Fahrenheit 451 Warm-Up #1

2. Fahrenheit 451 Warm-Up #1 • Ray Bradbury opens the novel with a quote by Juan Ramon Jimenez: “If they give you ruled paper, write the other way.” • Why did Bradbury select this statement and what does it mean? What could you predict about the book?

3. Fahrenheit 451 Warm-Up • Read the “Brief History: Book Burnings” article from the front table. • What are two reasons people have burned books throughout history? • Choose one reason you think Fahrenheit 451 could be about.

4. Writer’s Notebook EntryDue by the end of the week. • What is that one book, at this point in your life, that you just could not part with? If you could only keep one book, what would it be? Why? • Write one page about a book that opened new doors for you. If a book had a profound impact, explain why. If the book was pleasurable, explain in detail how it was pleasurable and how you experienced that.

5. Work on WNB Entry about a book that changed your life.

6. Fahrenheit 451 Warm-Up # 2 • Create a t-chart showing the differences between Montag and Clarisse’s life.

7. Answer on a clean sheet of loose-leaf paper. Montag’s television includes headphones called seashells. The wall to wall circuit allows Mildred to enter the “play”, and therefore, the television programming. • How does the technology within the novel compare to our current technology? • Does technology improve the quality of life for Montag and his wife, Mildred? Why or why not?

8. Shhhh! We’re Having a Silent Discussion • You will be given a question to respond to. You will have about two minutes to respond to the question in written form. When I ring the bell, pass your paper to the right. Now take your new paper, read the person’s response. Now you take about 2 minutes to write a response to this response. You can refer to the 1st person’s answer as well. When the bell rings, pass the paper to the right again. Read the new responses, and start again. Keep going until you have your original paper back.

9. Writer’s Notebook • Using your own thoughts and notes from our class discussion, come to a “final” opinion about technology in our lives. • Write at least one page about it in your writer’s notebook.

10. Homework • Read 32-68 • Think about: Why are we introduced to Montag at this point in his life?

11. Fahrenheit 451 Warm-up #3 • Reread Captain Beatty’s monologue (58-59). • Write about his view that school cultivates anti-intellectual sentiment. • Do you think it accurately depicts your school? • Do books violate the idea that “everyone is made equal”? Is that okay? Not okay?

12. Most Important Quote • Look through the first section of the book. • What quote do you feel is the most important to the development of the plot of the story? • Write it at the top of the page and then explain why.

13. Silent Discussion • You will be given a question to respond to. You will have about two minutes to respond to the question in written form. When I ring the bell, pass your paper to the right. Now take your new paper, read the person’s response. Now you take about 2 minutes to write a response to this response. You can refer to the 1st person’s answer as well. When the bell rings, pass the paper to the right again. Read the new responses, and start again. Keep going until you have your original paper back.

14. Question for Silent Discussion • Clarisse says: “People don’t talk about anything… Nobody says anything different from anyone else… My uncle says it was different once” (31). • Discuss how this statement could still be true today.

15. Writer’s Notebook Entry • Write about the most important thing you “discussed” with your group. • Extend your entry by continuing with your own thoughts.

16. Homework • Read 69-91 • Think about: What motivates the five main characters • Montag • Clarisse • Mildred • Beatty • Faber

17. Fahrenheit 451 Warm-Up #4 • What motivates each character? • Montag • Clarisse • Mildred • Beatty • Faber

18. Literary Term: Foil • A character whose qualities or actions serve to emphasize those of the protagonist by providing a strong contrast with them. • Has traits that contrast with the protagonist’s and highlight important features of the main character’s personality.

19. Examples of Foils • Sherlock Holmes • Jekyll • Johnny Cade • Dr. Watson • Hyde • Dally Winston

20. Fahrenheit 451 Warm Up #5 • Get into your groups • Why are the two characters foils? • How does the character your group is assigned lead Montag through self-realization? • Find two quotes that show their differences.

21. Warm-Up: Figurative Language • What does figurative language ask of a reader? Does exploring a novel’s figurative language train us in precisely the thinking Beatty hates? Why or why not?

22. Simile A surprising comparison of two things using the words “like” or “as”

23. The city lights were like a galaxy when we first caught sight of them from a distance.

24. He seemed to be as light as a feather.

25. Metaphor A surprising comparison that does not use “like” or “as.” It may be subtle or implied.

26. When I teach a new lesson, first period students are my guinea pigs.

27. He was a tree in the winter, shivering, but strong against the wind.

28. Writer’s Notebook • Find two similes and two metaphors in Fahrenheit 451. Write them in your writer’s notebook. • Use one of them to start a new writing piece. • Your piece can be about anything. • It should be a page in length.

29. What are the costs and benefits of having knowledge? How do we see this happening in Fahrenheit 451?

30. Homework • Read “Burning Bright” to page 130.

31. Warm-Up • What is a symbol in literature?

32. Homework • Read 130-145

33. Warm-Up • Take a handout from the front table and read it. • Answer in your warm-up section: • Although we have been focusing as Montag as the main character, could books be considered the heroes of the novel? Why?

34. Why are books heroes?

35. Warm-Up • What do you feel are the two most important turning points in Fahrenheit 451? Explain why.

36. Timeline Project • Choose a partner. • Create a timeline that defines a beginning, middle, and end. • Decide on the two most important turning points of the novel and make them significant on the timeline. • Include lesser events that build tension. • Draw images and symbols that represent important points in the book.