"Fahrenheit 451" Pacing Guide

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Click the image above to read the novel.

Pacing Guide
(Book ISBN: 0-345-34296-8)

Section 1: From the opening through Montag's arrival at home (pp. 3-14).

Guiding Questions

What event occurs when Montag returns home this evening? How does this event with Montag provide us with our impressions o the state of society and what is that impression? Do you see any similarity between the society Montag lives in and our own?

Section 2: From Montag in his bedroom to the rain scene with Clarisse
(pp. 14-31).

Discuss the character of Clarisse. What do you think her intended role or purpose is in the novel? What type of effect does she have on Montag and what does she spur him to think about or do?

Section 3: From the first scene in the fire station through the burning of
the old woman on Elm Street (pp. 31-40).

Before Montag and Beatty have a chance to light the old woman's books on fire, she cries out "Play the man, master Ridley; we shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out." Make a connection between being burnt for heresy (like witches), and the women's decision and willingness to immolate herself for her beliefs. What are the woman's beliefs that she is willing to die for? What importance do you think this quote has to Montag or to the novel as a whole?

Section 4: From Montag and Mildred in bed to Beatty's arrival (pp. 41-52).

In this section Montag is full of fear. What is it that Montag truly fears? What realization is it that moves him to tears? Montag, in this section, is not the same Montag that we started the novel with. He has changed, but how? Montag, in this section, for the first time, comes to a realization about the books that he tries to articulate. What is that realization?

Section 5: From Beatty's visit through the end of "The Hearth and the
Salamander" (pp. 52-68).

In the novel, Beatty not only serves as Bradbury's villain, but also as his mouthpiece to explore the argument for (and subsequent warning by the author against), censorship. Everything Beatty says is deliberately ironic. This ambiguity and ironic, contradictive tone make Beatty the most complex character in the novel. Explore the character of Beatty and the philosophy he espouses by summarizing what Beatty truly believes. Explain how Beatty's explanation of his beliefs are ironic and in what ways he contradicts himself.

Section 6: From the opening of "The Sieve and the Sand" to Montag's visit
with Faber (pp. 71-93 at the break).

Faber becomes a more important character in this section. Faber may have placed the seed of Montag's inner revolution the year before in the park, when he told the fireman that he does not talk about things but rather the meanings of things, and therefore he knows he is alive. This theme of deeper meanings being necessary for life is central to the book. Faber tells Montag, "Do you know why books such as this are important? Because they have quality. And what does the word quality mean? To me it means texture. This book has pores." Explain what you think Faber means by this. Also, many readers argue that, although Faber is a strong moral voice in the novel, he is ultimately a coward. Do you agree or disagree with this characterization of Faber? Back up your answer with at least one piece of evidence from the text.

Section 7: From after Montag's visit with Faber till the end of "The Sieve
and the Sand" (pp. 93-110).

Bradbury uses several significant religious references in this section to illuminate Montag's process of self-realization. Choose one of these religious references and explain its significance to the text as a whole and to Montag's character development. Also, explain why the poem "Dover Beach" by Matthew Arnold, which Montag reads to Mildred's friends, is quite appropriate to his circumstances.

Section 8: From the opening of "Burning Bright" through Montag's second
visit with Faber (pp. 113-136).

This part of the novel is dominated by the final confrontation between Montag and Beatty. Montag remains emotionally detached in this section. He enjoys burning his own house as much as he enjoyed burning those of others. Why is this? Why do you think Beatty's behavior seems deliberately calculated to result in his own death? In the end, Montag seems to agree with Beatty that fire is removing his problems. What symbolic significance does fire take on in this section of the book? What problems of Montag does fire remove? Finally, Bradbury's writing style is particularly poetic in this section. He uses figurative language extensively (especially stage and circus metaphors) and often bends the rules of grammar. Pick one sentence from this section and discuss how Bradbury's use of language changes or adds to the overall meaning of the text.

Section 9: From after leaving Faber's through the death of the fake
Montag (pp. 137-149).

Continuing with a close look at Bradbury's use of/manipulation of language to progress the plot, discuss the techniques that Bradbury uses as a writer to heighten the tension and suspense of this section, particularly the chase sequence. -- In this section, Montag leaves the frightening unreality of the city, which he thinks of as "a stage of actors" and a "seance of ghosts," and enters the world of the countryside. Deconstruct this section of the novel and discuss Bradbury's use of imagery, symbolism, and allusion. What is the significance of Bradbury's transition here? Why do you think Bradbury includes a river here? How is Montag different at the end of this section?

Section 10: From after the fake Montag's death through the end of the
novel (pp. 149-165).

Use this response to discuss the end of the novel, how you felt about the book as a whole, and what significance you think certain elements from the final section have to the overall meaning of the novel. Consider elements such as Granger welcoming Montag back from the dead or Granger remarking that they should build a mirror factory, to the fact that the men can recover every word of the books they have read or the final recitation by Montag of the book of Ecclesiastes from the Judeo-Christian Bible. Be sure to back up your claims with evidence from the text and be prepared to discuss upon returning to class.