Section 2: the Sieve and the Sand

Fahrenheit Study Guide

Section 2: “The Sieve and the Sand”

1. Part II of Fahrenheit is entitled the “Sieve and the Sand.” Predict what the title means and what you think will happen.

______

2. How does Bradbury begin this section?

______

3. What is the parlor?

______

4. On page 68, who/what visits the Montag home? Why do you think?

______

5. On page 69 Montag says, “Why doesn’t someone want to talk about it! We’ve started and won

two atomic wars since 2022! Is it because we’re having so much fun at home we’ve forgotten

the world?” Explain the significance of these lines.

______

6. On page 69, Mildred laments, “Why should I read? What for?” What is Montag’s response?

(the MAIN IDEA of his response)

______7. Who is the gentleman that Montag met in the park last year? Describe him in detail.

______

8. While Montag is on the phone with Faber, what is Mildred doing?

______

9. What book did Montag steal?

______

10. Specifically, on page 71, what question does Montag ask Faber?

______

11. On page 73, what poignant question does Montag ask Millie? What is significant about her

answer??

______

12. What is significant about paragraphs 3 & 4 on page 74!?!

______

13. While Montag is on the subway, he is struggling to read. By what is he so distracted?? What do you think is the significance of this “scene”?

______

______14. When Montag admits that he stole the Bible, how does Faber respond? (two words)

______

15. Do they have churches in Montag’s community? How do you know?

______

16. Montag thinks/hopes that books might bring happiness. Faber disagrees with this. What does he say?

______

17. Faber says that “three things” are missing from society. List and explain each one. a.______

______b.______

______c.______

______

18. On page 82, what is Montag’s and Faber’s “insidious” plan? What does “insidious” mean”?

______

19. “Remember, the fireman are rarely necessary” (83). Explain this quote.

______

220. Why does Montag begin ripping out pages of the Bible?

______

______21. “Those who don’t build must burn” (85). What does Faber mean by this?

______

22. What is in Faber’s bedroom?

______

23. As Montag walks to the firehouse and to Captain Beatty, what does Faber do to keep him calm?

______

24. Who are Mrs. Phelps and Mrs. Bowles? Describe each one.

______

25. “I’ve never known any dead man killed in a war. Killed jumping off buildings, yes, like Gloria’s husband last week, but from wars? No” (91). What is significant about these lines?

______

26. Why are they ladies anxious and tense after Montag unplugs the parlor walls?

______

27. Who are Winston Nobel and Hubert Hoag? Why is this conversation important?

______

______28. What RADICAL action does Montag take in front of Mildred and her friends?

______

29. Specifically, what poem does Montag read to the ladies? ______

30. What effect does it have on their “happy party”?

______

31. Faber encourages Montag as he walks to the fire house (page 100). What does he call he and

Montag? ______

32. Beatty was waiting for Montag as he got there, put out his hand . . . and what happened?

______

33. “All right, he’s had his say. You must take it in. I’ll say my say, too, in the next few hours. And you’ll take it in. And you’ll try to judge them and make your decision as to which way to jump, or fall.

But I want it to be your decision, not mine, and not the Captain’s” (104). Please explain what Faber is saying to Montag.

______

34. Where is the next fire that the firemen rushed toward? What is so significant about this particular fire?

______