Fahrenheit 451 Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Fahrenheit 451?

Fahrenheit 451 is a novel by Ray Bradbury that tells the story of a future in which knowledge and books are forbidden, firemen are responsible for burning them, and the protagonist, Guy Montag, is a fireman who slowly discovers the value of books. The title of the novel refers to the temperature at which book paper catches fire and burns: 451 degrees Fahrenheit. The novel takes place in an unspecified city sometime in the future after World War III. Society has become increasingly dependent on technology as entertainment and distraction; books have been banned since they disturb people’s emotions and contain ideas that could lead to discontentment with society. Firemen have been tasked with burning any books found by citizens. The protagonist of Fahrenheit 451 is Guy Montag, a fireman whose job it is to burn books when they are found. Through his interactions with various characters throughout the novel, Montag begins to question his role as a firefighter and eventually decides to take up reading books himself in order to gain knowledge about life outside of what he has been taught by society. Throughout Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury expresses themes about censorship, ignorance versus knowledge, conformity versus individuality, personal freedom versus oppression through both characterization and symbolism. The character of Clarisse serves as an example of someone who thinks critically about their surroundings while also challenging societal norms her conversations with Montag encourage him to do so as well. The symbol of fire is used throughout the novel: while it can be seen as something destructive that burns away knowledge (as it does when used by firefighters), it can also be seen as something transformative that helps spread ideas by providing light (such as when it’s used for illumination).