1. Write one or more questions that you have. Don't just say "I don't get it." Ask a specific question about what is happening in the story.
I have absolutly no questions. The book has been very crisp and straight forwards for me
2. How has Montag changed from the beginning of the novel to this part? In writing about this you might want to notice that the environment has changed from the city to nature. Is this a coincidence or is the author trying to say something by contrasting the city to nature in relation to the ways Montag has changed.
Reflecting back it is really interesting to think about how much Montag has changed since the start. In the beginning of the book Montag was just another ordinary brainless fool in a society that eliminates un-ordinary people. This all changed when he first met Clairesse that in a way "showed him the way" the way out of the cave that his society had thrown him in and shut the enterence, this was a cave that next to nobody ever climbed out of to simply ask the question "why?". Once Montag started asking questions he realized that his world was just a bunch of meaningless lies that were set in place to keep the majority (and minority) happy and ignorant. Montag's curiostiy grew when he discovered that some people were willing to die for books, he realized that these books must be the key to the front way out of the cave. Montag starts to become more and more daring and less law-abiding. When Captain Beatty finds out about his unhealthy reading habit he intends to put an end to it after Mildred phones in a report. This is when Montag realizes that books were in fact worth dying for. He put his life on the line when he made the decision to kill Beatty.
A very interesting change during this period was Montag's sudden care for others and their well-being rather than his own safety. "'Wait. There's no use you being discovered. When I leave, burn the spread of this bed that I touched...'" Montag realized that he was the one that got in this mess and was able to stand up to the consiquence. This was a dramatic change from the beginnning of the book where Montag wouldn't have gave a damn about what happend to Faber after he was safely gone.
I do not think that the city vs. nature connection was made as a coincidence. The city background reveals a more human controlled area of his life in which he was built on a foundation that society had laid out for him. In nature Montag is able to make his own decisions and fully function as a human being without the mind-numbing technological advancements that were put in place to kill the brain and throw constant happiness at it in which thinking is not required.
1.29.2007
1.28.2007
Fahrenheit 451 Pg. 126-137
Explain what you find interesting or exciting in this part of the book.
The really interesting part to me was the page that described what Montag thought was the police chasing him down the street but what ended up to be a couple of kids in a car going about 130 MPH trying to run him over just for kicks. This part really showed how brutal the society that they live in is. The only reason that these people who had never met him before decided not to end his life right then and there, is that he had fallen over and if they had ran him over they themselves would have flipped over and could have been hurt. Not once in their minds did their conscience tell them that they were killing an innocent (as far as they knew) man who had never done harm or disrespected them personally once. The only thing they thought about as they played God was how many laughs they would get out of his brain being spread out across the pavement.
"they had seen a man, a very extraordinary sight, a man strolling, a rarity, and simply said, 'Let's get him,'"
The really interesting part to me was the page that described what Montag thought was the police chasing him down the street but what ended up to be a couple of kids in a car going about 130 MPH trying to run him over just for kicks. This part really showed how brutal the society that they live in is. The only reason that these people who had never met him before decided not to end his life right then and there, is that he had fallen over and if they had ran him over they themselves would have flipped over and could have been hurt. Not once in their minds did their conscience tell them that they were killing an innocent (as far as they knew) man who had never done harm or disrespected them personally once. The only thing they thought about as they played God was how many laughs they would get out of his brain being spread out across the pavement.
"they had seen a man, a very extraordinary sight, a man strolling, a rarity, and simply said, 'Let's get him,'"
1.25.2007
Fahrenheit 451 Pg. 110-125
1. Summarize what happens in one or two sentences.
Montag learned that his wife and her friends had called in the report and he was forced to burn down his house. Afterwards he turned the flame thrower on Captain Beatty and is currently on the run from the police and his heading towards Faber's house.
2. On your blog, copy down one sentence from this reading selection that strikes you as particularly descriptive. Which of the 5 senses does it appeal to? What verbs, adjectives, or figurative language are used and why are they effective in describing a certain action, person, or thing?
