Part I: The Hearth and the Salamander (pages 7-72)

  1. What do the "fireman" do for a living?
  2. In the opening scene, why are the books compared to birds?
  3. According to pages 7-8, what does Montag think of his job?
  4. Who does Montag meet on the way home? Describe her and her family (uncle). What is unusual about them?
  5. During his conversation, Montag says that "You never wash it off completely" referring to the kerosene. What could this mean symbolically?
  6. What does Clarisse’s conversation with Montag reveal about the society they live in? List 5 characteristics about the society.
  7. What are some of the questions Clarisse asks Montag? What do the questions reveal about Clarisse’s personality?
  8. What is the final question Clarisse asks Montag? How does it make him feel?
  9. Why do you think that Bradbury would introduce Clarisse before Montag's wife, Mildred?
  10. Why does Montag look at the ventilator grille when he arrives home? What might this foreshadow?
  11. Why does Mildred need help when Montag gets home and describe the help that she receives.
  12. Is there anything unusual about the way the two men go about helping Mildred? How is it unusual? Does this sort of occurrence happen often in this society?
  13. How is life in Montag's house very different from that of Clarisse's house?
  14. How does Mildred react after she wakes up from her previous night's experience?
  15. What does Mildred do all day?
  16. Describe the setup of Montag's TV room.
  17. What is Clarisse doing when Montag sees her again?
  18. How is Clarisse different than Mildred?
  19. What is the mechanical hound and what is its purpose?
  20. What is the hound's reaction to Montag?
  21. Why does society consider Clarisse “anti-social” ?
  22. At the next fire, what does Montag take?
  23. After the burning incident, Beatty reveals something very important about himself and his knowledge. What is it?
  24. Describe the state of Mildred and Montag’s marriage. What is it that they can’t remember?
  25. Who is Mildred's "family"? How does her description of them reveal the superficial nature of her life.
  26. What has happened to Clarisse? How did it happen?
  27. Why is Montag sick the next day? What is he starting to realize about society?
  28. Why does Beatty appear at Montag’s house?
  29. Read Beatty’s conversation with Montag carefully. They contain great truths about our world. List three ideas Beatty talks about in his speech to Montag that are true about our world and explain their significance.
  30. Why did books come to be banned according to Beatty? What has replaced true knowledge in society?
  31. According to Beatty, what is happiness? Do you agree or disagree?
  32. What is Mildred’s response when she sees all the books Montag has?

Part II: "The Sieve and the Sand” (Pages 73-113)

1.Why does Mildred say television is better than books?

2.What does Montag say about the state of society on pages 75-76?

  1. When was the last liberal arts college shut down?
  2. Why did Professor Faber think Montag’s call was some sort of trap.
  3. What is the significance of the sieve and the sand reference on page 80? How does it help to describe what is happening in the novel?
  1. Why did Faber’s fear dissipate when Montag was standing outside his door?
  2. What did Montag want from Faber?
  3. What does Faber tell Montag about books? Does he think they are necessary?
  4. What are the three points Faber states are necessary to fully comprehend ideas?
  5. How did Montag finally get Faber to consider really helping him?
  6. What to items were exchanged before Montag left the professor’s house?
  7. What is the volcano’s mouth?
  8. After Montag shuts off the television, what are three topics of conversation he tries to engage the women in (before the poem)? What do their responses reveal about the values of this society?
  9. What is the poem Montag reads to the women? How does the subject of the poem relate to the ideas of the novel?
  10. Which lady was affected by the original intent of the poetry?
  11. How does Beatty try to confuse Montag? What does Beatty say is wrong with literature? Why is his argument flawed?
  12. What interrupted the poker game?
  13. Captain Beatty drove the Salamander to whose house?

Part III: Burning Bright (pages 115-167)

  1. How has Beatty given Montag hints that he is under suspicion?
  2. Who must have brought the books back from the garden?
  3. Who turned in the alarm against Montag?
  4. What happened to Montag’s green bullet?
  5. Why did Montag burn Beatty's body? Did Beatty want to die?
  6. What is Montag’s plan to escape?
  7. How much money did Montag give Faber?
  8. How many scents can the mechanical hound remember?
  9. Why did Montag want Faber to turn on the air conditioning and sprinklers?
  10. Interpret “Twenty million Montag's running, soon, if the cameras caught him.”
  11. Why did the search for Montag veer inland?
  12. Who died in Montag’s place?
  13. Describe Montag’s emotions as he floats in the river? What is symbolic about the river?
  14. What does Montag mean when he says the fireman burned time? What else burns time? What does Montag now realize was wrong about what firemen do?
  15. What did Granger mean by “Welcome back from the dead.”
  16. When Granger and other like minded people are stopped by authorities, why isn’t any incriminating evidence found?
  17. Do you have a sense that there are other “book chapters” in other towns. What proof do you have?
  18. What does Granger mean by his quote “You’re not important. You’re not anything.”?
  19. What does Montag finally remember about Mildred and himself?
  20. How does Montag envision Mildred’s death? What do her last moments reveal about how she lived her life?
  21. What is the significance of the phoenix? What does it mean for the future of society?
  22. What happens to the city at the end? What are Montag and the others going to do? Does Granger think they will be successful?