Science FictionScience Fiction

• Describes things that are plausible based upon the technology at the time

• Often considers the effect of technology on society

• Bradbury speculates that technology that was meant to make life easier robs people of the ability to think and relate to each other.

• Describes things that are plausible based upon the technology at the time

• Often considers the effect of technology on society

• Bradbury speculates that technology that was meant to make life easier robs people of the ability to think and relate to each other.

CensorshipCensorship

• The practice of keeping material from being viewed by others because of objectionable or offensive material.

• The practice of keeping material from being viewed by others because of objectionable or offensive material.

IronyIrony

• Fahrenheit 451 is a book about the dangers of censorship.

• Yet this book itself has been the object of censorship.

• It has been banned and/or challenged in many places across the United States.

• Fahrenheit 451 is a book about the dangers of censorship.

• Yet this book itself has been the object of censorship.

• It has been banned and/or challenged in many places across the United States.

What do these books have in common?What do these books have in common?

• The Great Gatsby• The Catcher in the

Rye• The Grapes of Wrath• Beloved• The Lord of the Flies• 1984• The Call of the Wild

• The Great Gatsby• The Catcher in the

Rye• The Grapes of Wrath• Beloved• The Lord of the Flies• 1984• The Call of the Wild

• To Kill a Mockingbird

• The Color Purple• Of Mice and Men• Catch-22• The Sun Also Rises• Invisible Man• Gone With the Wind• The Lord of the

Rings

• To Kill a Mockingbird

• The Color Purple• Of Mice and Men• Catch-22• The Sun Also Rises• Invisible Man• Gone With the Wind• The Lord of the

RingsTop 100 Most Banned/Challenged

Books of the 20th Century

SettingSetting

• Novel• Futuristic United States• All books are banned.• Any books that are found are

burned.• People are happy being plugged into

their technology, which requires little thinking.

• Novel• Futuristic United States• All books are banned.• Any books that are found are

burned.• People are happy being plugged into

their technology, which requires little thinking.

Usually, the entire house is burned.

Written in 1953Written in 1953

• Great prosperity in the United States• After World War II• Rise of TV• Targeted women & children• Rise of automobiles• Powerful V8 engines• Building of the Interstate Highway

System

• Great prosperity in the United States• After World War II• Rise of TV• Targeted women & children• Rise of automobiles• Powerful V8 engines• Building of the Interstate Highway

System

Why are books dangerous?Why are books dangerous?

Guy MontagA fireman who starts fires

Guy MontagA fireman who starts fires

Guy MontagGuy Montag• The protagonist of the novel

• At the beginning of the story he is little more than a fireman who lives without

thinking or feeling• By the end of the novel, he is

transformed into a true human—someone who realizes the value of

knowledge.  • He changes from a fireman dedicated to

burning books to a wandering refugee devoted to their preservation.

• The protagonist of the novel • At the beginning of the story he is little

more than a fireman who lives without thinking or feeling

• By the end of the novel, he is transformed into a true human—

someone who realizes the value of knowledge. 

• He changes from a fireman dedicated to burning books to a wandering refugee

devoted to their preservation.

MildredMildred

•Mildred is Montag’s wife •She acts more like a robot than a person. 

•She is obsessed with television and shuts out feelings of love and remorse. 

•At one time, she attempts suicide but is unsuccessful.

•Mildred is Montag’s wife •She acts more like a robot than a person. 

•She is obsessed with television and shuts out feelings of love and remorse. 

•At one time, she attempts suicide but is unsuccessful.

BeattyBeatty

•Beatty is Montag’s fire captain.  •Though he is well read in literature,

he chooses to burn books because he feels betrayed by them.

•Beatty seems to be the mastermind, if there is one, behind government censorship. 

•He is not a robot like Montag but a man who consciously chooses to do evil.

•Beatty is Montag’s fire captain.  •Though he is well read in literature,

he chooses to burn books because he feels betrayed by them.

•Beatty seems to be the mastermind, if there is one, behind government censorship. 

