Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury Ray Bradbury Born August

Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury

Ray Bradbury • Born: August 22, 1920 in Waukegan, Illinois • He graduated from a Los Angeles high school in 1938. – Although his formal education ended there, he became a "student of life, " selling newspapers on L. A. street corners from 1938 to 1942, spending his nights in the public library and his days at the typewriter. • He became a full-time writer in 1943, and he contributed numerous short stories to periodicals before publishing a collection of them, Dark Carnival, in 1947.

Bradbury’s Influences • As a child Bradbury wanted more science fiction stories, but the library did not have many; the genre was not considered to be of high literary merit • He was also influenced by the burning of the Library of Alexandria - Ancient Egypt - Possibly set fire by Julius Caesar in 48 BC - He saw the burning of this library as a symbol for the destruction of cultural knowledge

Historical Influences • Bradbury was horrified by groups targeting books and authors, including: - Hitler and the Nazis burning books - Stalin’s “Great Purge, ” when authors and poets were arrested and executed • The atomic bombs dropped during WWII, plus the Communist fears of the times, set the perfect stage for Bradbury’s chilling story

The Cold War • Cold War: defined as the relationship between America and the Soviet Union from 1945 to 1980. Neither side ever fought the other - the consequences would be too appalling – but the threat of nuclear was always there.

Achievements • Ray Bradbury was nominated for an Academy Award (for his animated film Icarus Montgolfier Wright), and he has won an Emmy Award (for his teleplay of The Halloween Tree). • He adapted sixty-five of his stories for television's Ray Bradbury Theater. • He was the creative consultant on the United States Pavilion at the 1964 New York World's Fair. • In 1982 he created the interior metaphors for the Spaceship Earth display at Epcot Center, Disney World, and later contributed to the conception of the Orbitron space ride at Euro-Disney, France. • Bradbury received numerous accolades throughout his life, including but not limited to The National Medal of Arts and the Pulitzer Prize.

Later Life • Married since 1947, Mr. Bradbury and his wife Maggie lived in Los Angeles with their numerous cats. • Together, they raised four daughters and had eight grandchildren. • Maggie passed away in 2003. • Ray Bradbury passed away in 2012.

Dystopian Novel • The depiction of a community or society that is in some important way undesirable or frightening • Literally translated as “not good place” • Particularly applies to stories set in the future

Dystopian Novel Characteristics • Characterized by: - dehumanization - dangers of a totalitarian government - environmental disaster • Often calls attention to issues with: - society - ethics - religion - science - psychology - technology

Popular Dystopian Books • • • The Hunger Games Divergent 1984 Brave New World A Clockwork Orange

The World of Fahrenheit 451 • In this dystopian society firefighters set the fires instead of put them out • The temperature of 451 degrees Fahrenheit is believed to be the ideal temperature for burning books • Citizens no longer read or enjoy learning; instead, they only watch TV and become engrossed in entertainment (uh-oh…)