Discussion 5 Pg 125-165

Questioner/Discussion Director

Kevin

1. Why would the police blame the man walking down the street as being Montag?
2. What does the humbleness of Granger and his group of professors (who approve of books) show compared to the people like Beatty(who would rather burn books)?
3. Why would Montag picture Mildred just as she’s about to die,after Montag was hit by the shock wave?
4. Why did Granger share the story about his grandfather to Montag?
5. Why did Montag think of The book of Ecclesiastes shortly after thinking about Mildred?

Literary Luminary

Tyler

“Fully aware of his entire body, his face, his mouth, his eyes stuffed with blackness.” (Page 145)

I chose this quote because i believe it to be of symbolic importance. We theorised that Montag couldn’t see the truth, as he was conflicted with many emotions, and was blinded or “eyes stuffed with blackness”. Also, he was aware of his entire body because he was trying to feel his way through the darkness of doubt and confusion.

“I think of her hands but they’re not doing anything at all. They just hang there at her sides or… on her lap.” (Page 156)

Our discussion on this quote ended with us coming to the conclusion that Montag thought Mildred was dead. her arms doing absolutely nothing, going limp on her sides or lap, and the bombing that happens later on in the book leads us to believe that Mildred either died in a car crash after driving away, or the bombs likely killed her, as they did with many people living in the city.

Summarizer

Sophia

Montag was heading in the direction of Fabers house trying not to be seen. He made it to Fabers house. Together they decided Montag should  run to the river and go out in the country where he should find some men. Montag left Fabers and everyone was on the lookout for him, even the hound. But he made it to the river. He found 5 homeless men who all read books. They all started talking. The men showed Montag what was going on in the city and how the police pretended to catch Montag but it was another man. The war had started and the men got hit with a shockwave. It made Montag think of Mildred. They also saw the explosions going on in the city and were telling themselves that they will have to be the ones to rebuild and restore the city.

Key points :

1. Montag getting advice from Faber on what to do.

2. Montag making it to the country and finding the homeless men.

3. The men watching the police catching the other man.

4. Montag thinking of Mildred.

5. The men saw the explosions and were thinking of rebuilding the city. 

Connector

Elias

After being hit by the hounds needle, when Montag tries to walk it feels like hes being stabbed by needles. I can relate this to my life because one time I was hiking  I slid down a large slope and messed up my leg, when I tried to walk it felt like I was being stabbed as well.

When the police and the media cannot find Montag they instead kill a random guy in the street and say he is Montag, this demonstrates that the media can lie to the public and they will believe it. This relates to real life because we could also be fed fake news by the media and we would believe it.

Word Wizard

Connor

Valise: pg. 136

Definition: small travelling bag or suitcase

Reason: It is unusual that he called it a valise and why would he take it and just let it sink  to the bottom of the lake.

Procaine: pg.137

Definition: local anesthetic, used to reduce pain.

Reason: It is interesting that the hound has anesthetic when it is meant for books

20 million: pg. 138

Definition: the number equivalent to the product of a thousand and a thousand

Reason: Montag kept repeating that there is 20 million people watching implying that everyone is addicted to their parlors and don’t know when get off of it.

Ecclesiastes: pg. 150

Definition: Originally written c. 450-180 BCE, it is also among the canonical Wisdom Books in the Old Testament of most denominations of Christianity. The title Ecclesiastes is a Latin transliteration of the Greek translation of the Hebrew Kohelet, the pseudonym used by the author of the book.

Reason: I find it interesting that there is a book that is connected between the Judaism and Christianity.

Discussion 4 Pg.81-125

Literary Luminary

Sophia 

Pg # 83 “Do you know why books such as this are so important? Because they have quality.”

Faber talks about how books have texture and pores and that’s what makes the books so significant. This demonstrates that books used to bring something to people that they need in their life.  Books “stitched the patches of the universe together” ( pg 83) into one.

Pg #82 “I can’t talk to my wife; she listens to the walls. I just want someone to hear what I have to say. And maybe if I talk long enough, it’ll make sense.”

This demonstrates how I think many characters in this book feel. Barely any body feels like they have people that they can talk to who will actually listen. They don’t feel like they have a voice and they certainly don’t feel like they have a right to share their opinion.

Pg # 96 “ I voted last election, same as everyone, and I laid it on the line for President Noble. I think he’s one of the nicest-looking men ever became president.”

