Fahrenheit 451 Novel Test

Montag reads an excerpt from Gulliver's Travels to Mildred and her friends.

False; Dover's Beach.

Mrs. Bowles turned in the alarm against Montag.

False; Mildred. (They did too, but when Mildred did he suffered consequences).

Clarisse is arrested for possession of books.

False; Montag.

Mrs. Bowles bursts into tears after Montag reads aloud from a book.

False; Mrs. Phelps.

Why does Montag compare his role as a fireman to that of a symphony conductor? a. He feels the fire is his music and destroyed buildings are his masterpieces. b. He is authorized to order around civilians who come too near the fire site. c. He notices the other men work in unison and follow his lead at the fire site. d. He has been temporarily placed in charge of the men who work at his fire station.

A

Why does Montag feel foolish for saying the words "once upon a time" to Beatty? a. The words reveal that Montag has read books. b. The words make Montag appear childish to his superior. c. He knows Beatty will correct any reference to literature he makes. d. He knows Beatty dislikes talking about the history of the firehouse.

A

"Welcome back from the dead."

Granger.

"You're not important. You're not anything."

Granger.

Who is the greatest influence on Clarisse?

Her uncle, who was arrested for being a pedestrian.

In the novel, fire serves as a symbol of...

Hope.

To what mythological character does Beatty compare Montag, and why?

Icarus; Montag became overzealous about books just as Icarus did with flying.

Where does Montag run, and whom does he meet there?

Montag runs into the forest and meets other outcasts from society who have memorized entire literary works.

In the novel, the river serves as a symbol of...

Rebirth.

Clarisse and her family are different from the other neighbors because they...

Talk in the evening and have their own opinions; like to walk.

On Montag's last fire call, the Salamander stops in front of Beatty's house.

False.

According to Beatty, Thomas Jefferson was the first fireman.

False; Benjamin Franklin.

Using the letters a-h, put the following events in the order they occurred. 1. Montag is forced to burn his own home and everything in it. 2. The sounds and smells of nature nearly overwhelm Montag. 3. Granger, Montag, and others seek to rebuild the demolished city. 4. Mrs. Bowles and Mrs. Phelps storm out of the Montag residence. 5. Montag watches a woman set her house, books, and herself aflame. 6. Montag visits Faber's home to seek help interpreting literature. 7. Beatty visits Montag's home to inquire about his health. 8. Montag conceals books in a fellow fireman's home.

1. E 2. G 3. H 4. D 5. A 6. C 7. B 8. F

Montag and his wife are strangers even though they have been married for...

10 years.

Explain the significance of the Hearth and the Salamander.

A hearth usually symbolizes a home, and salamanders are portrayed in mythology as reptiles that are immune to fire. Montag and his fellow firemen refer to the fire truck as the Salamander. At this point, the "hearth" is the fire station—a place where Montag feels comfortable. The firemen feel as if both can withstand fire, or are safe from harm.

To what animal did Montag compare the pumping machine used on Mildred in Part 1?

A snake.

Books are compared to each of the following in the novel EXCEPT: a. birds b. beetles c. moths d. fireflies

B

Montag likely feels nervous around the Mechanical Hound because he has... a. called in sick when he actually wasn't b. a secret stash of books stowed in his home c. had unpleasant encounters with the Hound before d. witnessed someone programming the Hound with his DNA

B

The people of this society are allowed to read each of the following EXCEPT: a. comic books b. essays on history c. trade journals d. sex magazines

B

What is rumored to have happened to Clarisse? a. She was arrested and jailed. b. She was hit by a car and killed. c. She overdosed on sleeping pills. d. She was shot and badly wounded.

B

Which of the following mythical creatures is able to endure fire without burning? a. phoenix b. salamander c. viper d. eagle

B.

Faber insists that books are magical and their contents do not matter.

False.

Explain how Beatty confuses Montag about books.

Beatty quotes various writers who didn't agree about the nature of words and knowledge.

"Not everyone born free and equal, as the Constitution says, but everyone made equal."

Beatty.

Why does Montag have to call emergency personnel for Mildred? a. Mildred fainted due to not eating or drinking enough. b. Mildred panicked when Montag began to read aloud to her. c. Mildred became unconscious after taking all of her sleeping pills. d. Mildred hyperventilated when Montag acted oddly in front of her friends.

C

Mildred is delighted to have Montag read poetry to her friends.

False.

"I'm seventeen and I'm crazy."

Clarisse.

Who didn't want to know *how* something was done, but *why*?

Clarisse.

In Montag's time, death and suicide are...

Commonplace.

According to Faber, no one in this society has the desire to read because: a. they don't even know what a book is b. they are having too much "fun" doing other things c. they know the war will kill them anyway d. they don't know how to read

D

Montag finally shows Mildred his stash of books because he a. thinks she will report him b. plans to frame her for the crime c. knows she will find out eventually d. feels she has a right to know about them

D

Each of the following are quoted by characters in the novel EXCEPT: a. the Bible b. Alexander Pope c. Shakespeare d. Aldous Huxley

D.

"Patience, Montag. Let the war turn off the 'families.'"

Faber.

Explain the significance of Burning Bright.

In the third section of the novel, Montag is forced to burn his own home, which is "burning bright" once he is finished with it. Montag also burns Beatty to death in this section. This is foreshadowed when Montag reads the poem "The Tyger" which has the words "burning bright."

Slept but did not sleep.

Mechanical Hound.

Why does Mildred prefer her "family" to the books Montag is reading aloud?

Mildred is amused by the sensory aspects of her wall. She feels books offer her nothing.

"Why should I read? What for?"

Mildred.

Describe Montag's trip on the subway to see Faber. What does he have with him? What does he try to do?

Montag carries the Bible with him and tries to memorize the Book of Ecclesiastes among the cascade of audio advertisements being played on the subway.

Why does Montag kill Beatty, and what does Montag theorize later about Beatty?

Montag kills Beatty to protect Faber but later determines Beatty wanted to die.

"That's the good part of dying; when you've nothing to lose, you run any risk you want."

Montag.

Who does Montag try to frame by placing books in their house?

Mr. Black.

"I plunk the kids in school 9 days out of 10. I put up with them when they come home 3 days a month."

Mrs. Bowles.

At the beginning of the novel, Guy Montag thinks the smell of kerosene is like...

Perfume.

Typical teenagers in the world of Fahrenheit 451 amuse themselves by...

Smashing windows and cars at the Fun Park, racing cars on the roads, and shooting each other.

The Mechanical Hound is able track his prey through a strong sense of...

Smell.

What part does the river play in Montag's escape?

The river carries Montag away from the city and hides his scent from the Hound.

The firemen in the novel are not what you'd expect because...

They start fires instead of putting them out.

Faber believes himself for a terrible coward.

True.

Faber gives Montag a green device resembling a bullet that will help the two communicate.

True.

Faber was once a professor at Liberal Arts College.

True.

Mildred's friends voted for Winston Noble based on his name and appearance.

True.

Montag calls Professor Faber once he realizes he needs a teacher.

True.

Montag is not the first real fireman to steal a book from a home.

True.

The firemen are considered the "Happiness Boys."

True.

Violence is an accepted form of entertainment in Montag's world.

True.

Explain the significance of the Sieve and the Sand.

When Montag first decides to begin reading the books he has stashed, he finds he cannot understand them. He compares the words falling through his mind to a fierce whisper of hot sand through empty sieve. The words pour right through him, just as sand pours right through a sieve, and his mind is left empty as a result.