F451 Reading Diary → Part 3: “Burning Bright ”, p.

107-158 Student: _______________________

PREPPING for DISCUSSION

A) Examining the Novel through the Lens of Dystopian Fiction: 3 Guiding Questions

1) What predictions does Ray Bradbury make about trends in technology, media, and society?
2) What seems wrong, “off” or problematic about this society and the people in it?
3) In dystopian fiction, the protagonist typically rebels against their society. In some works, the protagonist is able to bring
about revolution and change (ex. The Hunger Games, The Matrix, V for Vendetta). In others, there is no escape for the
protagonist and no hope of change for their society (ex. 1984, Brave New World, A Clockwork Orange). Does Bradbury
envision a way for society to be fixed if it gets to the point he predicts in F451? How?

Q One answer/thing I noticed related to that question A quotation that clued me in to my answer Citation*

1 Ray Bradbury predicts how technology, including “Even if the streets were entirely empty, of course, you Bradbury
vehicles, will be misused and jeopardize people's lives. couldn't be sure of a safe crossing, for a car could 120
For instance, the Beatles' rapid speeds put the public in appear suddenly over the rise four blocks further on
danger. They present a serious risk to pedestrians who and be on and past before you had taken dozen
attempt to cross at a "safe" location due to the breaths”
possibility that a car may suddenly appear and hit
them. Transportation was taken from a tool and turned
into another way to stimulate and distract others. I
think this is comparable to drunk drivers, how the
drivers aren't fully conscious and the type of
consequences that can result from this.

1 Ray Bradbury predicts how people in society prioritize “The look of you’s enough, you haven't seen yourself in Bradbury
physical appearances and perfection. For example, a mirror lately” 147
when Granger says he trusts Montag because he looks
bad, or obviously isn't concerned or distraught about
his appearance, it clearly gives the reader the view of
how it's rare to find a person not obsessed with looking
perfect, or checking their appearance in a mirror for a
long time. Montag’s indifference to his appearance also
further shows Granger how he is different from the rest
of the city people, and that he can be trusted as a part
of the rebellion.

2 Something that is odd about this society is the divide Bradbury

between peoples' conscious minds and their bodies. “In the middle of the crying Montag knew it for 116
People commit suicide so often in this society because the truth. Beatty had wanted to die. He had just
they are only made to believe they are happy when they stood there, not really trying to save himself, just
really have no purpose to their life. It’s like when people's
stood there, joking, needling, thought Montag,
minds aren't stimulated, their bodies recognize their
true despair, even if their minds can't comprehend how
and the thought was enough to stifle his sobbing
they feel yet. For instance, with Mildreds case of how and let him pause for air. How strange, strange, to
when she wasn't watching the screens, she tried to want to die so much that you let a man walk
overdose without being fully conscious of what she was around armed and then instead of shutting up and
doing, and how this was considered something staying alive, you go on yelling at people and
common among the people. Similar to how Montag making fun of them until you get them mad, and
felt his hands, blood, and mind were separate, and how then ....”
his hands killed Beatty, half aware of his actions and
half not really in control. I think this also relates to how
different devices throughout the story are described as
“dead but alive” when come to find out, so are the
people. It also describes how Montag thought about
how Mildred wouldn't be able to handle the silence,
and how he on the contrary finally feels like a whole
human being, the silence and nature uniting his hands,
blood and mind. Even someone as conniving as Beatty
had to manipulate his own death, because he wanted
to die, but on his own terms. As chief firefighter, a job
with “pride” that is doing “good”, he should feel
content with his life and the good he thinks he might be
doing. So this just further insinuates that deep down
Beatty knows burning books is wrong

2 Something that is odd about this society is their lack of Bradbury

self worth, and how little they value human life. This is
shown all throughout the book, with Mildred’s
attempted overdose, with the old lady’s suicide, with
Clarisse’s murder, and finally with Beattys suicide.
Following each instance, there was never real remorse
“They would have killed me, thought Montag, 122
swaying, the air still torn and stirring about him in
dust, touching his bruised cheek. For no reason at
all in the world they would have killed me.”
 shown from anybody, except for Montag's growing
emotions throughout. The zombie-like indifference
shown to someone else’s death is simply in-human.
This could be because people leave their minds so
stimulated 24/7 that they don’t get the chance to think
of the real meaning of death, or reflect on what the
loss of someone else means. This doesn't explain the
consequences towards murder though. We know
Clarisse died from being run over, and we also know
the perpetrators are still free with no consequences
since they tried doing the same with Montag. And
though we know it would be easy for a hound to hunt
them down like Montags situation, they are still free
with no justice. Though Montag is being labeled as a
“murderer” the children’s actions are no different, so
why the selective form of justice?

