BLOG POST #7: Ending of Fahrenheit 451

The ending is filled with interesting events and ideas:  Society finds a scapegoat for Montag as he escapes to the river and the forest.  Montag thinks of Mildred, Faber, and Clarisse as he leaves the city.  Finding the old railroad tracks, Montag joins Granger and the others who are preserving as many ideas as they can.  They watch the city--and likely many cities all over the world--being destroyed.  Granger talks about what makes life worth living--something his grandfather once taught him.  They discuss the mythological phoenix that rises from the ashes and the way this parallels human history.  Montag finally remembers the parts of the Bible he has been memorizing, and he brings this knowledge back to the city, which is in ruins.

After today's class activity, your job is to write your most detailed blog post to date--two paragraphs that address what you consider to be the two most important ideas or developments in the last section of the novel.  What stands out to you and why do you think these two aspects of the ending are so important?  As always, use quotes to back up your thinking.

BLOG POST #6: Pages 114-127

Your response should address one of the following options:

1.  Explore one idea you have from this section of the reading.  Use a key quote in your explanation of your idea and push your thinking.
2.  Research the history behind the second picture on this post:  Franklin Roosevelt's quotation about books and the WWII propaganda poster that accompanied it.  Why did Roosevelt say what he did?  Why would the United States want to print posters sending out this message?

BLOG POST #5: End of Chapter Two

Now that we have reviewed this last part of Chapter Two, focus on an important new development in the story or an idea that you have. Remember to use strong evidence and one passage in your response.  In addition, respond (briefly) to two other student entries.

BLOG POST #4: Chapter Two (Pages 67-76)

INSTEAD OF WRITING A BLOG POST, WRITE ONE GOOD DISCUSSION QUESTION THAT RELATES TO THIS PARTICULAR SECTION OF THE READING:  What is something we should discuss in class?

BLOG POST #3: End of Chapter One (Pages 52-65)

Now that you have finished Chapter 1, focus on what Captain Beatty explains to Montag about the history of firemen and how society got to where it is now.  

In your response, reflect on THREE different parts of Beatty's speech.  What does Beatty say in each part and why does that part stand out to you as interesting or important? (Include at least one quote.) Please note:  Parts of this section are confusing.  Do your best to focus on three distinct parts of it, though.

BLOG POST #2 (Pages 37-51)

After reading halfway down page 37 through page 51, focus on YOUR REACTIONS to this section of the reading.  You may focus on one of the following or your own topic:

1. What stands out about Montag's behavior during the fire and afterward?  Talk about Montag's thoughts and actions.

2. What do you notice about Montag's interactions with Mildred and/or Captain Beatty after the fire that claims the woman's life?

3. Dig deeper into Ray Bradbury's message in Fahrenheit 451.  What does he want his readers to think about or understand?  What is he warning us about?

[Be sure to follow the rubric posted with the first entry.  Write a paragraph that uses at least one passage from the reading.  SHOW YOUR THINKING.]

BLOG POST #1 (CHAPTER 1: The Hearth and the Salamander--Pages 1-32)

from Cedar Ridge School District

After you finish reading, read through these topics as a way to get you thinking about what you would like to write about for your entry:

1.  What do you notice about this society?  What stands out about its people and what they value?

2.  Focus on the interactions between key characters and what we may learn from them. Consider Guy Montag, Clarisse McClellan, Mildred (Guy's wife), and/or Captain Beatty.

3.  Although published in 1950, Fahrenheit 451 accurately predicts some of our current technologies.  Focus on what you noticed about technology and its role in this story.

4.  What passage struck you as most important or interesting?  Include it and then tell us why it stood out to you.

(Your response should be in paragraph form.  Feel free to write in first person:  I noticed that . . .  See the rubric above.  It's okay if you were confused by some parts of the reading--just share one idea you have about the reading and incorporate at least one quote in your explanation.)