Fahrenheit 451 Themes Theme Chart Notes Theme Topic

Fahrenheit 451 Themes Theme Chart Notes

Theme Topic: Knowledge vs Ignorance • Firemen destroy knowledge (books) • Government promotes ignorance • What is critical thinking? – Challenging ideas rather than accepting them • Look for the contrast between Faber and Captain • Beatty Look for Montag’s journey from ignorance to enlightenment – What is enlightenment you say?

Theme Topic: Government Control/ Conformity • Government Control – The government seeks to control the people by making them ignorant of their history – How could this be a form of control? • Conformity – In this fictional world it is highly prized to be the SAME. – No one is allowed to have individual thoughts – Interestingly this is SELF-ENFORCED by the citizens. . . hmmmm, sound familiar? • What are some similarities to our modern society?

Theme Topic: Over-reliance on Technology • TV and electronics are the enemy (even though they • seem like amazing advancements that we’d all enjoy)! The argument for the advanced technology is that people are HAPPIER when they DON’T have to THINK! – Sound familiar? I love a good Kardashian episode. . . don’t you? • What are the problems with becoming too overly reliant on technology? – Look for these for your theme chart

Theme Topic: Man vs Natural World • Think about “There Will Come Soft Rains” – Who won? Man or the Natural World? – Who ultimately has more control? • Man = Technology/government/conformity • Natural World = engagement/truth/living • What is our life cycle? How does technology work to eliminate the natural cycle of life?

Theme Topic: Dissatisfaction • Are you really happy? • Everyone in this novel seems to be happy. . . they have what we all want! The best that money can buy in technological advances! – Watch TV all day, have food made for them at any time, drive cars as fast as they want • Sounds like a dream right? Or is it?

Theme Topic: Violence • The futuristic world of Fahrenheit 451 is violent – They have no respect for human life – Violence is an outlet for pent-up emotions • Why do you think this is? As we read, and consider how the other themes relate to this theme. . . is there a problem here?

Theme Topic: Censorship • No one is able to think independently • If they have an original idea, it is quelled immediately – They may be put in jail or sent to a doctor for psychological help • This is connected to books. . but don’t let that bother you (even if you don’t love to read). . . the problem is NO ONE IS ABLE TO SPEAK HIS/HER MIND! (Books are merely symbolic of this problem!)

Theme Chart pgs. 3 -14 Main Points • Montag is a fireman that sets fires Setting Characters Relation to Theme He’s on a Montag – a Violence – • Montag meets street and fireman and Montag seems Clarisse and it’s dark the obsessed with she asks him if protagonist burning he’s happy • Montag finds Montag’s House Clarisse – 17 Dissatifaction – his wife has mildred’s tried to commit and a war & crazy, is insightful attempted suicide beginning Mildred suicide and Guy’s admission that

Theme Chart pgs. 14 -28 Main Points Setti Characte Relation to Theme ng rs • Mildred gets her stomach pumped • Montag sees Clarisse (dandelion test)– He’s not in love • The Mon tag’s Hou se On the stre et Midred Montag Clarisse Captain Beatty Dissatisfaction – Mildred’s denial of her suicide attempt and Montag is not in love Violence/Government Control – The hound kills people to show the power of the government over the community (Over reliance on

Theme Chart pgs. 28 -42 Main Points Setting Charact Relation to Theme ers • Clarisse explains why she’s “antisocial” • Montag steals a book • The woman commits suicide by burning herself On the street Clarisse and Montag The burning woman’ s house Captain Beatty, Stonem an and Black Violence – Clarisse’s classmates hurt each other, Fun Parks Conformity – Everyone is expected to be the same (high school) Knowledge vs Ignorance – Montag is moving towards knowledge Violence/Dissatisfa Woman ction – woman kills herself who burned

Theme Chart pgs. 42 -53 Main Points Setting Characters • Montag Mildred and Overrelianc Montag e on Tech – Mildred Dissatisfacti on – Montag Violence – Clarisse has been hit by a car feels like Mildred’s TV family is more important to her • Montag finds out that Clarisse is Montag’s house Relation to Theme

Theme Chart pgs. 53 -68 Main Points Setting Characters Relation to Theme