Fahrenheit 451 Study Guide

Pages 3-18

  1. What is the full name of the protagonist?
  2. Describe Clarisse.
  3. What does Clarisse McClellan ask regarding firemen and their work?
  4. What differences exist between the fireman and Clarisse?
  5. Who is Mildred?
  6. What has happened to Mildred?
  7. What is Mildred “taking part in” as the protagonist leaves the house the next morning?
  8. What differences are you seeing between the society described in the novel thus far and the society we live in today?

Page 21-42

  1. What does the dandelion tell Montag?
  2. Why does Clarisse go to a psychologist?
  3. Why does the Hound growl menacingly at Montag?
  4. Why doesn’t Clarisse go to school?
  5. Who is Beatty?
  6. Who was “Master Ridley”?
  7. What does Montag bring home from the fire?
  8. Read the following passages carefully.

“The Mechanical Hound slept but did not sleep, live but did not live….” (24)

“The room was not empty… the room was empty indeed.” (11-12)

What literary device are these lines examples of? Why do you think this device is important to our understanding of the novel?

Pages 42-68

  1. Where does Mildred say she met Montag?
  2. What are the three “walls” that have come between Mildred and Montag?
  3. What has happened to Clarisse? Why is this ironic?
  4. Why is Montag contemplating quitting his job?
  5. Why did books become “obsolete” and eventually taboo? Give a brief synopsis of Beatty’s explanation.
  6. Define hedonistic. How does knowledge of this term help our understanding of Montag’s society?
  7. What does Beatty believe about books?
  8. Where has Montag been hiding his books?

Page 71-93

  1. Why do you think part two of 451 is called “The Sieve and the Sand”? Discuss the sieve parable on page 78 and how it relates to Montag’s goals.
  2. Why does Montag want so desperately to understand Clarisse?
  3. Do you believe Montag and Mille are really good for one another? Explain.
  4. On page 75, Faber says, “I don’t talk things, sir. I talk the meaning of things. I sit here and know I'm alive.” What do you make of this quote? What significance does it hold?
  5. On page 76, Mildred screams, “See what you’re doing? You’ll ruin us! Who’s more important, me or that Bible?” What truly is more important, a single person or knowledge that can educate millions? Discuss.
  6. What is possibly waiting for Montag outside his house? What could this be foreshadowing?
  7. Discuss the idea of love found on page 77. What is love? Who or what can love? How and where can you find it?
  8. Why are metals such as “tin, copper, chromium, silver, and brass” mentioned so frequently throughout the novel? When are elements of nature mentioned?
  9. What does Montag mean when he says his wife is dying? (page 81)
  10. Explore Faber’s speech on pages 82-85. Discuss the three things that Faber claims humanity needs. Do you agree? Why or why not?
  11. What is Montag’s plan? What do you make of it? Does it seem likely to succeed? Is it brilliant? Crazy? Hypocritical? Explain. What does Montag then do to entice Faber to join in his plan?
  12. What did Faber create to help their cause?
  13. What does Faber suspect about Beatty? Do you think his suspicions are founded?

Pages 93-110

  1. What does Mrs. Phelps believe about the war? Where do you think she got this information?
  2. What did Montag want to do that so surprised the women?
  3. How do the women “talk politics”?
  4. What does Montag produce that alarms his guests? What is Mrs. Phelps’ reaction? Why do you suppose she acts this way?
  5. Beatty seems to have an intricate catalog of literary quotes. What do you make of this?
  6. Why does Beatty describe his “battle of wits” dream to Montag? What is his goal? How does Faber react?
  7. Where is Montag’s next assignment?

Pages 113-130

  1. The previous two section titles held mythological and literary significance. What do you make of the title of this section?
  2. 2. Who reported Montag?
  3. While Montag did not necessarily want to burn his books, he seemed willing to destroy the remainder of his house. What does the annihilation of his home symbolize?
  4. What does Beatty discover on Montag?
  5. What Shakespearean illusion does Beatty make? What is ironic about the chosen quote?
  6. What finally happens to Beatty?
  7. Although the Hound is destroyed, what final damage does it do?
  8. What does Montag sadly realize about Beatty?
  9. Why is Montag hesitant to cross the street?
  10. Why does Montag hide his books at Black’s house?

Page 130-154

  1. Where does Montag retreat?
  2. What is Faber’s reaction to the violent turn of events?
  3. What does Faber suggest Montag do? What is ironic about the “Harvard hobos”?
  4. What is now hunting Montag? Why is this so dangerous for both men? What s their plan for escape?
  5. What plan does the “parlor” suggest to capture Montag? How does he evade the danger?
  6. Contrast Montag in the city with Montag in nature. What are the differences?
  7. What philosophical conclusion does Montag come to regarding burning? What changes his mind?
  8. What has happened to the emptiness within Montag?
  9. What does Montag believe about the railroad tracks?
  10. What does Granger reveal about the chase?
  11. How have the outcasts preserved destroyed books?
  12. What book is Montag? What book is Granger?

Pages 154-165

  1. Why does Granger trust Montag?
  2. Why does Granger miss his grandfather? Why doesn’t Montag miss Millie?
  3. Where does Montag remember meeting Mildred? Why does he remember during that specific moment in time?
  4. Why happens to the city?
  5. What observations does Granger make concerning the similarities between Man and the Phoenix? What are the differences?
  6. What is the plan of the learned men?
  7. Fahrenheit 451 was written in 1953, yet set far into the future. What goals do you think Bradbury had in writing this book? Novels are often a reaction to social conditions. What do you think Bradbury was reacting to?