Fahrenheit 451 Book Test

Why does Montag struggle with going back to work?

He is afraid Beatty will start asking questions

How did Montag react to the news about Clarisse?

He is confused and upset.

Who does Guy Montag meet? What do we learn about her?

Clarisse McClellan. She is 17 and crazy.

Describe Faber and Montag's initial meeting in the park.

The meeting is tense and informative.

What are the firemen's rules?

1. Answer the alarm quickly 2. Start the fire swiftly 3. Burn everything 4. Report back to the firehouse immediately 5. Stand alert for other alarms.

What 3 things are needed from books to be helpful?

1. Quality 2. Leisure 3. Right to carry out actions

What image does the author describe at the beginning of the story?

A house burning.

What reason does Beatty give for the censorship?

Beatty says censorship allows people to have a peace of mind and focus on the understandable and rightful dread of being inferior.

According to Beatty, what happened to books and magazines in the twentieth century? What forces contributed to this change?

Books stopped being sold and were banned. There was too much unhappiness and authors were thought to write evil thoughts.

Describe Clarisse - How does she look and act? How is her face like a candle in the light it gives off? Give specific details.

Clarisse is strange but intelligent. She is very inquisitive and observant as well. Clarisse has dark eyes, milk-white skin, and a slender face. Her face is like a peaceful flow that lights up her face.

burned him with the flame thrower

Explain Montag's dealing with the Hound.

"We all have our harps to play. And it's up to you now to know with which ear you'll listen" (104). Who says this and what does it mean?

Faber says this and it means that Montag needs to make up his mind on who he is going to be with and what he is going to do.

"So now do you see why books are hated and feared? They show the pores in the face of life" (79). Who says this and what does it mean?

Faber says this because it portrays the many emotions that books can show and opens people's eyes.

How do firemen act as "...custodians of our peace of mind" (56)?

Firemen act as "custodians of our peace of mind" because they get rid of things that would cause controversy and deep thinking.

Why does Montag call Faber?

He calls Faber because he wanted to know how many copies of the Bible were left.

Why does Beatty call books a "Tower of Babel" (35)?

He calls the books the Tower of Babel because just like in the Bible, the books speak different messages that seem contradictory.

Why do you think Montag wants to quit his job?

He does want to get caught and he's tired of living a double life.

Why doesn't Faber want to hear Montag's plan?

He doesn't want to hear Montag's plan because he doesn't want to be involved.

Why does Montag grin with a "fierce grin" before and after he is fighting fires?

He enjoys what he is doing.

Why does Montag get frustrated with the women's talk of politics?

He gets frustrated because they are more concerned about looks than they are about intelligence.

What happens with Montag in the subway?

He has a panic attack

What is Montag feeling in his bedroom that evening? How does the author describe the scene?

He is feeling confused and unhappy.

How does Montag react to Capt. Beatty's questions?

He is scared, confused, and angry.

What struggle is Montag having when he thinks about the way the world is ?

He is struggling with the fact that no one cares that they are well off while everyone else is struggling.

What is Capt. Beatty trying to prove by quoting literature?

He is trying to prove that literature contradicts itself and so it cannot be trusted.

How does Montag feel about Mildred's response? Why does he feel that way?

He is upset because he wanted to know her true feelings.

What is Montag's reaction when he discovers his wife has taken an overdose of sleeping pills? Why does he react this way? Does he love his wife?

He is worried. He reacts the way he does because he doesn't know what has happened.

What does Faber mean in his speech to Montag on page 86 (about cowardice)?

He means that he is a coward because he has done nothing with the information and tools that he has.

Montag tells Mildred, "I need you so much right now..." (64). What does he need? What is he seeking to attain with his wife?

He needs support and help hiding the fact that they have books in their home.

What did the author mean when he said Mildred talked of this and that, but it was only words?

He said that because it really didn't matter what Mildred said because it didn't really matter what Mildred said. They didn't have meaning.

Why does Montag say reading is worth the punishment they may have to endure?

He says it is worth the punishment because it has opened his eyes to the world.

What does Faber tell Montag about pushing literature on people?

He says that he is a fool.

How does Captain Beatty explain the reason for the system society has now?

He says that things began to have mass once photography came about but things also became simpler and smaller.

What reasons does Captain Beatty give for the deterioration of writing through the years?

He says that writing deteriorated because writers were full of evil thoughts and books were dishwater.

What did he take from the old lady's house? Why do you think he did this?

He took the book because he was curious.

