1. Character Questions
Heroic – saves books, fights against Beatty, frames firemen, values knowledge
Confrontational relationship – Beatty (contrasting views and murder), Mildred (lack of emotion, betrayal, destructive for each other’s lifestyle)
Moment of revelation – isn’t happy, doesn’t love Mildred, books are valuable
Escape from the constraints of his environment – tries to save books and knowledge, enlists the help of Faber
Refuses to conform to expectations – tries to save books and knowledge, enlists the help of Faber
Flawed but admirable – tries to save society and books but is too impulsive and aggressive, feels sympathy for him, lacks knowledge
Influenced by setting – influenced by controlling government initially to destroy knowledge and then to save it to regain true happiness
Clarifies a theme – control and censorship as his behaviour is a reaction against this
Reaches breaking point – Kills Beatty
Not in harmony with society – everyone else goes along with the government but he wants a better life

2. Also think about how the following relate to characters:
Mirrors – Clarisse, reflects true self/self understanding
Contrasts/paradoxes – Beatty, Faber and Montag, complexities of character, Beatty hates books but knows a lot about them, Faber is a coward but risks his life, Montag is a fireman but wants to safeguard knowledge
Circus – society view fire as entertainment, Mildred watching the “family”
Technology – Beatty and Mildred, represents a lack of humanity, empty of emotions, the “family”
Sieve and the sand – Montag trying to remember books and feeling like it is futile because the information drains from his mind
Fire – Montag and Beatty, destructive force, powerful, means of manipulation and control, punishment
Salamander – Beatty/name of fire engine, represents an animal that lives in fire but is unaffected by it
Nature – Mildred is contrasted with nature and Clarisse loves nature and is one with it
Phoenix – society destroys itself but then rises from the ashes
Butterflies – Beatty as used to describe fire as a thing of beauty, link to the fragility of things
Blood – Montag and Mildred, represents true subconscious self, emphasises Mildred’s emptiness

3. Character questions
What does Montag do that is heroic? How are these reactions heroic? How can he also been seen as flawed?
When does Montag have a moment of revelation? Why is it important?
How does Montag refuse to conform to expectations of society? Why is this important? How is he influenced by this setting?
What theme does Montag illustrate? How? What does it tell us about the novel?
When does Montag reach breaking point? Why is this important?