Part One: the Hearth and the Salamander

Name _ Period _ Part One: The Hearth and the Salamander Comprehension Check

Directions: To give you a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of the novel, answer the following questions for Part One.

1. At the beginning of the story, how does Montag feel about his job? Give specific examples to support your response. 2. What is your first impression of Clarisse? 3. What memory does Montag's encounter with Clarisse arouse? 4. What is Montag's reaction to Clarisse's question: "Have you ever read any of the books you burn?" 5. What do Clarisse and Montag argue about? What does Clarisse tell Montag that firemen used to do? 6. Explain the significance of Clarisse's speech about "blurs." Why are billboards 100 feet long? 7. Why was Clarisse's uncle arrested? What does this indicate about the society in which they live? 8. What question finally offends Montag? 9. What does his encounter with Clarisse remind him of? 10. What do you think the author meant when he said "How rarely did other people's faces take of you and throw back to you your own expression, your own innermost trembling thought"? What does this question reveal about Montag's state of mind? 11. How does the author describe Montag's home? 12. Why do you think Montag did not want to open the curtains or windows? 13. What does Montag find under the bed? 14. Describe the machines. What do they do to Mildred? How do the men treat their "patient"? Why is this process so “routine” to them? 15. What does Montag hear after the men leave? What is his reaction? 16. Mildred's earpieces have been described as "electronic bees," "mosquito hums," and "hidden wasps." What are these earpieces? Why does she always have one in her ear? Why do you think Bradbury compares these devices to insects? 17. How does Mildred react when Montag tells her what happened the night before? 18. What is Mildred's "script" about? What part does she play? Why does she want to buy a fourth wall? 19. Why does Clarisse insist that Montag is not like the others? 20. Describe the Mechanical Hound. What is its purpose? How does Montag feel about the Hound? 21. Why is Clarisse considered "anti-social"? How do the kids in this society entertain themselves? What is your reaction to this? 22. What do people talk about in this society? How is this different from our own society? Why do you think Clarisse has such a problem with everything being "abstract"? 23. What does Montag continually hear overhead? 24. Why do you think the woman stays in her house while it is burning? 25. What does Montag take from the burning house? Why? What does he do with it afterward? 26. What does Montag ask Millie about their past?? Why do you think he asks her this important question? 27. What does Montag realize about his relationship with his wife? 28. How does Mildred feel toward the characters in the parlor? Why is this disturbing to Montag? 29. What does Mildred tell Montag about Clarisse? How does she deliver this news? 30. Describe Montag and Mildred's relationship. 31. What does Montag learn about Beatty from his visit? 32. What does Beatty tell Montag about how books disappeared? What is your reaction to his explanation? 33. From Beatty's speech, what does Bradbury reveal about his own fears about society? What ideas/ concepts are true in our modern society? 34. How do you feel about Bradbury's predictions of school? Are there any truths to this assessment? 35. According to Beatty, who is to blame for the banishment and burning of books? 36. What are the people in this society allowed to read? What is the purpose of reading in this society? 37. According to Beatty, what is the firemen's primary job? What is the ultimate goal in this society? 38. What do the firemen do if one of their own "accidentally" steals a book? 39. Why are there no longer front porches in this society? 40. What does Montag show Millie? What is her immediate reaction?