"Montag caught it with a bloom of fire, a single wondrous blossom that curled in petals of yellow and blue and orange about the metal dog."
I especially liked this entry in particular because it compares the lethal fire to a beautiful flower. I think that it is a good example of figurative language because it paints a serene scene in your mind that makes you think of the awesome power of the fire and yet reminds you that at the same time it is a beautiful thing.
1.24.2007
Fahrenheit 451 Pg. 91-109
Give a very short (1-3 sentence) summary of the two main scenes in this section. The first scence was at home in the living room and the second scene was in the fire house with Beatty.
The First scene include Montag, his wife, and her two other "girlfriends" they were all sitting around the parlor watching another one of their mindless tv shows when Montag walks in and turns it off. This recieves a negative reaction from the women. He starts talking to them about politics and the approaching war, the women respond with mindless answers that clearly punctuate society's stance.
The Second Scene involved Montag's return to the firehouse, and the return of one book, where he was invited to play a game of poker with the other guys and Beatty. As they are playing Beatty starts talking about books and a "dream" that he had about him and Guy and tries to make him nervous by reciting a bunch of random quotes from books. Later they drive to put out a fire and Guy realizes that it's his house that they have driven up to.
1) Find a sentence or two that has strong adjectives and/or verbs. Quote the book and explain why these are strong descriptive words and why they are effective. How do they appeal to the senses? What mental images do they invoke?
"Captain Beatty, his poker cards in one pink hand, walked with exaggerated slowness to the phone and ripped out the address when the report was finished. He glanced perfunctorily at it and shoved it in his pocket."
I enjoyed this quote because it kind of makes me picture Beatty walking with attitude, almost as if strutting. It makes me think that he knows what address he is going to pull out before his hand even reaches in the printer. "exaggerated slowness" almost conveyed suspence but more so orchestrated the fact that Beatty knew all eyes were on him and he controlled the room. "glanced perfunctorily" means that he looked at it quickly then he shoved it into his pocket, more suspence because you want to know what the dramatic conclusion of the address will be.
The First scene include Montag, his wife, and her two other "girlfriends" they were all sitting around the parlor watching another one of their mindless tv shows when Montag walks in and turns it off. This recieves a negative reaction from the women. He starts talking to them about politics and the approaching war, the women respond with mindless answers that clearly punctuate society's stance.
The Second Scene involved Montag's return to the firehouse, and the return of one book, where he was invited to play a game of poker with the other guys and Beatty. As they are playing Beatty starts talking about books and a "dream" that he had about him and Guy and tries to make him nervous by reciting a bunch of random quotes from books. Later they drive to put out a fire and Guy realizes that it's his house that they have driven up to.
1) Find a sentence or two that has strong adjectives and/or verbs. Quote the book and explain why these are strong descriptive words and why they are effective. How do they appeal to the senses? What mental images do they invoke?
"Captain Beatty, his poker cards in one pink hand, walked with exaggerated slowness to the phone and ripped out the address when the report was finished. He glanced perfunctorily at it and shoved it in his pocket."
I enjoyed this quote because it kind of makes me picture Beatty walking with attitude, almost as if strutting. It makes me think that he knows what address he is going to pull out before his hand even reaches in the printer. "exaggerated slowness" almost conveyed suspence but more so orchestrated the fact that Beatty knew all eyes were on him and he controlled the room. "glanced perfunctorily" means that he looked at it quickly then he shoved it into his pocket, more suspence because you want to know what the dramatic conclusion of the address will be.
1.23.2007
Reply Here!
Yes I know that I essentially "stole" this idea from Laura Mitchell's blog but I thought that it would be a good idea. So if you want to reply to a comment that I left you, here would be the place to do it.
