9^th Grade English Summer Reading Assignment

All students entering 9^th Grade English I Pre-AP are required to read Fahrenheit 451. Students are expected to complete the following short answer questions. Students should finish the work over the summer and turn it in to their English teacher on the first full day of school. Please read the description for the assignment carefully. You will have a test on the whole book on the second full day of school.

Fahrenheit 451 Guided Reading Questions

Please answer in complete sentences on a separate piece of paper (in pen). There is no need to rewrite the question.  Simply write Part and the number for each question, followed by your answer, in sentence form. This can also be done using Google Docs to be submitted in Google Classroom once these classes have been made.

Part 1 

1. What makes Clarisse so special—so different from most people in her society? What qualities does Montag have that make him receptive to her influence? 

2. What is shocking and disturbing about the way Montag finds out what happened to Clarisse? What does this tell us about Mildred and their society? 

3. Why does Montag get “sick” and try to avoid going to work? 

4. What is Beatty’s explanation for the current state of their society? 

5. What do you think of Mildred’s claim that she is happy, and why? How do you define happiness? Is being happy always the most important goal of life? 

Part 2 

1. Why do you think Faber gave Montag his name and phone number? 

2. How do you think Montag would respond to Mildred’s question about which is more important—her, or Montag’s books? 

3. What has Faber invented, and why is it important? 

4. What disturbing things do the women in Montag’s parlor say to each other? 

Part 3: 1st half 

1. Why does Montag burn his entire house and everything in it? 

2. Why do Beatty’s eyes widen when Montag toggles the safety on his flame thrower? Why do you think Montag kills him? Is it a simple act of revenge?

3. Why do you think the kids who almost ran over Montag could kill him “for no reason at all in the world”?  4. What is Montag’s escape plan?

Part 3: 2nd Half 

1. What does the sun represent? What connection does Montag see between the sun and time? Why does he decide he must never burn again?

2. What way do the men at the campfire provide for Montag to escape from the Mechanical Hound? 

3. How do the men and others like them preserve books, and what makes this possible? What are the advantages of using this method to preserve books? 

4. In what way is humankind like the Phoenix? In what way is humankind different? 

Fahrenheit 451 Writing Task

Determine and analyze a theme of Fahrenheit 451. Select the literary element (e.g., characters, setting, conflicts, etc.) or device (e.g., figurative language, symbolism, imagery, etc.) you think most strongly conveys the theme. How is the theme shaped by the element or device you selected?

Write a multi-paragraph analytical essay that examines how a specific element or device conveys a theme of Fahrenheit 451.

Use proper grammar, conventions, spelling, and grade-appropriate words and phrases. Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support the analysis, including direct quotations and page numbers.