Farhenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury

Farhenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury

Preparation file CORRECTION

On the site SPARKNOTES: click on Study Guide and then on characters

Guy Montag: analyse his name, analyse the character and compare him to Winston Smith

Guy = anybody

Montag =after a paper- manufacturing society

It is a far from perfect character, not really heroic but rather clumsy – weak

Not an iconic hero just like WS

Rebellious but without being fully aware of it

Mildred Montag: read her portrait and find similarities with 1984

Dehumanized character – obsessed with television – brainwashed by television –

Deep isolation of the characters : GM = no support from his wife

In 1984, the dictatorship aims at suppressing any intimate relationship thus ensuring the isolation of the citizens

Captain Beatty: read his paragraph and find the ambiguous aspects (does he remind you of anybody?)

Ambiguous (like BB)

Hard to understand what he feels but as a character, he acts like Syme = he gives all the necessary explanations

Click on questions and answers:

Why can’t Montag and Mildred remember how they met? Can you draw a parallel with 1984?

Indifference to the past – indifference to the relationships

People are being constantly distracted so no deep relationship

Everybody remains superficial

A sort of thought control (Thought Police)

Why are people violent in Fahrenheit 451?

Unsatisfaction / frustration / anger / unhappiness

Why were books banned?

They threatened to undermine the ideal of happiness by introducing unnecessary complexity and contradiction into people’s lives

The reason to destroy books is that it is good for society

To suppress potential anger / fear / awareness

People will know only what they hear or see on TV = censorship

1. Extract

QUESTIONS:

1. Pick out phrases showing what the people in this community want in life

They want happiness. (‘be happy’l.6, ‘fun’l.10, for pleasure’l.11)

1. Analyse the effect books have on people

They burn books because they don’t want people to be stirred and upset (= bouleversé), worried, upset, troubled, distressed. Books bring knowledge about reality which can be dark and unpleasant (=désagréable)

According to (=selon) this society, books bring division/isolation and discrimination/chaos. By burning books they want to control/soothe/appease/calm down the population.

1. Explain the role of the firefighters and why this community burns books

The role of firefighters is to burn books and not to extinguish/put out fires (=éteindre). It is totally paradoxical/contradictory (which is a common feature in dystopia!). They use fire to clean society and people’s minds (another paradox because usually water is used to clean)

1. Demonstrate how this community is dystopian

At first sight/glance, the leaders seem to be well-intended (= bien intentionnés)

They appear to want to keep peace by forbidding/prohibiting books. They want to create equality in their society and make its inhabitants happy by avoiding upsetting them. (avoid+V-ING)

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