Comprehension Check (The Hearth and the Salamander) – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
At the beginning of the story, how does Montag feel about his job? Give specific examples to support your response.
answer
he is happy, proud; he whistles, smiles, feels a burning of excitement and thrill as he watches things burns, especially in the first few paragraphs
question
What is your first impression of Clarisse?
answer
She is 16, and will turn 17 next week; she is feisty and opinionated, but soft and a little romantic; she is mysterious and aloof, and believed to be anti-social by society
question
What memory does Montag's encounter with Clarisse arouse?
answer
He remembers when he was a child and had a power failure. His mother lit a candle and Montag had a moment of both and mental illumination. They were enjoying one another's company in the dark- and he didn't want the lights to come back on
question
What is Montag's reaction to Clarisse's question: "Have you ever read any of the books you burn?"
answer
He laughed and said, "That's against the law!"
question
What do Clarisse and and Montag argue about? What does Clarisse tell Montag that firemen used to do?
answer
they argue about whether houses have ever been fireproof; that firemen used to put out fires
question
Explain the significance of Clarisse's speech about "blurs." Why are billboards 200 feet long?
answer
things go way too fast- there is not even time to read a 20 foot billboard as everyone speeds by, so they have extended them to 200 feet
question
Why was Clarisse's uncle arrested? What does this indicate about the society in which they live?
answer
He was arrested once for driving too slow and once for being a pedestrian; no one is allowed to wander, meander, or take their time to enjoy life. Simply taking a walk for enjoyment is unheard of.
question
What question finally offends Montag?
answer
"Are you happy?"
question
What does his encounter with Clarisse remind him of?
answer
He remembers meeting a man on a bench who had a book of poetry hidden inside his coat; the man gave Montag his name and phone number.
question
What do you think the author meant when he said "How rarely did other people's faces take of you and throw back to you your own expression, your own innermost trembling thought"? What does this question reveal about Montag's state of mind?
answer
Montag is having a moment of realization. He feels as if there is a mirror in front of him as Clarisse brings out his innermost fears and thoughts. He is beginning to question why things are done the way they are, and starting to become a bit of a rebel.
question
How does the author describe Montag's home?
answer
cold; distant; like a "mausoleum" and a "tomb"; reveals the impersonal feeling of a home
question
Why do you think Montag did not want to open the curtains or windows?
answer
He doesn't want light coming in. This could be symbolic, as Montag is questioning and fighting the new thoughts entering his head
question
What does Montag find under the bed?
answer
an empty pill bottle
question
Describe the machines. What do they do to Mildred? How do the men treat their "patient"? Why is it so "routine" to them?
answer
They are like snakes. One man inserts one of these "snakes" into Mildred, sucking out all her impurities, in this case, the pills; the other man inserts a snake to suck out all the impure blood from her body, then replaces it with fresh blood. They treat her inhumanly, like a doll or dead object. They have to perform these "cleanings" quite often, and in fact, have about 10 a night and are on their way to another after Mildred
question
What does Montag hear after the men leave? What is his reaction?
answer
laughter coming from Clarisse's house; he goes across the lawn to hear more, even tap on the window to listen, but fear gets the best of him
question
Mildred's earpieces have been described as "electronic bees," "mosquito hums," and "hidden wasps." What are these earpieces? Why does she always have one in her ear? Why do you think Bradbury compares these devices to insects?
answer
Seashell Radios (ear thimbles); she listens constantly to the broadcast of constant talking and sounds and "white" noise; she may want to drown out other human interaction, she may just be so used to it that she doesn't think of doing anything else; possibly because of the constant hum or because they are so small
question
How does Mildred react when Montag tells her what happened the night before?
answer
She has no memory of anything; she denies doing something "like that," asking why she would do such a foolish thing
question
What is Mildred's 'script" about? What part does she play? Why does she want to buy a fourth wall?
answer
it is really about nothing; she plays the part of the homemaker; she knows nothing about the plot except for the fact that is about "people named Bob and Ruth and Helen"; she wants another wall so that she can be surrounded by "family"
question
Why does Clarisse insist that Montag is not like the others?
answer
he really looks at her and listens to her
question
Describe the Mechanical Hound. What is its purpose? How does Montag feel about the Hound?
