Fareheit 451

Fahrenheit 451
Comprehension Questions

Part 1: The Hearth and the Salamander [Pages 3-33]

1. How are the books that are being burnt described? (3)

2. What is Montag’s job? Does he like his job? (3)

3. How does the author describe the girl that Montag meets near his home? What is her name? How old is she? What does she like to do? (5-7)

4. What symbols does Montag wear on his uniform? Look up the symbols in a dictionary. What do they represent? (6)

5. What does Montag smell of? Why does he smell like this? (6)

6. How old is Montag? How long has he been a fireman? (8)

7. What questions does Clarisse ask Montag that upsets him? (10)

8. Explain the significance of the following quote: What does it tell us about the society in which Montag lives? “I sometimes think drivers don’t know what grass is, or flowers, because they never see them slowly, “ she said.

9. Describe the billboards. (9)

10. Describe Montag’s bedroom. Is he happy? (11)

11. What are the Seashells? (12)

12. What kind of marriage do Montag and Mildred have? Explain.

13. What did Montag kick? (12) Why is this significant? What happened to Mildred? (14) Does she remember what happened?

14. Who comes to help Mildred? Why is Montag upset?

15. Describe the parlour. (20) Who really likes it?

16. What does Clarisse do with the dandelion? Why does this upset Montag? What does this tell us about him? (21)

17.   Why does Clarisse go to a psychiatrist? (22-23)

18. What is the Mechanical Hound? What do the firemen do with it when they are bored? (24)

19. Why doesn’t Clarisse go to school? (29) What is the Fun Park? Who goes there and what do they do there? (30)

20. What does Clarisse think about people her own age?

21. What happens to Clarisse?

22. What do the firemen look like? (33)
Part 1: The Hearth and the Salamander [Pages 34-68]

1. What line from a book does Montag let slip in conversation with Captain Beatty? How is this significant to...