The Fahrenheit 451 Essay Topics/Evidence Chart!

How to Read a Book

(for college and AP)

The Fahrenheit 451 Essay Topics/Evidence Chart!

Choose one of the following to “track” throughout the novel:

1. Discuss how Ray Bradbury uses the fictional, futuristic society of Fahrenheit 451 to convey important ideas about mankind and society in general?

1. In some works of literature, a character who appears only briefly plays an important role in developing one or more themes of the work. Choose one or more such characters (Faber, Mildred, Clarisse) from the novel and, in a well-organized essay, discuss how that/those character’s appearance, though brief, serves to develop one or more themes of the novel.

1. The New York Times said of Fahrenheit 451, “Frightening in its implications…Mr. Bradbury’s account of this insane world, which bears many alarming resemblances to our own, is fascinating.” How would you respond to this evaluation of the novel? Explain your position.

1. Beatty tells Montag that firemen are "custodians of peace of mind" and that they stand against "those who want to make everyone unhappy with conflicting theory and thought." How well are the firemen accomplishing these objectives? Are conflicting ideas the only source of unhappiness in their society? What other sources might there be? Can conflicting ideas exist even without books that have been destroyed and outlawed?

1. Other than censorship what problems exist in the dystopic society envisioned by Bradbury? And to what extent have these problems and predictions come true in our present day? Does that solidify or muddy Bradbury’s main purpose of the novel?

Step 1: Create an evidence chart: for every evidence chart check you miss, you will lose 5 points off the final paper. There are 5. You will also have to verify through color coding that the information in the charts appears in the final essay. You will submit your evidence charts on the dates listed below. THESE MUST BE TYPED!!! They are due when called for; so check your calendars. Use the Didion Chart as an example.

Step 2: For each set of charts (there are 5): Annotate with the essay question you selected in mind…random comments are not allowed. Denote which question you are working with at the top of each chart.

Step 3: Write a Visceral Write: For each set of charts, write a one + page, typed Visceral Write over your reactions to your reading. These are also due on the due date of the charts.

Step 4: Participate in class discussions: Add relevant, pertinent, focused commentary during class discussion. This does not mean dominating the conversation or discussing random topics. Be focused on the novel.

FYI: Novel titles are either italicized or underlined; never both. And they are never put in quotation marks either!

I have an evidence chart on my web page ready to be filled in. Use if you would like! 