Observations on Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury Ray Bradbury was born in Waukegan, Illinois, on August 22, 1920. Ray Bradbury is an American novelist, short story writer, essayist, playwright, screenwriter, and poet. Bradbury's first published book was "Hollerbochens Dilemma". Bradbury's most popular novel was Fahrenheit 451, it was released in 1953. Ray Bradbury received the O. Henry Memorial Award and the Benjamin Franklin Award in 1954. Bradbury was an imaginative child and, being the creative child he was, he was prone to nightmares. I think the way he thought as a child is finally coming out and he's writing about his fantasies. Source: May, Keith M. Aldous Huxley. Paul Elek Books Ltd., 1972 Source: Allen, Walter The Modern Novel. Dutton, 1964 Part B.) This book takes place in the future, in Elm City. The book takes place around a man named Guy Montage. Guy was married to his wife, Mildred Montage. Guy had an unusual job; it was not a question of putting out fires but of lighting them. He set books on fire because it was illegal to read books. The reason books were burned was because people were afraid of them, they thought they put bad ideas in your head that you didn't need, at least that's what the boss of the books believed. Guys, Captain Beatty. Guy never thought he was doing anything wrong until he spoke to a seventeen-year-old girl, who told him that people weren't always afraid of books. Then the next time he was supposed to burn books, he took one home. Later her boss Captain Beatty found out, and she said it was her only chance, and he ignored her and she then burned down his house, then his wife left him because of this. All he had was a book, and it was with it that he fought against society. Discuss (describe) the scene that you find most dramatic. The scene that I found the most dramatic was when Guy was suffering from a series of burns and he arrived at a house with a woman and lots of books, she didn't want to leave the house so he could burn the books, so he burned her with the books, killing her. Share the scene you find most amusing. If there isn't one, discuss it. The scene I found the most amusing would be when Guy and his wife, Mildred, were in the house looking at books when his boss, Captain Beatty, paid him a surprise visit. Once they saw her at the door, they rushed into the house trying to hide the books so she wouldn't see them, all the while shouting, "Be there in a minute, Belle." If you could change anything about the plot, what would you change and why? If I could change something in the plot, I could change the part about Clarisse McClellan, the girl my age, so that she lives instead of dying like she does in the book. The reason I say that is because she was the one who opened Guy's eyes to see that what he was doing was wrong. Part C. The framework. Explain the main setting (time and place) of the novel. This book took place in a small town called Elm City. The novel took place in the future. Does the setting change? How? The setting actually changes, it changes when he was caught reading books, from there he had to flee his town and run from the law. Would the story be effective if it took place in a different time/place? Explain. I don't think the book would be as effective in the past or the present, because we know the past and the present, and according to this book, that's not true. What truth about society or the human condition does this book reveal? In thisnovel, Guy Montage has Mildred as his wife. Just like in today's society, they fight. What's different is that unlike today's society, they stay together instead of divorcing. The Montages also believed that this was how a marriage was supposed to be. Guy Montage is able to see through the government and official policies of his company. He does this by questioning everything around him. This novel represents today how we are influenced by what others think. Part D.) Characterization. Using quotes as well as real-life details and events from the plot, discuss the following: What is the physical appearance of the protagonist (main characters)? Throughout the book, the appearance of the main character, Guy Montages, is not really stated throughout the book. What kind of person is he/she? At the beginning of the novel, Guy appears as a ruthless person, burning down houses. As he stood up, "with this great python spewing its venomous kerosene onto the world, the blood was pounding to his head..." It was not until he met the seventeen year old girl that he realizes that what he is doing is wrong. From then on, he becomes passionate and changes his old habits. Who offers the most conflict to the protagonist? Describe it. What is the conflict? The person who caused Guy the most trouble would have to be his wife, Mildred. She thinks about herself and has to do what she wants, just like in the book when Guy's boss burned down their house and she had to do what she wants so she left him. Many writers use stereotypes in their novels to add texture, dimension, or familiarity to their work. Discuss/describe a minor character in the novel. What does he bring to the novel (humor, drama, contrast, controversy, etc.)? A minor character would be Mildred; she brings hatred to the novel. She also causes changes in Guy; it makes him hate others and get everything you want. Another minor character bringing change to the novel would be the seventeen year old girl named Clarisse McClellan. She brings about a change in Guy, changes his way of thinking and helps him open his eyes. Is this stereotype DYNAMIC (one-dimensional but changing) or STATIC (one-dimensional and unchanging)? This stereotype is DYNAMIC. Which character do you sympathize with the most? Explain. If I had to choose a character who sympathizes with me the most, it would be Guy Montage. Because throughout his life he believes that what he does with the books is right, but he discovers that it is not, and he must change everything he believes and live a new life from what he is currently experiencing. I had a similar shift and it changed my life, my way of thinking on certain topics. Which character do you hate the most? For what? The character I dislike the most would have to be Mildred Montage, because she is so selfish and has to get what she wants. If you had a budget of $250,000,000 and the services of Steven Spielberg as director, who would you cast as the main characters in your film version of the book? For what? (Use actors, not friends) I would choose Jim Carrey and Pamela Anderson. Jim Carrey as Guy Montage and Pamela Anderson as Mildred Montage. These two would be perfect for this book, Jim bringing the laughs and Pamela bringing the looks, thus making this movie a success. Part E. Style, structure and meaning. Locate one or more details or elements that function symbolically in this novel. Whether it's a color, object, or action, describe it and discuss what you think it represents. An object that has a symbolic function in this novel are the dogs.