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

Lesson 5
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ELA

Alternate Unit 1

10th Grade

Lesson 5 of 21

Objective


Analyze how events and descriptive details show a development in Montag's character. 

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury  pp. 39 – 49 — "Part 1: The Hearth and the Salamander"

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Target Task


Discussion & Writing Prompt

What effect does the incident at the old woman's house have on Montag? Provide specific evidence from the text to support your ideas and carefully explain your thinking.

Criteria for Success

  • Identifies that Montag is immediately upset by what happened at the old woman's house.
  • Identifies that Montag is disillusioned about his job and wants to quit.
  • Identifies that Montag wonders more about books and what is in them.

Sample Response

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Key Thinking


Close Read Questions

What imagery and figurative language does Bradbury use to describe the books on page 34? What does this reveal about how Montag feels about books? Provide specific examples from the text and carefully explain your thinking.

What does the scene at the old woman's house reveal about Beatty and the other firemen? Provide specific examples from the text and carefully explain your thinking.

How has technology affected Montag and Mildred's relationship? Provide specific examples from the text and carefully explain your thinking.

Vocabulary


Literary Terms

allusion

an indirect reference, often to a person, event, statement, theme, or other works of art.

Text-based

proclivity

n.

(p. 30)

a tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination or predisposition toward a particular thing

odious

adj.

(p. 33)

extremely unpleasant, repulsive

centrifuge

n.

(p. 42)

a machine that separates particles in a liquid by rapidly whirling the liquid around a central axis

cacophony

n.

(p. 42)

harsh, jarring sound; noise

luminescent

adj.

(p. 45)

glowing

probing

adj.

(p. 49)

inquiring closely into something, searching; physically exploring or examining

Homework


Read pp. 50–65 and answer the following questions.

  • Book: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury 

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • Who arrives at Montag's house? What is the purpose of his visit?

  • Identify the factors that led to censorship in this society, according to Beatty.

  • What does Mildred presumably discover behind Montag's pillow? How does that detail create suspense during this scene?

  • How does Beatty explain what happened to Clarisse?

  • How does Beatty explain what happens to a fireman who takes a book home with him?

  • What does Montag take from behind the ventilator grill? How does Millie react?

  • What does Montag ask of Mildred?

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Standards


  • RL.9-10.3 — Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.
  • RL.9-10.4 — Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone).

Supporting Standards

L.9-10.1
L.9-10.6
RL.9-10.1
RL.9-10.2
RL.9-10.9
RL.9-10.10
SL.9-10.1
SL.9-10.6
W.9-10.9
W.9-10.10
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