Christian High School English III American Lit. Final Study Guide (Sem. 2) (2024-2025)

How does Clarisse affect Montag's way of thinking?

Clarisse affects Montag's way of thinking by makes Montag question his happiness, his job, and the society around him.

What impact does the woman who chooses to burn with her books have on Montag?

The woman who chooses to burn with her books shocks Montag and sparks his curiousity concerning why books would matter so much.

Who are the "book people" and what is their purpose?

The "book people" are people Montag meets after fleeing the city who memorize books to preserve knowledge for the future.

According to Faber, what three things are missing from life?

Quality information, time to think, and freedom to act on thoughts.

How does the symbolism of fire evolve throughout the story?

At the beginning of the story fire represents destruction, but by the end of the story it evolves to symbolize warmth, hope, and renewal.

What does the Mechanical Hound represent in the novel?

It represents government control, fear, and the loss of individual freedom.

How does Montag feel about his relationship with Mildred?

He feels that they are distant and their relationship is empty, and he feels disconnected and unloved.

How do Mildred's friends react to the poem Montag reads, and what does this reveal?

Mildred's friends are emotional and angry, which reveals how the society is uncomfortable with real feelings and truth.

What does the Phoenix symbolize in the book?

It symbolizes rebirth- starting over after destruction, like society must do.

Why is the firetruck called the Salamander?

The name alludes to a mythical creature thought to survive fire and links to the destructive role of the firemen.

How does Captain Beatty defend the burning of the books?

Beatty claims it keeps people happy and removes the threat of creating conflict or confusion in society.

What event finally causes Montag to flee the city?

He kills Captain Beatty after being ordered to burn down his own house.

What happens to the city at the end of the novel, and what does it represent?

The city is destroyed by bombs, it symbolizes the necessity for the collapse of a broken society and the chance to rebuild.

What sets Clarisse's family apart from others in their society?

Clarisse's family talks, they think deeply, and they enjoy life, unlike the rest of society.

What does Montag hide behind the vent in his home?

He hides books.

Where and how did Montag first meet Faber?

They first met at a park, where Faber quoted poetry and gave Montag his contact information.

Why are MIldred's friends so upset after Montag reads the poem?

They are not used to feeling emotions or the the truth, so the poem makes them feel uncomfortable.

What job did Faber have before books were banned?

He was an English professor.

What frustrates Montag about Mildred's friends when they visit?

He is frustrated by their shallow conversation and ignorance, believing them to be blind to reality.

What warning does Bradbury give about censorship and conformity in Fahrenheit 451?

Bradbury warns that losing books and conforming will lead to a society without thought, truth, and meaning.

How did Ray Bradbury's experiences and fears shape the writing of Fahrenheit 451?

Bradbury feared censorship, the decline of reading, and technology replacing reality and real thought.

What concerns does Bradbury express about the role of technology in society?

He expresses that technology distracts, isolates, and numbs people to real thinking.

What traits are common in dystopian fiction?

Dystopian literature typically shows a society that seems perfect but actually is oppressive and controlled.

What makes Fahrenheit 451 a science fiction novel?

It imagines a future with advanced technology and social control, exploring big ideas about humanity.

Clarisse McClellan

A seventeen-year old who symbolizes critical thinking and individuality. She challenges Montag's worldview and encourages him to question the society around him.

Mildred Montag

Guy Montag's wife who symbolizes mindlessness and selfishness of society. She is obsessed with watching her parlor walls and is apathetic towards her husband. She also overdoses on sleeping pills in the beginning of the novel.

Captain Beatty

The fire captain of Montag's fire department who may symbolize authority or propaganda. He supports misinformation directed towards the other firemen and is murdered by Montag when ordering him to burn Montag's own house.

Faber

A retired English professor and an ally of Montag's who symbolizes free thought and intellect. Montag meets him on a park bench and he assists Montag, initially staying out of sight by using a device called the "green bullet," but after Montag becomes a fugitive he physically aids Montag in his escape.

Granger

Granger is one of the "book men" who symbolizes hope for the future through renewal. Granger welcomes Montag to the group and tells Montag how people through the country memorize books for the future.

Mechanical Hound

The Mechanical Hound is an eight-legged machine described to be "alive but not alive" which symbolizes government control, fear, and the loss of individual freedom. The Mechanical Hound hunts down and kills people guilty of hiding books.

The Phoenix and the Salamander

Two symbols on the uniform of the firemen, being mythical creatures who symbolize rebirth and destruction respectively. The Phoenix also is mentioned by Granger after the bombing of the city.

The Woman with the Books

An old woman who commits suicide along with her books and symbolizes rebellion against oppression. Her death shocks Montag and causes him to question why books are so important.

Mrs. Phelps

Along with Mrs. Bowles, one of MIldred's friends who represents mindlessness and ignorance of society. She has mindless conversation with Mildred before crying when Montag reads the poem "Dover Beach".