Why does Faber want to listen in on Montag's life?

He wants to know what is exactly at stake and what they have and don't have.

He feels sad

How does Montag feel about Mildred still being in the city?

thinks Mildred must have found the books in the garden and put them in the house

How does Montag figure the books got back into the house?

they didn't show a clear shot of his face

How was it possible that not even Montag's friends would recognize that the man they caught wasn't him?

What does the salamander symbol represent?

Immortality and indestrutability.

Flame thrower

Instead of using kerosene, Captain Beatty wants Montag to use what to burn down his house?

In a book in the house he has come to burn, Montag reads, "Time has fallen asleep in the afternoon sunshine". How does this line affect him, and why?

It affects him because it is such a profound statement and causes him to take the next book that falls into his hands.

What is the effect of Clarisse's questions on Montag? Why do her questions have this effect?

It has lasting effect. It makes him think and questions himself. They have this effect because they are questions that are unusual and one's that are more analytical.

According to Beatty, what is the effect on the human psyche of reading the classic books?

It makes men melancholy, unhappy, and confused.

What is the meaning of all this talk about war?

It means that the atmosphere is becoming tense and things are starting to change.

"Those who don't build must burn" (85). Explain what this means.

It means that those that don't grow or improve, burn or destroy instead.

What is the quote they read referring to? Why would the author choose this quote?

It refers to people laying down their life instead of giving up.

Why does the mechanical hound growl and threaten Montag?

It threatens Montag because he has Montag's scent

How did Montag find out Clarisse is dead?

Mildred told him.

What has Montag been hiding from Mildred? Why did he choose to confess what he did?

Montag is hiding books from Mildred. He chooses to confess because it is becoming a burden he can't carry own.

That he wanted to die--just couldn't do it himself

Montag thinks to himself that Captain Beatty probably wanted to do what?

How is social interaction different? Why do you think this change occurred?

People read lips instead of actually listening to others.

What is Beatty ultimately saying about people making their own choices?

People that make their own choices are unhappy and melancholy.

Why does Clarisse have to go to the psychaiatrist?

People think she is crazy.

What does Clarisse ask Montag? How does he respond to her question?

She asks if he's happy. He says that he is and wonders why she would ask such a question.

What doesn't Mildred understand about Clarisse?

She does understand how Clarisse's favorite subject is not herself.

What does Mildred say when Montag tells her about the death of the old woman when they burned her books? What does Mildred's response say about her? What has led Mildred to become the way she is?

She doesn't really care. Society has made is so that she doesn't have any personal connections with anyone.

How does Mildred get rid of her frustrations and negative feelings? Does she resolve these negative feelings or just escape them? Explain your answer.

She goes for fast rides in the car, maybe runs over something. She always seems to escape negative feelings due to the fact of her attempted suicide.

How does Mildred feel about Montag's reading? Why does she feel this way?

She is agitated and upset. She feels this way because she thinks it will ruin them and they will lose everything.

Why does Montag say his wife is dying when physically she is in perfect health?

She is mentally and emotionally dying.

Clarisse says, "I haven't any friends. That's supposed to prove I'm abnormal" (27). Is Clarisse abnormal? What does she do that keeps people her own age from relating to her?

She is not abnormal. She is very inquisitive and questions why thing are the way that they are

How does Mildred respond or react to Montag's questions about love?

She is shocked and thinks it is a silly question.

How does Mildred react? Is her reaction what you expected? Why/why not?

She is terrified. I did expect this reaction because owning books is illegal and dangerous.

What happened to Montag's wife Mildred?

She overdosed on pills.

Faber says people "stopped reading of [its] own accord" (83). Explain how society got to its current state of book burning according to Faber.

Society got to book burning because they chose to get that way.

There is a list of a million forbidden books on the firehouse wall. What type of books are probably on this list, and why?

The Bible is probably banned because it involves topics that are somewhat incomprehensible.

What is the effect of the wall-sized TVs on Mildred? What kinds of programs are playing on them?

The effect of the wall-sized TVs on Mildred is very negative. She is glued to them and is constantly watching programs that are displayed. The programs that are being played are plays.

What happened with the hound? How is the hound different from the dogs we have today?

The hound clearly disliked Montag. This hound is different because it is more like a killer machine than an actual dog and it has a nose that kills.

Describe the relationship Montag and Mildred have.

The relationship is very matter of fact and not really that close.

When Montag returns home after the house and book burning and the death of the woman, he makes "soft sounds." What are these sounds, and why is he making them?

