Fahrenheit 451 (2021)

Lesson 19
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ELA

Unit 13

10th Grade

Lesson 19 of 21

Objective


Characterize the men by the fire.

Analyze the symbolism of both the river and the phoenix. 

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury  pp. 133 – 158

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Target Task


Writing Prompt

1. How does Montag’s view of fire change? Explain.

2. What do the river and the phoenix symbolize? Explain.

Key Questions


  • Bradbury chooses to open the novel with a description of fire. Go back and look. How does he describe fire early on?
  • Track evidence to describe how Bradbury describes the fire on p. 139. 
  • What are the men doing at the bottom of p. 139? Why has Bradbury chosen to show us this as the first image of these men? 
  • Characterize Granger as we meet him on pp. 140–141. 
  • What does Granger explain to Montag about the news on pp. 141–142? 
  • Who are these men and what do they value according to pp. 143–144? 
  • These men also burn books. How is this different from what the government did? 
  • What else does Montag learn on p. 146?
  • Why do the men advise Montag “don’t judge a book by its cover” on p. 148? 
  • On p. 151, how does the war “begin and end in an instant”? Explain. 
  • Describe the state of the city on pp. 153–155.

Notes


  • This lesson can be split into two days if necessary.
  • Both the river and the phoenix symbolize a rebirth for Montag. Rivers often symbolize a cleansing. Montag gets in the river and changes clothes and thus goes through a metaphorical rebirth. The phoenix who rises from the ashes is a common literary symbol. Just as the phoenix rises, so will Montag, the men at the river, and knowledge as a whole.

Next

Analyze the symbolism of the river and the phoenix. 

Lesson 20
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