Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury Ray Bradbury s Fahrenheit 451 is a type of DYSTOPIC/DYSTOPIAN novel. That means it is about a future that is bleak, dark and dreary. Questions to Consider While Reading: How does the novel reflect themes related to technology, nature, censorship, propaganda, escapism and conformity? Does Bradbury s prediction for the future reflect our present day American culture and if so, how? How does one write about themes in literature?
Science Fiction (genre): fiction based on imagined future, scientific or technological advances, and major social or environmental changes QUICKWRITE-Start now as I pass out books: Ray Bradbury saw the changes that were happening in the world and created fiction based on what he foreshadowed life might be like in the future. Pick among the problems below OR choose another, and hypothesize what life might be like 50 years from now if the problem were to become an epidemic (widespread). unemployment terrorism/warfare global warming violence poverty drug use rise in gas prices
Terms/devices to understand & look for EPIPHANY: a sudden realization PARADOX: something that contradicts itself but is true SYMBOLISM: an object that represents something else Title of Part 1: THE HEARTH AND THE SALAMANDER Title of Part 2: THE SIEVE AND THE SAND SIMILE AND METAPHOR: comparisons of two unlike things Similes use like or as; metaphors do not.
MAJOR CHARACTERS GUY MONTAG: protagonist, middle aged, fireman MILDRED (MILLIE): Montag's wife CLARISSE: 17 years old, lives next door to Montag CAPTAIN BEATTY: Captain of the fire company, one of the leaders in their society.
Context Published in 1953 Post-World War II era Nazi book burnings of the 1930s were widely published after WWII became a major symbol of the repression in Nazi Germany
Context of the novel: Written in 1953: Television becomes popular!!! 1950: 9% of households had a TV 1955: 64% had TV 1960: 87% had TV 2014: (what do you think?) World War II: 1939-1945 Helicopter invented 1939 Bombing of Hiroshima: August 6, 1945
Context Television became dominant medium for mass communication Television vs. books debate over bringing television into schools because reading level of students was dropping The importance of books and the freedom to read them was a central concern of liberal-minded people during the 1950s.
Context Mob mentality vs. individual rationalization Silence of those who were intimidated and the indifference of those who didn t can lead to further manipulation in any time period! Written five years after the end of the Second World War at the advent of the Korean War, Bradbury s book evokes an intense atmosphere of entrapment, an oppressive presence of an unavoidable doomsday, and the unmistakable apprehension of individuals living in fear of an authoritarian government.
Context Fear of robots and other technology was prevalent in the 1950s ( mad scientist movies compounded such fear by portraying machines that turned on their creator). Mentality of hard work and following orders to get ahead was prevalent at this time. Atmosphere of fear and repression left over from WWII, development (and use) of atomic bomb, communist scare, the Cold War, and McCarthy made it possible for government or any other powerful group to manipulate public opinion.
McCarthy trials Context (McCarthyism) Senator Joseph McCarthy McCarthy made a public accusation that more than two hundred card-carrying communists had infiltrated the United States government. Incited a huge communist scare, which helped lead to the Korean War and the Cold War. McCarthy accused many Army officials of espionage and communist ties. He also focused on writers and filmmakers, creating a great debate on artistic freedom.
Context (McCarthyism) Thousands of people lost their jobs as, all across America, state legislatures and school boards mimicked McCarthy and his House on Un-American Activities Committee. Books were even pulled from library shelves, including Robin Hood, which was deemed communist-like for suggesting stealing from the rich to give to the poor. Above all, several messages became crystal clear to the average American: Don t criticize the United States. Don t be different. Just conform. By 1953, his accusations were at their height. His hearings were held in 1954 and were the first to be publicly broadcast (ruined his reputation and career).
Censorship: the suppression of speech or deletion of communicative material which may be considered objectionable, harmful or sensitive, as determined by a censor We just discussed the prevalence of censorship during the time that Bradbury wrote this book. Movies, books, television shows, people s opinions, works of art, and other expressions of speech were all censored by the government and other groups. What are some things that get censored in today s society? Ironically, Bradbury s publishers, unknown to him, cleaned up or deleted some of the language that Bradbury used in Fahrenheit 451 in order to make the book saleable to the high school market.
Biggest THEME: THE DUMBING OF SOCIETY AS A RESULT OF TECHNOLOGY: dependence on technology rather than selfresourcefulness the shortening of attention spans the constant temptation to let others do our thinking for us Who reads?...ugh!
Additional THEMES Government control through technology: Look for any place in the novel where the government is using technology to physically or mentally manipulate peoples thoughts and behaviors
THEMES Propaganda: information which is false or which emphasizes just one part of a situation; used by a government or political group to make people agree with them
THEMES Censorship: the examining of books, films, mail, etc. to remove anything that is considered offensive, morally harmful, or politically dangerous, etc. from Time/Life Magazine
THEMES Conformity: behavior that obeys the accepted rules of a society or group, and is the same as that of most people
THEMES Escapism: activities or entertainment that helps one forget about bad or boring things for a short time
THEMES Importance of/disregard for nature: What does nature provide us with physically, mentally, spiritually? Look for any place in the novel where a character has a realization about nature. Look for anything in the novel that discusses people becoming detached or apathetic(not caring) about nature.
Discussion Questions Look at the importance of entertainment in your own lives or in the lives of your friends (what sorts of entertainment do you enjoy: Internet, movies, music, TV etc ) How much of your time do you spend consuming entertainment?
Discussion Questions How is entertainment marketed or sold to us and how does it affect our daily lives?
Discussion Questions Is entertainment addictive? Why or why not?
Discussion Questions The novel expresses that mindless entertainment can weaken or destroy the mind. Is there evidence of this?
Discussion Questions How do stress, pressure and speed in life affect us. (Look, for example at road rage and other such phenomena.)