Pg #97 “ You just don’t go running a little short man like that against a tall man.”

These two quotes show how they only voted for people based on their looks. I find that interesting because your president is going to be leading your country and making decisions that will largely affect you. Therefore do their looks really matter when choosing who to vote for?

Pg #107 “ He wanted to yell, No! Shut up, you’re confusing things, stop it!”

This demonstrates the confusion that is constantly put on Montag. Throughout the book he is often found at a cross roads, not knowing what decision to make. He tends to get pursuaded by what others tell him.

Connector

Connor

Pg. 85 – Montag tells Faber about his plan to destroy the fire stations from within. This reminded me heavily of Star Wars: The Force Awakens because in both stories there is a protagonist that is affiliated with the a group that is disliked. When ordered to kill innocent people, they have second thoughts. This causes them to rebel against the hated group with information they already know from working there.

 

Pg. 90 – Faber gave Montag an earpiece so that he could listen to what is around Montag and speak to him aswell. This reminded me of a spy movie or a covert operation such as Mission Impossible or any of the James Bond movies. Also usually the protagonist gets caught due to the said earpiece and Beatty did find it and threatened to hunt down Faber and kill him.

Discussion Director

Elias

1. does Ms.Bowles and other parents not care about about their kid?
2. Why do people in the story vote for political leaders based completely on their looks?
3. Why did Montag decide to kill Beatty?
4. When Montag is crossing the road while on the run, why did the random driver try to hit him even though they did not know he was a fugitive?
5. What is the reason for the media and police killing a random man and saying it was Montag?

Topics to be carried over to the next section are the people Montag meets on the railroad.

 

Summarizer 

Kevin

While at the fire station, Beatty try’s to convince Montag that books are better burned than read. An alarm comes through and both Beatty and Montag head to their destination only to reveal that the house there about to burn is none other than Montag’s house. Beatty orders him to burn the house. Montage burns everything and is placed under arrest by Beatty. He later notices Montag listening to something and strikes him on the head, causing a radio to fall out of Montag’s ear in which Faber was reading the Book of Job to him.The radio is picked up by Beatty saying that it will be traced to the person on the other end. Montag being caught in the act , burns Beatty. The hound appears and attacks Montag’s leg before he manages to destroy it. Now, while alone on foot with an injured leg,and people on the lookout for him he finds a gas station and washes of the soot from the burning and hears on the radio that the war has been declared. Later Montag heads to Faber’s house and is told by Faber to follow the old rail tracks out of town were he would meet him in st.louis to meet a retired printer and an old friend of Faber.

Key Points:

1. Beatty gets burned
2. Montag is alone
3. war has been declared
4. Faber is being tracked
5. Faber and Montag have to meet a printer in st.louis

Connections:

When Montage burns Beatty in order to protect his pal Faber it reminded me of when Darth Vader saved luke from the emperor since the emperor is a sneaky boi.

Discussion 3 pg 51-80

Discussion Director

Connor

Questions

1.Why do you think Montag wasn’t given a chance for another job?

Answer: It could be a law in this universe that you have to have the same job as your father because Montag stated that his father and his grandfather were firemen

2.Why was the robotic dog able to be let loose and go to Montag’s house?

Answer: When Montag was talking to Beatty, he didn’t say that it had to stay in the fire station. Another theory is that Beatty suspects that Montag is up to something and might have books so he sends the dog to sniff out his house.

3.Why didn’t Montag do anything about Faber when he clearly had a piece of literature?

Answer: Possibly Montag had a change of heart before meeting Clarisse and thought that he would’t harass an old man.

4.Why does the parlour exist when it takes you out of reality and you get addicted to it.

Answer: This could have been implemented into society because it has some hypnotic powers and ensures that people watching will always believe that books are bad and need to be burned.

5. Why did no one call in that Montag had a book on the train?

Answer: On the train there is always a jingle playing and was made to distract people on the train so there were less violence and harassment in the community.

Word Wizard

Sophia 

1. Eternal matchbox page #35

Definition: box of matches that lasts forever

We weren’t sure as to how it can last forever

2. Things began to have mass #54

Definition: Large body of matter with no definite shape

A way of saying that things that were once impossible started to become real. For example, the television was no longer an idea. It became a part of everyday life.

