Literary Analysis #2

1. What drew you to this book?

•     I tend to go for books that are super romantic yet action filled with great covers and plots. Books that are not entirely true is what I tend to aim for.

  What did you expect and/or hope to experience through reading it?

•    I hoped that the book would have a good theme and that it would be realistic and relatable.

2. What kept you reading past the first ten pages?

•     It was really riveting in the sense that it grabbed your attention and right from the get go it was relate-able. 

3. Describe your reading habits

•    My reading habits are alright, i'd say i'm like everyone else where I only read a book that I like and if I do not enjoy it then I am not able to focus on it. If then I enjoy it then it will be hard for me to put it down. I read if i have to for school and classes.

1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read, and explain how the narrative fulfills the author's purpose (based on your well-informed interpretation of same).

• A fireman, Montag, burns down houses if there is books inside of them. He later meets a girl, Clarisse, who makes him question his beliefs and ways of life. His boss, Beatty, doesn't allow people to think for themselves so reading and thinking is illegal. Montag goes against this at his own risk and brings his wife, Mildred, into the entire mess. The author wanted to show that people are not always right and you have to have an open mind. He fulfills that by Montags character when he questions his entire life and meanings. 

2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid cliches.

• Sometimes you meet people who are different than you and you start to question your own character. Things change and people change.

3. Describe the author's tone. Include a minimum of three excerpts that illustrate your point(s).

• His tone is like futuristic from the setting of the story being kind of gloomy and down. He wants it to be about learning and knowledge not television and electronic devices. -"He felt that the stars had been pulverized by the sound of the black jets and that in the morning the earth would be covered with their dust like a strange snow." -" The mechanical hound slept but did not sleep, lived but did not live in its gently humming, gently vibrating, softly illuminated kennel back in a dark corner of the firehouse." -They read the long afternoon through, while the cold
  November rain fell from the sky upon the quiet house."

4. Describe a minimum of ten literary elements/techniques you observed that strengthened your understanding of the author's purpose, the text's theme and/or your sense of the tone. For each, please include textual support to help illustrate the point for your readers. (Please include edition and page numbers for easy reference.)

•  There is simile, metaphor, personification, repetition, onomatopoeia, indirect characterization, foreshadowing, imagery,hyperbole and static character.
• simile- pg 48: "The electric thimble moved like a praying mantis on the pillow, touched by her hand."
• metaphor- pg.3"Her face was slender and milk-white, and in it was a kind of gentle hunger that touched over everything with tireless curiosity." 
• personification-pg.145 “Out of the black wall before him, a whisper. A shape. In the shape, two eyes. The night looking at him. The forest, seeing him”.
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1. Describe two examples of direct characterization and two examples of indirect characterization. Why does the author use both approaches, and to what end (i.e., what is your lasting impression of the character as a result)?

• Montag is a fireman and he is content with burning books and houses. He doesn't question anything or think about it.
• Montag questions his thoughts and his character about books. He doesn't understand what the meaning of books are or if he should continue burning them or not.

2. Does the author's syntax and/or diction change when s/he focuses on character? How? Example(s)?

• No, it does not change, throughout the book he writes the same with metaphors and personification for everything and everyone.

3. Is the protagonist static or dynamic? Flat or round? Explain.

• He is a static flat character because he changes throughout the story and he conveys that the author wanted us to learn that it's not all about technology and we should open our eyes to the knowledge and character of things and people.

4. After reading the book did you come away feeling like you'd met a person or read a character? Analyze one textual example that illustrates your reaction.

• I felt like I met a person. "He watched the scene, fascinated, not wanting to move. It seemed so remote and no part of him; it was a play apart and separate, wondrous to watch, not without its strange pleasure. That's all for me, he thought, that's all taking place just for me, by god." You can feel his emotions and you can kind of relate to him because we all change throughout our lives.

Reading notes

• Montags house got burned down
• He saved the books 
• People thought that montag was dead from the fire
• Montag didn't want to burn anymore books or houses
• Montag put a gun to someone so that they will listen to what he had to say
• Beatty hit Faber in the head 
• Beatty did not like Faber and he did not like books

What i have learned in the class so far

So far in this course I have learned that when you memorize things it helps you through out your entire life. Also, that being creative can help you write easier. I have learned some tips on how to do good in life and in writing. I have learned writing terms and techniques as well.

Fahrenheit 451 Essay 1

They are not allowed to read let alone think for themselves. They don't even understand that they are being controlled. The firemen burn down any house entailing books of any sort. Also, they watch television which makes them believe that thats happiness but its not. The device still is telling them hhow they should think and react to things and not letting them think for themselves.

