Fahrenheit 451: Lesson Four

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

Fahrenheit 451 has faced censorship in the United States since its publication in 1953.

Watch the video below to hear Ray Bradbury speak about the dangers of censorship and how he felt about his novel being banned.

Answer the following questions in the notebook or journal you have kept for this series.

• Do you agree with Bradbury's method for combatting censorship?
• How does Bradbury's reaction remind you of Faber from the novel?
• What about Bradbury's thoughts on the theme of Fahrenheit 451 surprises you?
• Do you agree with Bradbury's statement that television shows today are more about "factoids" than real news? Why or why not?

After reflecting on Bradbury's thoughts on censorship and television, you are ready to begin reading the novel's next section.

Take out the copy of Fahrenheit 451 that you began reading in the first Related Lesson. Because Bradbury's work is still under copyright law, online versions can be difficult to obtain. However, you may try this version of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.

You are picking up where you left off from the last lesson, where Mildred asks Guy to stop making her friends nervous.

"Mildred beamed. 'You just run away from the door, Guy, and don't make us nervous.'"

Read up until the following line.

"Good night, Mrs. Black, he thought."

As you read, answer the questions from the Fahrenheit 451 Reading Log in your notebook or journal. (If you need another copy, find it under Downloadable Resources.)

After reading and answering the questions, check your thinking against the answers below.

Move to the Got It? section to explore Bradbury's thoughts on the internet.