3. Odd ducks #60

Definition: An unusual person, especially an individual with an idiosyncratic personality or peculiar behavioral characteristics.

Beatty was referring to Clarisse as an odd duck. However that is what Montag saw in her. She was different and that’s what he liked about her.

4. People in nordic surges from place to place #57 – did not use because were unsure of meaning

5. Happiness boys #61

Beatty is saying that him and Clarisse are happiness boys because he means that the firemen are the ones who have to bring happiness to everyone and the citizens. It is their responsibility.

6. Melancholy #62 *this word is constantly repeated throughout the book

Definition: a feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause.

In this paragraph, Beatty is telling Montag not to let sadness affect him and the rest of the world.

Connector

Tyler

Montag revealing all the books to Mildred made me draw a connection between books and illegal drugs. Some similarities between books in this world and drugs in our world is that 1: both are considered illegal contraband, 2: the law requires civilians not to have them, and 3, to some people it’s an addiction (shown in the story by the woman who burned alive since she could not have her books anymore).

Literary Luminary

Kevin

Pg.58 – ” the word ‘intellectual’ , of course , became the swear work it deserved to be.

-demonstrates how people changed into having a negative mindset

Pg.58 – ” a book is a loaded gun in the house next door. Burn it. “

– demonstrates why books are looked at more of a weapon then entertainment

Pg.59 – ” there was no longer need of firemen for the old purpose. They were given the new job , as custodians of our peace and mind “

– demonstrates why firemen burn book rather than putting out the fires

Pg.64 – ” It’s fun out in the country. You hit rabbits, sometimes you hit dogs”

– demonstrates how stress being built up over time and living in a negative environment can force people to handle it with violence

Discussion 2 p.24-50

Tuesday April 17, 2018

Discussion Director

Tyler

Question 1: Why is Montag not in love with Mildred?                                                     Answer: We believed it was either Mildred who had stopped caring about Montag, or that it’s been 10 years since they met, and they may be starting to get bored of each other.

Question 2: Why does the Robot Hound hate Montag?                                                         Answer: We believed the robot hound could somehow sense Montag’s differing opinion on his fireman job, so the hound is more aggressive towards him.

Question 3: Who was Clarisse’s uncle?                                                                         Answer: We could not identify who Clarisse’s uncle was with the information given in the text, but we can assume he had a job with books, or possibly with people since he knows so much about the past and remember’s it so fondly.

Question 4: Why do kids murder each other?                                                                    Answer: Our theory was that violence was very prominent in the future, as demonstrated by most of the firemen not having a problem burning an old woman alive, so that influences the kids to think that life is for granted, and they can do whatever they like.

Question 5: who killed Clarisse?                                                                                            Answer: While the text did not give us definitive evidence on who Clarisse’s killer is, we theorised that it was either another kid who did not like her, or possibly a more complicated conspiracy such as the government or the firemen who killed her.

 

Summarizer

Connor

Summary:

While at the fire station Montag meets the robotic hound and immediately notices it has a disliking towards him. Later Montag meets up with Clarisse and they have a talk. They discuss about life and how it was very different before. Clarisse mentions that firemen used to put out fires instead of starting them. This made Montag curious about why was he taught the opposite. As the story progresses the days for Montag become repetitive. Everyday is the same for him but Clarisse always makes the day break from the monotony of working at the firestation. Some time has passed and Montag hasn’t seen Clarisse in quite a while and it concerns him. Suddenly there is a call in about a woman owning books. Everything was routine except the fact that the woman decided to burn with her books. This left Montag feeling very quilty and when he got home he talked to Mildred about what happened.

Keypoints

1. Montag notices a creepy feeling from the  robotic hound at the station
2. Clarisse and Montag have a talk
3. Clarisse is missing and it worries Montag
4. Montag and the other firemen burn books with a woman inside the house
5. Mildred and Montag have a conversation about what happened at work

Connections

When Montag felt very guilty of leaving the woman in the burning house it reminded me of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”. In “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”, Finn, one of the protagonists is ordered to execute people of a village. But he comes to a realization of what he is doing and ultimately changes sides and join the Resistance. I predict that Montag will most likely turn against the firemen.

