Fahrenheit 451 Reading Schedule

By 15.10
Read & Identify two significant
quotes about the text feature of
your choice
p. 70 – 89
From “Montag turned and looked
at his wife,” to
“Here now, said Montag, “We’ll
start over again, at the beginning.”
By 27.10
Read & Identify two significant
quotes about Faber
p. 107 – 110
“Nobody listens any more.” To
“And I hardly think a very old man
and a fireman turned sour could do
much this late in the game…”
By 03.11
Compare Montag’s escape to a
part of the hero’s journey
p. 147 – p.157
“Lights flicked on and house-doors “A shotgun blast went off in his
opened…” to “And he stumbled
along the alley in the dark.”
By 26.10
Read & Identify two significant Read & Identify two significant
quotes about the text feature quotes about the text feature of your
of your choice choice
p. 93 – 101 p. 101 – 107
“They read the long afternoon “He was on the subway.” To “Well—
through,” to suppose you tell me why you came
“Mildred shrieked with laughter here?”
in the hall.” to “He slammed
the door.”
By 02.11
Identify two significant changes in Montag
Identify two symbols and examine how Bradbury uses them
Identify Mrs. Phelps and Mrs. Bowles and examine their role
p. 110 - 143 “I can get books.” to “He was eating a light supper at nine
in the evening…” to “Why,” said Montag, “we’ve stopped in front of my
house.”
05.11 09.11
Identify two significant quotes Identify two significant quotes about
about the text feature of your the text feature of your choice
choice
p. 157 – 179 p. 179 – 186
“He was three hundred yards
leg…” to “Then, holding the downstream,” to “Once, long ago,
suitcase, he walked out in the Clarisse had walked here, where he
river until…” was walking now.”

By 10.11 By 11.11
p. 186 – 198 p. 199 – 211
“Half an hour later, cold, and “There was a shriek
moving carefully on the tracks, …” and the jets from the Final Quiz = 11. 11
to “And they all laughed quietly, city were gone…” to
moving downstream.” “When we reach the
city.”

Study Guide
1. Understand the three parts of the novel, including main events, conflicts and key characters.
2. Be prepared to identify key characters and explain their character traits, motivations, roles and
values within the story:
a. Montag
b. Mildred
c. Clarisse
d. Captain Beatty
e. Faber
f. Granger
g. The Mechanical Hound
Part 2: The Sieve and the Sand
1. What does Mildred say about why the television is better than books? What does she mean?
2. Why do you think Faber gave Montag his name and phone number?
3. How do you think Montag would respond to Mildred’s question about which is more important—her, or
Montag’s books?
4. What do you think is the meaning of the title of Part Two (“The Sieve and the Sand”)?
5. Why does Montag visit Faber?
6. What does Montag mean when he tells Faber that his wife is dying?
7. What three things does Faber say are missing from their society? Explain the importance of these things.
8. What has Faber invented, and why is it important?
9. What disturbing things do the women (Mildred’s friends) in Montag’s parlor say to each other?
10. Why does Montag start reading poetry to the women? How do they react, and why?
11. What does Beatty say to Montag after he shows up at the firehouse? What is he trying to do? What does he
know about Montag that gives him an advantage?

Part 3: Burning Bright

1. What does Beatty’s speech about Clarisse reveal about him?
2. What action has Mildred taken, and what does this show about her values? What do you think she means
when she says that “everything’s gone now”?
3. Why do you think that everyone in the world of Fahrenheit 451 thinks that, as Beatty puts it, “nothing will
ever happen to me…there are no consequences and no responsibilities”? Is this similar to people in our
society today?
4. What attitude or aspect of human nature is fire symbolic of? Think about Beatty’s philosophy of “burning a
problem” rather than facing it.
5. Why does Montag burn his entire house and everything in it?
6. Why do Beatty’s eyes widen when Montag toggles the safety on his flame thrower? Why do you think
Montag kills him? Is it a simple act of revenge?
7. How does Montag know Beatty wanted to die? Why do you think he wanted to die? Think about your
answer to question number 1.
8. What is unusual and disturbing about the “declaration of war” scene at the gas station?
9. Why do you think the kids who almost run over Montag could kill him “for no reason at all in the world”?
10. What does Montag do on the way to Faber’s house, and why?
11. What is Montag’s escape plan?
12. What does the sun represent? What connection does Montag see between the sun and time? Why does he
decide he must never burn again?
13. Why do you think Montag is sure that Clarisse has walked along that railroad track before?
14. What way do the men at the campfire provide for Montag to escape from the Mechanical Hound?
15. How does the chase end for the TV audience? How is this accomplished, and what more does it reveal about
the police? What explanation do the men give Montag for the way the chase ends?
16. How do the men and others like them preserve books, and what makes this possible? What are the
advantages of using this method to preserve books?
17. Describe the men’s strategy for bringing books back to society. What view do they have of their own
significance? Why are they optimistic about the future of humanity?
18. Why do the people of the city not believe in the bombs that kill them—why haven’t they tried to escape
destruction?
19. Why do you think Montag suddenly remembers where he and Mildred met?
20. In what way is humankind like the Phoenix? In what way is humankind different?
21. What is the meaning of Granger’s comment about building a mirror factory?