Fahrenheit 451 Q&A

Part 1

1. Montag lives in a society where you can only believe what they want you to believe; if you believe anything different than you are wrong. Their society burns down houses entailing books because they are not allowed to read and think for themselves. Our society today lets you read what you want and they stop fires not start them. People would die with their books rather than let their books burn alone.
2. Clarisse is different than anyone else because she thinks for herself and doesn't care that others think its bad or wrong; she is divergent from society as you can say. Montag is curious and he questions things. 
3. Beatty wants to watch Montag and to keep him in fear so that he doesn't question things. He also is set in that way to keep things normal and I don't think Beatty likes Montag.
4. The woman wanted to show that there is nothing wrong with books and she loved her books that she would do anything for them. She wanted to prove a point in the sense that books are not bad. Montag realizes that books must be pretty important for her to die along with them.
5. To show that Mildred and other people of this book's life is mostly watching television all the time. Their society is watching television instead of getting any knowledge from lets say books.
6. Montags wife Mildred tells him that Clarisse died 4 days ago getting ran over by a car and it seemed like Mildred did not care much at all. A lot of people die everyday so another person dead doesn't affect them. Death is normal to them.
7. Montag is saddened by Clarisse's death and he wants to figure out what to do about all his hidden books. He wants to read them and he wants Mildred to join him.
8. He is a very brave and curious man that wants to know more than he is allowed to. He doesn't really think entirely he just does kind of like he acts without thinking it through.
9. It has always been that way so its gonna stay that way. He pretty much says that knowing things is bad and what you don't know is bad also.
10. I think her claim of happiness is not real because she is only happy since they told her she is. You don't read then you're happy. You can't really define happiness because it's different for everyone. Being happy is a main goal in life but not necessarily the most important one.
11. When he started talking to Clarisse his idea on life began to transform. Also, when he started thinking and stealing books he started becoming a rebel.
12. "So it was the hand that started it all . . . His hands had been infected, and soon it would be his arms . . . His hands were ravenous." (41 Bradbury) 
    This foreshadows and shows that Montag was infected, and that he wanted more books.  
    The mechanical hound. (24-27) 
    Foreshadows that something isnt right and that the hound is out to get Montag. The heating vent in Montags house foreshadowed that there was something important in them.
13. "With the brass nozzle in his fists, with this great python spitting its venomous kerosene upon the world, the blood pounded in his head, and his hands were the hands of some amazing conductor playing all the symphonies of blazing and burning to bring down the tatters and charcoal ruins of history." 
    Part 1, Section 1, p. 1
14. "Well, after all, this is the age of the disposable tissue. Blow your nose on a person, wad them, flush them away, reach for another, blow, wad, flush. Everyone using everyone else's coattails. How are you supposed to root for the home team when you don't even have a program or know the names? For that matter, what color jerseys are they wearing as they trot out on the field?"P.17 This is talking about how people don't really care about one another and if they are gone they don't even notice it. Also, that they are burning houses down and they don't even know the people in them.
15. My predictions are that Montag will go against everything he knows and fight Beatty on his ideas of their society. Also, that books might be allowed in their society after all.

Part 2

1. Mildred says that the books are not her family like the people on the television. I do not agree because they are not real. 
2. Faber gave him his number because I think he had a feeling he would be rebellious and start reading at one point. He also wanted to help him with reading and understanding books.
3. I think Montag would say that he doesn't know since he doesn't understand her or the books. Also, that she may be more important so why can't they read together. 
4. There is no hope or that people do not understand and choose not to understand. They can't be influenced or convinced unless its by society.
5. Montag wants to learn how to understand books. He also wants Faber to help him convince people that there is nothing wrong with reading books.
6. He means that her soul is dying. He was using trying to make stealing books okay with his wife as an example of humanity being dead.
7. a)Reading has quality.  It shows life as it actually is not a happy version of what life really is.b) Reading provides leisure, or the time to digest, process and think about information.c) Books prompt people to act on what they have learned.  No one acts on anything in Montag's society.  
8. Faber invented a device that looks like a seashell radio but is actually a two-way radio.
9. They say that children are like pets and they say bad things about war. They also talk bad about politics and other people.
10. He thinks they are ignorant and they don't know what they are talking about. They are shocked and disgusted that he even read.
11. He pretty much says that Montag needs to stop reading books and to not disobey the law. He is trying to get Montag to tell him he is hiding books in his house. He knows that he is reading.

reading notes

• Montag went to Beatty carrying a book.
• Beatty knew he had the book and made Montag hand it to him.
• He also seemed like he knew that he knew more about books than he was letting on.
• Beatty keeps telling Montag quotes and it seems like he is hinting about reading.
• They had to go on another assignment to burn books along with a house and they ended up at Montag's house.
• Montag starts to think about the reason for that is and how he can keep on burning things.

Vocab

Veiled-cover with or as though with a veil.

"she veiled her face" partially conceal, disguise, or obscure.

"a thinly veiled threat"

Diverted-cause (someone or something) to change course or turn from one direction to another.

"a scheme to divert water from the river to irrigate agricultural land" distract (someone or their attention) from something.

"public relations policies are sometimes intended to divert attention away from criticism"

Profusion-an abundance or large quantity of something.

"a rich profusion of wildflowers"

Receptacle-an object or space used to contain something.