Guy Montag

A third-generation fireman who realizes the emptiness of his life and starts to search for meaning in the books he is supposed to be burning. He symbolizes free thought and is the main protagonist of Fahrenheit 451.

Clarisse's Uncle

Clarisse's uncle symbolizes the past, and he is one of the main sources of critical thought for Clarisse (therefore influencing Montag as well). He was arrested for driving too slow and he tells CLarisse why a lot of things happened, such as the removal of front porches to promote isolation.

Parlor Walls

Giant TV screens which Mildred watch that symbolize societal control, as they distract the society and prevent them from having to think, as well as keeping the people complacent and disconnected from reality.

Seashell Radios

Earbud-like devices Mildred listens to at night to pass the night, which symbolize the mindlessness of the society.

The CIty

The main setting of Fahrenheit 451, which is destroyed by bombs to show the collapse of a repressive society.

Poetry & Literary Devices

What is the deeper meaning of the poem "Hope is the Thing with Feathers"?

Hope is never failing.

What does the bird imagery suggest about the nature of hope in Dickinson's poem "Hope is the Thing with Feathers"?

Hope is persistent and enduring.

How is the theme of resilience shown in Dickinson's "Hope is the Thing with Feathers"?

The theme of resilience is see through the persistence and resilience of hope, as it "perches in the soul".

How is Death portrayed in the beginning of Emily Dickinson's "Because I Could Not Stop for Death"?

Death is portrayed as a kind companion.

What deeper meaning does the carriage ride in "Because I Could Not Stop for Death" symbolize?

This symbolizes that death is inevitable, but also tat the journey to death can be welcoming.

What does the raven symbolize in Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Raven", and how does it affect the speaker?

The raven symbolizes grief and loss, and it drives the speaker into madness.

How would you describe the mood created in "The Raven"?

The mood is most importantly tragic. It is additionally suspenseful, somber, and romantic.

How does Poe use sound devices to build rhythm and emotion in "The Raven"?

He uses repetition through the phrase "nevermore" repeated through the poem.

What does Mary Oliver encourage readers to consider about their own lives in "The Summer Day"?

Oliver encourages readers to ask themselves "What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"

Oliver encourages readers to understand that life is sacred and everyone has a purpose.

How does the speaker's tone in "The Summer Day" reflect her relationship with nature?

Her tone, curious and thoughtful, reveals how she bonds with nature and finds meaning for life through it.

What message does "Wild Geese" offer about human emotion and belonging?

Belonging can be found in nature and acceptance of one's place.

What does the image of wild geese represent in Oliver's poem "Wild Geese?"

The image represents freedom and connection to the bigger world.

What literary device does Dickinson use to explore the nature of fame in "Fame is a Bee"?

Dickinson uses an extended metaphor (Take note of EXTENDED).

How does Dickinson describe fame through her metaphor of a bee?

She describes fame as fleeting and harmful.

What idea about beauty does Ralph Waldo Emerson express in "The Rhodora"?

He expresses the idea that nature's beauty has inherent value.

What does Emerson suggest about the rhodora blooming in a hidden place?

He suggests that beauty is inherently valuable and that beauty exists for its own sake.

What point is Henry David Thoreau making about human knowledge in "Men Say They Know Many Things"?

He is making the point that human knowledge is limited.

What tone does Thoreau use at the end of his poem, and what words convey that tone?

Thoreau uses irony, seen when his poem states that "the wind that blows is all that any body knows."

What message does Georgia Douglas Johnson convey in "The Heart of a Woman"?

Johnson conveys the message through metaphors that the longing for freedom (specifically for a woman in the case of a poem) will come into conflict with limitations.

What image in "The Heart of a Woman" best reflects the speaker's emotional pain?

The best image for this scenario is the quote "as a lone bird, soft winging, so restlessly on."

Why does Langston Hughes use multiple similes in "Dream Deferred"?

Hughes does this to emphasize the volatile nature of ignored aspirations.

How does the final line of "Dream Deferred" affect the tone of the poem?

It creates a sense of urgency, potential for violence, and an ominous and explosive tone.

What does the caged bird symbolize in Maya Angelou's poem?

It symbolized the oppressed and the hope for freedom.

How does Angelou contrast the free bird and the caged bird to convey her message?

Angelou creates the juxtaposition (opposite nature, kind of like a literary foil) between the free bird, representative of freedom from restrictions, and the caged bird, representative of emotional oppression.

How would you describe the tone of "Still I Rise"?

The tone is resilient against oppression.

What effect does the repeated phrase "I rise" have in Angelou's poem "Still I Rise"?

Most importantly, it shows her defiance. It secondly shows that she won't be stopped and her perseverance.

What warning or lesson is offered in the final lines of Gwendolyn Bennett's "Sonnet 1"?