Connector

Sophia

1. On page 47, Mildred tells Montag how she is pretty sure that Clarisse is dead. Then Montag also mentions how they burnt a thousand books and also a woman. After this Montag all the sudden gets quiet and angry and is saying how he feels sick and isn’t going to go to work.   I connect to this because there has been something before that has effected me so much to the point where I feel sick just thinking about it because it’s such a shock to you that something like that could happen. And I think that’s similar to how Montag is feeling in this situation because even though he barely knew Clarisse I think he felt a pretty strong connection with her. And he didn’t think it was right to burn that women alive when he didn’t think she deserved it.

2. On page 36, the women in the house said “Play the man, Master Ridley; we shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out.” Later on page 40, Montag brought up “how she said some crazy thing when we came in the door”. Beatty says how “A man named Latimer said that to a man named Nicholas Ridley, as they were being burnt alive at Oxford, for heresy, on October 16, 1555” This is a historical connection. The old lady is saying a historical quote to relate to her situation.

Literary Luminary

Elias

p.34-35 last/first Paragraph:

Demonstrates how people do not anything about the past and they will believe anything the government tells them because the firemen rule book says that Benjamin Franklin was the first fireman.

p.37-38 last/first Paragraph: Demonstrates that Montag is different from everyone else because he is curious about books and wants to read them because he stole a book.

p.42-43 last/first Paragraph: Exhibits how out of it people are in this book, people can’t even remember when they met their husband or wife. Everyone just tries to have fun and not focus on how they truly feel.

 

Discussion 1 p.1-24

Thursday April 13, 2018

Discussion Director

Sophia

Q1: What does Montag see in Clarisse that reminds him on himself?
Answer: She reminds him of himself because of her facial features like her eyes and her mouth. As well as she’s dark but illuminated at the same time.

Q2: Why do you think Mildred took all of her sleeping pills?
Answer: We thought that Mildred was feeling stressed out or not very happy with the way she’s living.

Q3: Do you think it had anything to do with Montag and Mildred’s relationship?
Answer: Perhaps not their relationship but the state of world that they’re in. It could be hard on Mildred and be the thing causing her to want to do that to relieve some of what’s going on.

Q4: Do Montag’s numerals 451 have any significance? If so, explain.
Answer: We think that it’s the temperature at which the books are burned at (fahrenheit 451). It could also represent the number of their fire department or number of worker that Montag is.

Word Wizard

Elias

Burn- p1 – Flame or glow while consuming a material such as coal,paper, or wood.

– Burn or burning is a major part of the story because of many of the worlds books being burnt, also flame or words similar to burn(fire and flame) are repeated and used a lot.

Melancholy- A feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause.

– Less used word that people may not have known

Happy- p10 -feeling or showing pleasure or contentment.

– Clarisse asks Montag if he is happy, Montag tells himself that he is happy, but deep down he knows he isn’t truly happy.

Literary Luminary

Connor

Pg. 8 paragraph 5ish

Reason for Picking: Clarisse mentions that firemen used to put out fires instead of starting them. But Montag says that firemen have always started fires. Why is the government setting false information about the history of firemen?

Pg. 10 paragraph 4ish

Reason for Picking: It is odd that he is staring at the vent multiple times throughout the book. It is like he is hiding something from everyone.

Pg. 16 paragraph 4ish

Reason for Picking: When Mildred went to the hospital, the doctor’s replaced all her blood with new blood. Why would they replace blood only when she overdosed on sleeping pills.

Pg.22 paragraph 5ish

Reason for Picking: Clarisse shows Montag that rubbing a dandelion on your chin will show that you are in love. It is interesting that Montag believes in this when he doesn’t believe that firemen used to put out fires before.

Summarizer

Tyler

The story begins with our main character Montag doing his job as a fireman. However, a fireman’s job, instead of putting out fires, is lighting books on fire. After leaving work, and on his way home, he meets a 17 year old girl name Clarisse McClellan, who asks him if he’s truly happy with his life. after she leaves, Montag heads home to find that is wife was dying from pill overdose. Some doctors showed up and saved her life shortly after. Lastly, Montag meets up with Clarisse again.

Key Points:

1: Firemen burn books instead of dousing fires

2: Clarisse asks Montag if he’s unhappy.

3: Montag’s wife overdoses on sleeping pills

4: Jet bombers fly over his house at night.

WORD WIZARD

Kevin

-Joke boxes: voice box

-Thunder Heads: a rounded mass of cumulus cloud

-odious: extremely unpleasent, repulsive

Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury