"If This Goes On..." Technology, Truth, and Happiness in Fahrenheit 451

Students will explore the effects of technology and censorship in Ray Bradbury's dystopian novel and make connections between his futuristic society and their own.

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ELA

Alternate Unit 1

10th Grade

Unit Summary


The first unit of the year kicks off the year-long theme of the individual in society. This core text is Fahrenheit 451 which presents a future society where books have been outlawed and people are addicted to technology. Through Montag, Bradbury explores the tension that exists between being an individual and a member of society where conformity is valued over individuality.

Before reading the novel, students will read two short texts that will introduce important concepts and themes discussed during the unit. Plato's Allegory of the Cave is a philosophical text that Bradbury alludes to as Montag undergoes his transformation from ignorant to enlightened. "The Pedestrian," Bradbury's short story which inspired Fahrenheit 451, introduces students to his writing style and themes as well as to the genre of science fiction. 

As students read about the lives of the characters in Bradbury’s dystopian futuristic society, they will explore how he uses science fiction to make social commentary about censorship, technology, and happiness. In addition, students will examine how Bradbury's rich imagery and figurative language paints a vivid picture of life in the society he has created. Ultimately, students will draw parallels between Bradbury’s dystopian society and contemporary society, arguing for whether or not Bradbury's eerie predictions for the impact of technology on society have come true.

Please Note: This unit, published in February 2024, is the newest unit we have developed around the core text Fahrenheit 451. This is the unit that will be included in the fully revised 10th Grade sequence for the 2024-25 school year. If you are looking for the version of the unit published in 2021, you can find it here.

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Texts and Materials


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Core Materials

Assessment


This assessment accompanies Unit 12 and should be given on the suggested assessment day or after completing the unit.

Key Knowledge


Intellectual Prep

Unit Launch

Before you teach this unit, unpack the texts, themes, and core standards through our guided intellectual preparation process. Each Unit Launch includes a series of short videos, targeted readings, and opportunities for action planning to ensure you're prepared to support every student.

Essential Questions

  • What is the importance of books and literacy to a society? Is censorship, in any form, justified?
  • How does technology both help and hinder a society?
  • What are the implications of a society that values conformity over individuality? How can an individual challenge the status quo?

Vocabulary

Text-based

abyss aesthetic anesthetized beatific cacophony cadence ceaseless centrifuge consign coarsely contemptible conjure desolation displace dilate ebb exploit flourish gorging hearth homely insidious intermittent incite incriminate jockey juggernaut luminescent luminous manifest nomadic obscure odious olfactory parry perish perfunctorily perpetual pedant probing profusion proclivity pulverize quibble ravenous rebut regressive ruinous saccharine sieve stolid suffuse tactile titillation venomous

Literary Terms

allusion allegory anti-hero characterization diction epigraph ethos figurative language imagery logos metaphor mood pathos personification rhetoric rhetorical appeals simile symbol

To see all the vocabulary for Unit 1, view our 10th Grade Vocabulary Glossary.

Lesson Map


Common Core Standards


Core Standards

L.9-10.1
L.9-10.2
L.9-10.5
L.9-10.6
RI.9-10.1
RI.9-10.2
RI.9-10.4
RI.9-10.6
RI.9-10.7
RL.9-10.1
RL.9-10.2
RL.9-10.3
RL.9-10.4
RL.9-10.5
SL.9-10.1
SL.9-10.1.a
SL.9-10.1.b
SL.9-10.1.c
SL.9-10.1.d
SL.9-10.2
SL.9-10.4
SL.9-10.6
W.9-10.1
W.9-10.1.a
W.9-10.1.b
W.9-10.1.c
W.9-10.1.d
W.9-10.2
W.9-10.4
W.9-10.5
W.9-10.7
W.9-10.8
W.9-10.9

Supporting Standards

L.9-10.1
L.9-10.2
L.9-10.3
L.9-10.6
RI.9-10.1
RI.9-10.2
RI.9-10.3
RI.9-10.10
RL.9-10.1
RL.9-10.2
RL.9-10.3
RL.9-10.9
RL.9-10.10
SL.9-10.1
SL.9-10.6
W.8.10
W.9-10.1.e
W.9-10.4
W.9-10.5
W.9-10.6
W.9-10.7
W.9-10.8
W.9-10.9
W.9-10.10
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Unit 2

Censorship, Truth & Happiness in Fahrenheit 451

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