She warns that love and fatal attraction are deceptive.

How does the tone shift between the beginning and the end of "Sonnet 1"?

The tone shifts from careless to ominous and eager, dangerous, and tragic.

What role does imagery play in shaping the speaker's experience in "The Fish"?

It shapes the speaker's experience to respect the beauty of nature and the struggle for survival,

What does the speaker learn about beauty and resilience in Bishop's "The Fish"?

The speaker learns that although all may not initially seem beautiful, resilience deserves respect, which can only be seen through observation.

How does the tone of "The Fish" shift from beginning to end?

The tone shifts from curious and impartial to sympathetic and even admiring.

Literary Movements and Philosophy

How can you tell the difference between Romantic and Realist literature based on what they are focused on?

Romanticism focuses on emphasis of emotion or supernatural themes, while realism literature focuses on everyday life and conflict.

What is one belief that sets Transcendentalist writers apart from other movements?

Transcendentalist writers focus more on more idealistic themes, individualism, and the divinity of nature.

How would a Transcendentalist like Emerson or Thoreau likely describe true wisdom?

A Transcendentalist like Emerson or Thoreau would like describe true wisdom as limited and something that must be sought out in nature.

Short Stories

What message does Shirley Jackson convey about tradition in "The Lottery"?

Blindly following tradition leads to negative consequences.

What does the black box represent in "The Lottery," and why is it important?

The black box symbolized tradition and it is important because it shows how mindlessly following tradition can lead to danger.

How does Jackson create a disturbing atmosphere in "The Lottery"?

She uses foreshadowing and twists something with a usually positive connotation into a negative and deadly event.

What is the main source of conflict between the narrator and her mother in Amy Tan's "Two Kinds"?

The main source of conflict is the mother's high expectations for her daughter versus Jing-mei (June)'s longing for freedom to make her own decisions.

How does the narrator change her view of her mother by the end of "Two Kinds"?

Her view changes from one of resentment and rebellion to a view of understanding and empathy.

What theme is explored through the narrator's struggle in "Two Kinds"?

The story explores the themes of mother vs. daughter, freedom vs. expectations, and whether the American Dream is plausible for immigrants.

What does the empty, automated house reveal about the world of "There Will Come Soft Rains"?

Technology is highly advanced but has both caused the destruction of humanity and has remained apathetic and ignorant to its surroundings.

How does Bradbury use irony in "There Will Come Soft Rains"?

Irony is seen since the very efforts the house makes to sustain itself cause the house's own destruction.

What is the central message of "There Will Come Soft Rains" about humanity and technology?

The message is that if we are not careful, we will lose our humanity to technology.

The Great Gatsby

How is the great Gatsby an example of literary modernism?

It showcases disillusionment, fragmented narrative structure, and a critical view of societal norms, all hallmarks of modernist literature.

What genre best fits the Great Gatsby?

The best fitting genre for the Great Gatsby is modernism, with elements of tragedy and social commentary.

What theme connects the Great Gatsby and Fahrenheit 451?

Both novels warn of the danger of blindly chasing shallow dreams in a materialistic society.

What idea about love and success is suggested by the epigraph at the start of the Great Gatsby?

Love and achievement can be manipulative tools, and are not always founded on sincerity.

What central theme does the Great Gatsby communicate about the American Dream?

The Great Gatsby critiques the illusion of the American Dream as being ultimately corrupt and unfulfilling.

How did F. Scott Fitzgerald's personal life influence the writing of the novel?

His tumultuous (rocky) love life, financial struggles, and fascination with wealth mirrored the character of Gatsby.

What does the term "Lost Generation" refer to in relation to Fitzgerald and his peers?

The term references post-World War I writers disillusioned with traditional values and alienated from society.

Why is Gatsby's mansion an important symbol in the novel?

It demonstrates his grand ambitions as well as the emptiness of material success.

What is significant about Tom Buchanan's family background?

His wealth and privilege explain his arrogance, entitlement, and resistance to change.

Why does Gatsby host his extravagant parties?

He hopes Daisy will eventually attend, and she will be impressed enough to return to him.

What surprising truths are revealed about Gatsby's past?

Gatsby reinvented himself entirely, he fabricated most of his past to fit his dream life.

How is Gatsby connected to illegal activities?

He was involved in bootlegging and with shady characters such as Meyer Wolfsheim.

How old is Nick Carraway during the events of the novel?

During the novel Nick is 29.

Who shows up to Gatsby's funeral, and why is this important?

Almost no one, which is important because it highlights the hollowness of Gatsby's social circle (specifically the attendees are Nick, the owl-eyed man, and Mr. Gatz).

Why does George Wilson shoot Gatsby?

Wilson believes that Gatsby drove the car which killed his wife Myrtle and that Gatsby had an affair with her.