is ‘fragile milk crystal’
We are told through her expression that her face holds ‘a soft and constant light’
The white imagery associated with her shows her to be pure, innocent
Montag, on the other hand, as appears as ‘dark’ with a ‘fierce grin’
The contrast of the two characters shows how they will interact
The light will illuminate the dark, so to speak
Through the pure ‘white’ imagery associated with Clarisse, we know she will impact Montag in some way
Her ‘gentle hunger’ and ‘tireless curiosity’ will begin to rub off on him
Fahrenheit 451—Character
As the text opens, we are introduced to two central characters, Guy Montag and Clarisse McClellan.
Character-wise, the two could not be more different. In terms of development, it is this contrast which allows us to learn more about each of them.
Notice how both characters are described, both in looks and emotions. These contrasts will begin to play off one another.

7. Fahrenheit 451—Character
“She was an expert at lip-reading . . .”
Mildred doesn’t really interact with the outside world
She has been so plugged into technology that she can’t be pulled out
Her only outlet is watching the ‘parlor walls’
She interacts with the televisions on the walls
“It’ll be even more fun when we can afford to have the fourth wall installed”
Her only wish in the world is to make wrap herself in the televisions
Her reality is one of immersion in technology, not life
Fahrenheit 451—Character
We are also introduced to Mildred, Montag’s wife.
In her introductory scene, she has overdosed on sleeping pills.
An eccentric character, Mildred doesn’t really interact with the world around her.
She is constantly plugged into her ‘sea-shell ear thimbles’.

8. Fahrenheit 451—Technology
“She had both ears plugged with electronic bees that were humming the hour away”
For Bradbury, technology presented as much a distraction as it was an aide
Technology is great, but not if we are dependent on it
Through Mildred’s actions, we see how too much technology can be a negative aspect of life
“If we had a fourth wall, why it’d be just like this room wasn’t ours at all, but all kinds of exotic people’s rooms”
Fahrenheit 451—Technology
Bradbury presents us with an eerily accurate portrayal of technology usage in the future and the effects it has on society.
His view of technology is biting, presenting it as a negative distractor to a world that hungers for more of it.
Affecting society, Bradbury speaks of technology as an annoyance, using imagery and figurative language to compare technological advances to pesky insects.

9. Fahrenheit 451—Social Criticism
“You never stop to think what I’ve asked you.”
Clarisse makes note of Montag’s strange laughter in conversation
Commenting on society’s actions
We have mannerisms in conversation, but we never really focus on how to talk to one another
We talk to respond, not to listen
“Well, after all, this is the age of the disposable tissue”
Shockingly, the uncle is referring to how people can often be seen as disposable
We don’t take the time to get to know anyone
Everyone is just a passing stranger
“No one has time any more for anyone else”
Fahrenheit 451—Social Criticism
As a dystopian work, Fahrenheit presents a world that is trying to be perfect but just misses the mark.
In the opening, we see the role of Montag as a fireman—to start fires on illegal books. We know from here that the world we are in is a little off.
Throughout the work, Bradbury drops in hints about how he feels towards society and the negative aspects therein.
His novel is very much an attempt to get people to think about the world—and maybe to fix the problems we see in it.