answer
it "sleeps but does not sleep"; it is a machine shaped like a dog that hunts for its prey (whatever it has been programmed against) using a highly sensitive olfactory system; it has a needle that injects morphine or procaine into its victims; its purpose is to hunt and kill anyone who goes against the "system"; he doesn't like it- he feels as if it is after him
question
Why is Clarisse considered "anti-social"? How do the kids in this society entertain themselves? What is your reaction to this?
answer
she is different, and does not behave like she is supposed to; they play violent games and sports, go to the Fun Park and bully people, break windowpanes, wreck cars with a steel ball, or race and drive around looking for victims. Reactions will vary.
question
What do people talk about in this society? How is this different from our own society? Why do you think that Clarisse has such a problem with everything being "abstract"?
answer
things that are very umimportant; cars, clothes, swimming pools and say "how swell"; she doesn't like things being "abstract" because her uncle told her about a time when pictures showed people and "said things"
question
What does Montag continually hear overhead?
answer
the sound of planes screaming; war beginning
question
Why do you think the woman stays in her house while it is burning?
answer
she wants to die by suicide because if she can't have her books, she doesn't want to live
question
What does Montag take from the burning house? Why? What does he do with it afterward?
answer
a book; he is curious beyond help; he hides it under his pillow
question
What does Montag ask Millie about their past? Why do you think he asks her about this important question?
answer
"When did we meet? And where?"; to know the significance of their relationship-how deep it is (or is not)
question
What does Montag realize about his relationship with his wife?
answer
he was certain he wouldn't cry if Mildred died
question
How does Mildred feel toward the characters in the parlor? Why is this disturbing Montag?
answer
she feels like they are her family. He knows that they are just two-dimensional figures, and knows that she cares more for them than she does for them
question
What does Mildred tell Montag about Clarisse? How does she deliver this news?
answer
that she was run over and killed by a car four days ago; she had forgotten to tell him- she really didn't care- which shows her callousness
question
Describe Montag and Mildred's relationship.
answer
they do not love each other; in many ways, they do not even know each other. They rarely communicate, and like others in this society, do not talk about feelings or anything important
question
What does Montag learn about Beatty from his visit?
answer
that he knows about the books and Montag's curiosity; that Beatty knows a lot and was a reader at one time
question
What does Beatty tell Montag about how books disappeared? What is your reaction to his explanation?
answer
Beatty tells Montag that the people if their society are to blame for the disappearance of books; that society had more interest in TV and radio, condensed books, and a rapid-moving pace than actually reading a book and getting anything out of it. Reactions will vary.
question
From Beatty's speech, what does Bradbury reveal about his own fears about society? What ideas/concepts are true in our modern society?
answer
Bradbury reveals his feelings about media such as TV, radio, condensed books, and lack of thought; he also reveals his distaste for sensory over-stimulation, lack of education, and poor state of education or thinkers in the society.
question
How do you feel about Bradbury's predictions of school? Are there any truths to this assessment?
answer
Bradbury has some strong opinions about schools, including that "school is shortened, discipline is relaxed, philosophies, histories, languages dropped, English and spelling gradually, gradually neglected, finally almost completely ignored.
question
According to Beatty, who is to blame for the banishment and burning of books?
answer
Society is to blame. People had no interest in learning pr obtaining new information, and allowed the government to take over because their lack of concern.
question
What are the people in this society allowed to read? What is the purpose of reading in this society?
answer
comic books, sex-magazines, confessions, and trade journals; the ultimate goal is equality- so no one feels inferior
question
According to Beatty, what is the firemen's primary job? What is the ultimate goal in this society?
answer
"official censors, judges, and executors"; to have everyone happy and able to feel good about themselves and their ability to recall and memorize unimportant data, rather than philosophies or theories that make them think or question anything
question
What do the firemen do if one of their own "accidentally" steals a book?
answer
they allow his to keep it for 24 hours, then burn it; if he doesn't, the firemen come in to burn it for him
question
Why are there no longer front porches in this society?
answer
they don't want to encourage people to talk to each other- there is no need for them
question
What does Montag show Millie? What is her immediate reaction?
answer
the books he had in the ventilator; she immediately grabs what she can and throws the in the incinerator