•He is not a robot like Montag but a man who consciously chooses to do evil.

Clarisse McClellanClarisse McClellan

• Clarisse is the next-door neighbor of Montag.

• Her influence on Montag at the beginning of the story is profound.

• Because of her, Montag decides to start reading for himself.

• Clarisse is the next-door neighbor of Montag.

• Her influence on Montag at the beginning of the story is profound.

• Because of her, Montag decides to start reading for himself.

FaberFaber

• Faber, coincidentally the name of a pencil-making company, is the elderly retired professor

• He helps Montag escape the city.  • He also serves as a mentor to Montag,

teaching him what he knows about the value of books. 

• On a metaphorical level, Faber symbolizes the tool (as his name implies) of learning.

• Faber, coincidentally the name of a pencil-making company, is the elderly retired professor

• He helps Montag escape the city.  • He also serves as a mentor to Montag,

teaching him what he knows about the value of books. 

• On a metaphorical level, Faber symbolizes the tool (as his name implies) of learning.

Mechanical HoundMechanical Hound

•The Hound is a computerized animal used by the government to punish its enemies.

•Though Montag torches the first Hound, a second one is brought in to track him. 

•The Hound represents the strong hand of dictatorship.

•The Hound is a computerized animal used by the government to punish its enemies.

•Though Montag torches the first Hound, a second one is brought in to track him. 

•The Hound represents the strong hand of dictatorship.

Stoneman and BlackStoneman and Black

•These are minor characters only seen briefly by the reader. 

•They are Montag’s fellow firemen, and have faces blackened by the smoke and soot of their occupation. 

•Eventually, Montag plants a book in Black’s house so that other firemen will burn it to the ground.

•These are minor characters only seen briefly by the reader. 

•They are Montag’s fellow firemen, and have faces blackened by the smoke and soot of their occupation. 

•Eventually, Montag plants a book in Black’s house so that other firemen will burn it to the ground.

Mrs. Phelps and Mrs. BowlesMrs. Phelps and Mrs. Bowles

•These women are also minor characters. 

•They are the friends of Mildred who are appalled when Montag reads them poetry.

•These women are also minor characters. 

•They are the friends of Mildred who are appalled when Montag reads them poetry.

GrangerGranger

•Granger is seen in the last few pages of the work. 

•He is the leader of the resistance movement that Montag joins. 

•He has deep knowledge of literature and the world in general. 

•His goal is to preserve classical knowledge.

•Granger is seen in the last few pages of the work. 

•He is the leader of the resistance movement that Montag joins. 

•He has deep knowledge of literature and the world in general. 

•His goal is to preserve classical knowledge.

The Allegory of the CaveThe Allegory of the Cave

• Written by Greek Philosopher Plato• Describes difference between ideas

and reality• People sitting in a cave believe that

the shadows on the walls are real.• When one leaves the cave, he is

unable to convince the others of the truth.

• Written by Greek Philosopher Plato• Describes difference between ideas

and reality• People sitting in a cave believe that

the shadows on the walls are real.• When one leaves the cave, he is

unable to convince the others of the truth.

ThemesThemes

• Progress can actually be harmful or dangerous.

• The thinking man/woman will always be at odds with society.

• Reason can be used as a weapon to defend wrong or right. People should be careful not to believe what they hear.

• Progress can actually be harmful or dangerous.

• The thinking man/woman will always be at odds with society.

• Reason can be used as a weapon to defend wrong or right. People should be careful not to believe what they hear.

Good and Bad FireGood and Bad Fire

• Fire is an important symbol in the novel.

• Fire can be both good and bad.• Fire destroys but also gives warmth.• Other fire symbols include the

hearth, phoenix, and the salamander.

• Fire is an important symbol in the novel.

• Fire can be both good and bad.• Fire destroys but also gives warmth.• Other fire symbols include the

hearth, phoenix, and the salamander.

LightLight

• Eyes• Looking vs. Seeing• Mirrors• The Sun & Moon

• Eyes• Looking vs. Seeing• Mirrors• The Sun & Moon