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

Lesson 14
icon/ela/white

ELA

Alternate Unit 1

10th Grade

Lesson 14 of 21

Objective


Analyze Montag's thoughts, feelings, and behavior during the climactic scenes of the novel. 

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury  pp. 106 – 130 — "Part 3: Burning Bright"

Fishtank Plus

Unlock features to optimize your prep time, plan engaging lessons, and monitor student progress.

Target Task


Discussion & Writing Prompt

Identify and explain at least two ways in which Montag is an anti-hero in this section of the text. Provide specific evidence from the text to support your ideas and carefully explain your thinking.

Criteria for Success

  • Could identify that Montag has a noble cause but is going about it in a questionable manner.
  • Could identify that Montag acts without thinking of the consequences.
  • Could identify that Montag is driven by anger and revenge rather than heroic motivations.
  • Could identify that Montag wants to burn and destroy everything in order to protect himself.

Sample Response

Create a free account or sign in to view Sample Response

Key Thinking


Close Read Questions

How does Montag feel as he burns his own house? Why? Provide specific examples from the text and carefully explain your thinking.

Do you believe, as Montag did, that Beatty wanted to die? If so, why do you think so? Provide details from pages 107–113, as well as other details from the novel, to support your ideas and carefully explain your thinking.

Even though war has been declared, the news media focuses on the Mechanical Hound's tracking of Montag. What does this say about the function of the media in this society?

Vocabulary


Literary Terms

anti-hero

a fictional character who serves as a protagonist but lacks traditional heroic qualities

Text-based

perpetual

adj.

(p. 109)

never-ending or changing

aesthetic

adj.

(p. 109)

concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty

anesthetized

adj.

(p. 114)

deprived of feeling or awareness

obscure

adj.

(p. 115)

not discovered or known about; uncertain

dilate

v.

(p. 127)

make or become wider, larger, or more open

luminous

adj.

(p. 127)

full of or shedding light; bright or shining, especially in the dark

Homework


  • Book: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury  pp. 130 – 148

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • What does Montag see happen at Faber's house while watching TV?

  • How does the police use the community to try to find Montag?

  • What does Montag do when he gets to the river?

  • What realizations does Montag have as he floats along the river?

  • Who is Montag sure has also walked along the railroad tracks?

  • Who does Montag meet in the forest, and what are they doing?

  • What does Montag witness on TV?

  • What is the general plan of the book people?

Annotation Focus

Note how Montag's thoughts and behaviors change once he leaves society, and think about what this might represent.

Enhanced Lesson Plan

Fishtank Plus Content

Bring your most engaging lessons to life with comprehensive instructional guidance, detailed pacing, supports to meet every student's needs, and resources to strengthen your lesson planning and delivery.

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.

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
icon/arrow/right/large copy

Lesson 13

icon/arrow/right/large

Lesson 15

Lesson Map

A7CB09C2-D12F-4F55-80DB-37298FF0A765

Request a Demo

See all of the features of Fishtank in action and begin the conversation about adoption.

Learn more about Fishtank Learning School Adoption.

Contact Information

School Information

What courses are you interested in?

ELA

Math

Are you interested in onboarding professional learning for your teachers and instructional leaders?

Yes

No

Any other information you would like to provide about your school?

Effective Instruction Made Easy

Effective Instruction Made Easy

Access rigorous, relevant, and adaptable ELA lesson plans for free