Descriptive Paragraph - Something I Look Forward To
Fatigue carries over my body and slows life to the speed of a snail. I watch as the hand moves slower and slower as it eventually halts completely and seems to start ticking backwards. My body slumps in my chair and I feel like a rat stuck in a cage. The teachers words seem to meld together and turn into a foriegn language. As I sit there and I imagine my own personal fortress that I steal away in after the hands touch 3 and 40. But not yet, because today the clock wants to torture me, to steal away my eager body, eager to get up and run home. Tick............tick...............my nails clinch in wait…………..tick..................tick.............the clock taunts me tick…tick…until finally the inevitable gives in to my will and the cages are released. A wild frenzy ensues as a stampede of high schoolers are set free.
Fahrenheit 451 Pg. 81-90
There isn't many fundamental things that I don't understand so far, but I do have one question. Why does Montag suddenly start ripping apart the bible. In this part I was a little lost so it may have been out of context. Does anyone have an answer?
Q. Faber jokingly proposes a plan of action and then starts to discuss it seriously with Montag. What is the plan of action? More importantly, why does he say it won’t work? Analyze his answer. Why won't it work?
A. Montag's proposed plan was to plant books in different firemen's houses, call in the alarm, and watch them burn to the ground so as to arise suspicion of treason against the great firemen. Faber really likes this plan but then realizes that challenges that go with it. For example, planting the books and finding somebody trustworthy to tell and plot with. They need more men to set the fires with and it will only work if the people they trust don't rat them out to the firemen first. I agree with his worries because it will be very hard for somebody in this society that will be trustworthy enough to make such a brave act.
Q. Faber jokingly proposes a plan of action and then starts to discuss it seriously with Montag. What is the plan of action? More importantly, why does he say it won’t work? Analyze his answer. Why won't it work?
A. Montag's proposed plan was to plant books in different firemen's houses, call in the alarm, and watch them burn to the ground so as to arise suspicion of treason against the great firemen. Faber really likes this plan but then realizes that challenges that go with it. For example, planting the books and finding somebody trustworthy to tell and plot with. They need more men to set the fires with and it will only work if the people they trust don't rat them out to the firemen first. I agree with his worries because it will be very hard for somebody in this society that will be trustworthy enough to make such a brave act.
1.22.2007
Fahrenheit 451 Pg. 71-80
Q. How will books get us out of "the cave?" What is the cave and how will books get us out of it?
A. I think that when Ray talks about the metaphorical cave, he is talking about a secluded state of mind and presence. As an example, Mildred. Mildred herself and most likely the rest of society is stuck in this cave of meaningless thoughts and actions. The cave restricts outside knowledge or unpleasent thoughts about life.
Books contain ideas and different sides to a topic that can start the human mind racing off in all different directions, eventually engaging the mind to ask even deeper questions like: why? Books of philosophy and opinions can reach into the soul, grab them and give them the boot out of the opening of the cave engaging themselves into toughts and opinions of their own (hopefully there's no dropoff).
A. I think that when Ray talks about the metaphorical cave, he is talking about a secluded state of mind and presence. As an example, Mildred. Mildred herself and most likely the rest of society is stuck in this cave of meaningless thoughts and actions. The cave restricts outside knowledge or unpleasent thoughts about life.
Books contain ideas and different sides to a topic that can start the human mind racing off in all different directions, eventually engaging the mind to ask even deeper questions like: why? Books of philosophy and opinions can reach into the soul, grab them and give them the boot out of the opening of the cave engaging themselves into toughts and opinions of their own (hopefully there's no dropoff).
1.21.2007
Fahrenheit 451 Pg. 40-68
Q. Is it better to be ignorant and happy OR is it better to be aware, educated and disturbed at the world?
A. According to Captain Beatty when he was lecturing Montag. The captain believes that the state of mind in which you are ignorant and happy is much better than the latter. Books about philosophy ideology only clutter the mind with contradicting opinions, facts, and thoughts. It is better to know how something works rather than why because knowing why only upsets. Knowing how to do something makes one feel better and wiser. Rather than having multiple sides to a debate it is better to have only one (and even better none!) this is because one cannot feel or be complete with the lingering unanswerable state in which you feel alone. Book burnings started, not as an order from the government, but due to minority demand. Because of the increasing population size, the minority size too increased and soon controversy became an unsettling feeling in everbody's stomach. So rather than censor these books to gain a happy medium, destroying them all together was enforced. This made society an even and therefore happy playing field; with no one person making another feel dumber because of his or her lack of book smarts, and no one to judge themselves against to gain the feeling of unintelligence.