"trash receptacles"

Leisure-Leisure, or free time, is time spent away from business, work, domestic chores, and education. "She spent her day as a leisure"
Praetorin-Praetorian is an adjective derived from the ancient Roman office of praetor.

Dover Beach

Reading notes 80-90

• Montag went to see Faber and show him his book.
• Montage can't talk to his wife cuz she doesn't listen and Faber is te only one he can talk to about books.
• Faber was talkin about saving yourself and that montag didn't need books he needed to find himself.
• They talked about burning down the firehouses across the land.
• Montag started ripping apart books
• Montag wants Faber to teach him how to understand and comprehend the words in books 

fall vocab #7

1. pratfall-a fall onto one's buttocks."he took a pratfall into the sand"a stupid and humiliating action."the first political pratfalls of the new administration"

2. bewilderedly-completely puzzled or confused; perplexed. "he was completely bewildered."

3. titillation-a tingling feeling of excitement (as from teasing or tickling) "The titillation was killing her she just had to open her present."

4. theremin-an electronic musical instrument in which the tone is generated by two high-frequency oscillators and the pitch controlled by the movement of the performer's hand toward and away from the circuit."he played the thermin like a pro."

5. tabloids-sensational in a lurid or vulgar way.

"they argued about who made what allegation on what tabloid TV show"

6. centrifuge-a machine with a rapidly rotating container that applies centrifugal force to its contents, typically to separate fluids of different densities (e.g., cream from milk) or liquids from solids.

7. haltingly -in a halting manner; "he spoke haltingly"

8. probing-physically explore or examine (something) with the hands or an instrument.

"researchers probing the digestive glands of mollusks"

9. stagnant-(of a body of water or the atmosphere of a confined space) having no current or flow and often having an unpleasant smell as a consequence.

"a stagnant ditch"

10. cacophony-a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.

"a cacophony of deafening alarm bells"

Reading Notes 10/9

• Montag revealed he was hiding books to his wife, Mildred.
• They sat and started to read one of the books to see if Beatty wasn't lying about things they shouldn't know.
• Beatty was being very persistent in getting Montag to leave his house, but Montag refused.
• Montag realized that the only good person in the town is Clarisse.
• He also realized that he did not like any of the firemen he worked with including himself.
• He did not understand why we they were not allowed to read or to think and question anything at all except what they tell you to think.The towns houses did not have front porches anymore because people would sit on them and relax and end up thinking and that was BAD.

                                                                  Side Note
It's kind of like how society is now, at least how I see society. We conform to what society believes is okay and right. We go to school and learn only what they want us to learn from the "standards" and we see other people and we do what we think society wants us to think is cool. Most things in life, I believe is one big huge contradiction. Dont conform, be you.

Ray Bradbury Quote

"We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over; so in a series of kindnesses there is at last one which makes the heart run over."

Vocabulary List #6

tatters-irregularly torn pieces of cloth, paper, or other material.
Her dress was completely tattered.
merely-just; only.

She seemed to him not merely an intelligent woman, but a kind of soul mate.

vast-of very great extent or quantity; immense.An immense space.
There was a vast amount of cookies in the jar.parlor-a shop or business providing specified goods or services.
We went to the ice cream parlor yesterday.abrupt(ly)-sudden and unexpected.Brief to the point of rudeness; curt.
Her decision was abrupt and we moved fast to accomplish it.refracted-measure the focusing characteristics of (an eye) or of the eyes of (someone).
The rays of light are refracted by the lens.
immense-extremely large or great, especially in scale or degree.

The cost to fix their vehicle was too immense.

imperceptibly-very slight, gradual, or subtle.
The slope of the road was imperceptible.
ventilator-an appliance or aperture for ventilating a room or other space.
The room had to be ventilated.olfactory-of or relating to the sense of smell.
The olfactory organs.

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Reading notes 10/8

• They are burning all the books to keep the people happy.
• Right now the conflict is inside himself (man .vs. himself) but later on it will be a real world problem.
•  Montag tells Mildred about the value and knowledge that could be in books.
• Montag and Mildred can't remember where they met. Montag wants to know more about this. 
• The syntax he uses is to show his thoughts about his life turning upside down and he wants to show us that sadness and emotion.

What are we talking about?

   The conversations we have are different than our school conversations and our conversations at home. When people are with their friends they are way more open with what they talk about. At home, conversations more likely involve your future and things that are not necessarily related to how we dislike someone or how we are having relationship problems. We talk differently and conform our topics to certain people.

What makes you question things?

"Guy Montag enjoyed his job. He had been a fireman for ten years, and he had never questioned the pleasure of the midnight runs nor the joy of watching pages consumed by flames...never questioned anything until he met a seventeen-year-old girl who told him of a past when people were not afraid."

Fahrenheit 451

1. Montag stole a book and took it home to hide.
2. Over the years Montag has been hiding books in his air-conditioning duct.
3. Montag forced Faber into helping him by ripping pages from the Bible.
4. Montags house was on a dispatcher and a firetruck arrives at Montags house.
5. Montag burns his boss alive with a flamethrower when he figured out he was keeping books.