Fahrenheit 451 Pt 2 & 3 Study Guide

Purpose of the passage in Part 3:
Bradbury uses this passage to highlight Beatty’s confidence and authority, as well as his casual disregard for the gravity of the situation. The exaggerated slowness and perfunctory glance emphasize his arrogance and control over Montag’s fate.

Parallel inferred from Beatty’s argument with Montag:
Beatty compares Montag to Icarus, who flew too close to the sun and burned his wings. This suggests that Montag, by challenging society and seeking knowledge, has brought destruction upon himself.

Significance of the Mechanical Hound:
The Hound represents the oppressive control of the government and the dangers of technology when used for surveillance and suppression. Its relentless pursuit of Montag creates tension and forces him to fully reject his old life.

Role of the ‘parlor families’:
The televised figures symbolize society’s obsession with entertainment and the loss of real human relationships. They contribute to isolation by replacing genuine connections, enforce conformity by dictating shallow values, and illustrate how technology has eroded meaningful communication.

Who reported Montag first?
Mildred’s friends first alerted the authorities, but Mildred herself made the final report.

Meaning of the passage “Montag lay watching the dead-alive thing fiddle the air and die.”
This describes the Mechanical Hound as it dies, emphasizing its lifeless yet threatening nature—part machine, part predator.

How Granger and the men preserve knowledge:
They memorize books, becoming living repositories of literature, to ensure that knowledge is not lost even if physical copies are destroyed.

Meaning of Granger’s grandfather’s quote, “I hate a Roman named Status Quo!”
His grandfather criticizes society’s resistance to change. He believes people should challenge the norm rather than passively accept it.

Montag’s jobs in order:

• Fireman (book burner)

• Fugitive (on the run after rebelling)

• Member of Granger’s group (preserving books)

Imagery in “City looks like a heap of baking powder.”
Bradbury is depicting the city’s destruction after the bombing. The comparison to baking powder suggests its complete reduction to dust.

Definitions:

• Eradicate: To completely destroy or eliminate.

• Conjure: To summon or bring into existence as if by magic.

• Status quo: The existing state of affairs, especially regarding social or political issues.

• Conformity: The act of matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to societal norms.

Where did Mildred and Montag meet? What happened to her?
They met in Chicago. Mildred presumably died in the bombing of the city, though it is never confirmed.

Parallel theme in Granger’s ‘Phoenix’ speech:
The Phoenix symbolizes the cycle of destruction and rebirth, much like humanity’s tendency to repeat mistakes but with the potential to learn and improve.

Significance of the passage at the end of the novel:
Montag’s reflection on the passage from Ecclesiastes and Revelation suggests hope for renewal. He acknowledges the need for destruction before rebuilding and looks toward a future where knowledge and wisdom guide society.

How Montag evades the Mechanical Hound:
He masks his scent by crossing a river and using Granger’s group’s chemical disguise.

How the chase for Montag ends:
The authorities fake his capture by killing an innocent man on live television, maintaining their illusion of control.

Book Granger wrote:
He wrote a book about the importance of remembering and learning from history.

Climax of F451:
The climax occurs when Montag kills Captain Beatty and fully commits to rebellion, setting him on a path of no return.

Why Bradbury includes the Cassius quote:
The quote from Julius Caesar reinforces Montag’s defiance. Like Cassius, he refuses to be intimidated by threats, showing his transformation from a passive fireman to an independent thinker.