"Not everyone born free and equal, as the Constitution says, but everyone made equal."
A. According to Captain Beatty when he was lecturing Montag. The captain believes that the state of mind in which you are ignorant and happy is much better than the latter. Books about philosophy ideology only clutter the mind with contradicting opinions, facts, and thoughts. It is better to know how something works rather than why because knowing why only upsets. Knowing how to do something makes one feel better and wiser. Rather than having multiple sides to a debate it is better to have only one (and even better none!) this is because one cannot feel or be complete with the lingering unanswerable state in which you feel alone. Book burnings started, not as an order from the government, but due to minority demand. Because of the increasing population size, the minority size too increased and soon controversy became an unsettling feeling in everbody's stomach. So rather than censor these books to gain a happy medium, destroying them all together was enforced. This made society an even and therefore happy playing field; with no one person making another feel dumber because of his or her lack of book smarts, and no one to judge themselves against to gain the feeling of unintelligence.
"Not everyone born free and equal, as the Constitution says, but everyone made equal."
1.19.2007
Descriptive Paragraph - Something I Dread
I step outside. The wind chill rushes against my heater warmed face and I shiver. My pace quickens as I try to accelerate the drum beat of my heart. Dew drops stay still like a tiger in wait on the tips of the grass. Outside the world and I wait for the new day. Finally I spot the white monstrosity as it speeds down the hill and comes to a screeching halt right in front of my feet sending small gravel flying through the air. As I thrust open the hatch and begin my journey. Six sets of wondering eyes bore down on me as I enter the impatient, awaiting monster. The hatch closes behind me and I know there is no turning back for another 30 minutes, I am trapped. As I settle in and await what comes next I notice that the universal voice, the one that cannot be ignored is the one of a man named Jeff and another of Jer. Immediatly my heart drops through the floor as I watch home sweet home disapear in overpoweringly stupid commentary on American Idol...
1.18.2007
Fahrenheit 451 Pg. 21-40
I wasn't really confused by any parts during this section of the book. The ones that i was midly confused about were gone over during our discussion.
I think that their was alot of truth behind saying the Clairesse was alot more mature than his wife for many reasons. First of all Clairesse notices and pays much more fine detail to her surroundings. She understands that the world is more than black and white and asks questions. These questions are exactly what the government doesn't want. They want people to be mindless and obiediant by believing and applying everything that they're told into what they percieve as the truth. I think that Bradburry makes the contrast between the two because he wants to show one definition of an ordinary citizen who believes what they are told. And one (Clairesse) who looks more deeply into a subject and uses what little resources are left (her uncle) to be an independent thinker.
I think that their was alot of truth behind saying the Clairesse was alot more mature than his wife for many reasons. First of all Clairesse notices and pays much more fine detail to her surroundings. She understands that the world is more than black and white and asks questions. These questions are exactly what the government doesn't want. They want people to be mindless and obiediant by believing and applying everything that they're told into what they percieve as the truth. I think that Bradburry makes the contrast between the two because he wants to show one definition of an ordinary citizen who believes what they are told. And one (Clairesse) who looks more deeply into a subject and uses what little resources are left (her uncle) to be an independent thinker.
Fahrenheit 451 Pg. 3-21
The thing that confused me the most in this section was during the part with Montag watching his wife during the operation. I didn't understand why they were operating on her. Later on towards the end i realized that it had to do with her taking all the sleeping pills, at first I had thought that he had taken them.The reader was able to tell the distance between the two spouces because of the part where he talks about imagining his wife waiting for him in bed which hadn't actually happend in at least two years. But what confused me later is in the morning they talked as if they had just seen each other the other day and had bought the third wall just two months ago.
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