English 4: Fahrenheit 451 (Part 1)

The Hearth and the Salamander

• What do the first lines of the book tell us about the main character? Explain fully.
• What does the first meeting between Guy Montag and Clarisse McClellen tell us about each character? Explain fully.
• What is a parlor wall? What current technology is similar?
• What are seashells? What current technology is similar?
• How does the interaction with the EMTs affect Montag? Explain fully.
• What kind of a person is Mildred? How is she a perfect example of her society? Explain.
• Is the description of entertainment on the parlor walls similar to modern television shows? Explain fully.
• What is a fireman’s purpose in the world of Fahrenheit 451? Explain fully.
• What is the Hound? What current technology is similar?
• What is Beatty, Montag’s boss, like? Explain fully.
• Does Clarisse’s description of school sound familiar to you? Explain fully.
• What mood does the quick passage of time paired with the snippets of conversation set?
• What kinds of things are foreshadowed in Part One? Explain fully.
• How does the old woman’s suicide affect Montag? Why does it? Explain fully.
• What secret is Montag keeping?
• What is Clarisse’s fate? How does Montag find out?
• What implications come from the fact that Montag and Mildred don’t remember how they first met? What does this imply about how they live?
• Why does Beatty visit Montag at home? Explain fully.
• How does Beatty explain the world? How is this similar to our world? How is it different?
• Why does Montag tell Mildred about the books? What is he hoping will happen? Why can’t it ever happen?