These sounds are sniffles and he is crying.

Why are Clarisse and Montag fascinated with each other? What do they find attractive; what do they find upsetting about each other?

They are fascinated with each other because they are so different from each other. Montag is very oblivious to the world while Clarisse is very observant and curious.

Compare Montag's wife, Mildred, with Clarisse. Are they alike in any way? How are they different?

They are not alike in any way. They both can be straight forward. Mildred does not spend time to talk to her husband and does not question why about a lot of things.

How do the women react to poetry?

They are upset, saddened, and angered.

What do firemen do?

They burn books.

Why do they call the T.V. walls "family" or "relatives?

They call them family because it makes them laugh.

How is society different?

They don't communicate and they handle things differently.

Why was Montag particularly disturbed by what happened at the old lady's house?

They has to destroy an old woman as well.

What do the women say about raising children?

They say that it is a burden.

What is ironic about the job of firemen in this time period?

They start fires instead of putting out fires.

According to Beatty, the numbers of different minorities were a problem because they caused controversy (54-55). How does the society try to eliminate controversy, and how effective are they in achieving this goal?

They try to eliminate controversy by getting rid of books and giving people only one option so they don't have to think. They are pretty successful.

What is the plan? Do you think it will work? Why/not?

They will plant books in firemen's homes and then put in an alarm. It will work because it makes the firemen seem untrustworthy.

Why would they send someone who owns books to an insane asylum?

They would send people to an asylum because people knew information which is seen as insane.

"Not everyone is born free and equal , like the Constitution says, but everyone made equal. Each man the image of every other, then all are happy, for there are no mountains to make them cower, to judge themselves against. So! A book is a loaded weapon int he house next door." (Pg 55) What does this mean?

This means that books open a doorway to diversity which makes men unequal which is a downfall to society.

How does this part end? What do you think Montag is going to do next?

This part ends with the firemen being called to an alarm which is at Montag's house. I think Montag might be arrested or killed.

to Faber's house

To where does Montag realize he is running?

How is war different from the war we know today?

Wars are quick and are over in short amounts of time.

Hit him in the head

What did Beatty do to Montag?

lit him up

What did Montag do to Beatty?

changed into Faber's old clothes and dump whiskey all over himself

What did Montag do when he got to the river?

the rail road

What did Montag hit with his foot?

they offer him some coffee

What do the men offer Montag?

look out there door to try to see Montag

What do the police suggest everyone do at the same time?

use it to track down Faber

What does Beatty say he will do with the radio?

fire erases all worries and responsibilities

What does Beatty say is the real beauty of fire?

he is under arrest

What does Beatty say to Montag as he is finishing burning the house?

receptacles for the knowledge in the books

What does Granger think their job is?

Suitcase

What does Mildred have in her hand when she walks out of the house?

Hides books in their house

What does Montag do to the Black family?

He finds some books

What does Montag find in his old garden?

police report about him

What does Montag hear in the Seashell?

bomber dropping enormous nuclear bombs

What does Montag see happening in the city?

watches the chase

What does Montag see in the portable viewer?

A fire

What does Montag see?

He thinks she called the fire department.

What does Montag suspect Mildred of doing?

reminded of a trip to the countryside when he was a boy.

What does Montag think of when he smells the hay?

came out of his ear

What happened to the "green bullet" radio that Faber gave to Montag?

He is injected by the Mechanical Hound

What happens to Montag as he leaving the Hound?

another hound

What has been brought from a different district to track down Montag?

Beatty sent the Mechanical Hound to Montag's house

What hint does Captain Beatty say he sent to Montag that he must not have picked up on?

a scent so that the hound can't track him - changes the smell of his perspiration

What is the colorless fluid in the small bottle supposed to do?

Granger

What is the name of the man that is talking to Montag?

Mirror

What kind of factory does Granger say they are going to build?

They are stunned

What was the reaction of the other two firemen?

What happens, according to Beatty, when you ask "why" too much?

When you ask why too much, then you become unhappy.

St. Louis -- to get in touch with a friend who used to be a printer

Where does Faber say he is going? Why is he going there?

in his head

Where is Montag keeping the Book of Ecclesiastes?

Millie and her friends

Who called in the alarm?

So the Hound cannot pick up his sent

Why does Montag tell Faber to burn the bed spread and the chair?

so that the people think that they are still looking for him even though they lost him

Why is the chase still going on if they have lost Montag?