3 I think Montag's rebellion in itself is proof that Bradbury

Bradbury thinks there's hope for change. Montag
wasn't alone in his thoughts of rebellion, so it definitely
helps that there is a group who all believe in the same
things and are ready to act for change. Granger also
seems to believe that there will be a time where people
will want to read again, which is why he and his friends
memorize all that they read to be prepared for that
time. Granger also seems to think it's human nature to
fix mistakes and try, so I think that all these intelligent
scholars having hope is something to believe in.
And when the war's over, some day, some year, the 146-147
books can be written again, the people will be called in,
one by one, to recite what they know and we'll set it up
in type until another Dark Age, when we might have to
do the whole damn thing over again. But that's the
wonderful thing about man; he never gets so
discouraged or disgusted that he gives up doing it all
over again, because he knows very well it is important
and worth the doing."

3 I think what this statement means is even though there Bradbury

were books before, they weren't used to their full
potential, and that the people didn't use what they
learned from the books effectively which is why society
turned out this way. I think that they are taking this as a
lesson of sorts, and the next opportunity presented
things will be different, that they will capitalize on the
lessons in books, and maximize their use for a better
outcome.
“Some day the load we're carrying with us may help 156-157
someone. But even when we had the books on hand, a
long time ago, we didn't use what we got out of them.
We went right on insulting the dead. We went right on
spitting in the graves of all the poor ones who died
before us. We're going to meet a lot of lonely people in
the next week and the next month and the next year.
And when they ask us what we're doing, you can say,
We're remembering. That's where we'll win out in the
long run. And some day we'll remember so much that
we'll build the biggest goddam steam-shovel in history
and dig the biggest grave of all time and shove war in
and cover it up. Come on now, we're going to go build a
mirror-factory first and put out nothing but mirrors for
the next year and take a long look in them."

*Since we are only referring to one text, use (Bradbury #) in your first citation, then just the page # after that.
If you have lots more to say, make an extra chart/set of notes on lined paper.
B) Questions I need or want answers to OR that I think would be interesting to discuss

My question(s) My guess at an answer (if I can) Answers/ideas that came up during discussion

How does the justice system That they were less worried about the
work? Why weren't the boys crime itself, more worried about
arrested? making a show out of things, like they
did with Montag.

C) Analyzing how Bradbury uses Stylistic Devices → HINT: don’t just pick the 1st example you see! Look for SDs that reveal
important things. (i.e. What is a character really feeling? What is wrong with people/society? What atmosphere is evoked?)

Stylistic I read… Quote the example, with a Citation I think Bradbury was trying to suggest… Analyze it!
Device

Simile “like gray animals peering from electric caves, faces with
gray colorless eyes” (Bradbury 132).
Bradbury mentions the words “gray” and “colorless”
to describe the people. Being described as "gray"
implies that they are bland, unappealing or lack
excitement. It communicates a sense of repetition as
though the individual merges into the background
rather than sticking out or showing their unique
features.
The word "colorless" indicates a similar lack of
independence or personality. It suggests the
individual lacks life, enthusiasm, or a sense of self.
They may come out as bland, boring, or lacking in any
unique features or qualities.

Metaphor “Grandfather's been dead for all these years, but if you
lifted my skull, by God, in the convolutions of my brain
you'd find the big ridges of his thumbprint.” (Bradbury 150)
I believe Bradbury was trying to demonstrate the
Grandfather's influence on Granger. The phrase
"you'd find the big ridges of his thumbprint"
(Bradbury 150) shows how powerful his
Grandfather's actions were to leave a mark on his
brain, Causing him to carry out these acts with him
and keep them with him forever.

Repetition “Poor family, poor family, oh everything gone, everything, This further shows Mildred’s dependence on the
everything gone now” (Bradbury 108) parlor screens, and how she is concerned with the
screens and not her own husband’s arrest.

Extra SD “The crowd drew back into the houses; the great tents of Shows how people want to view everything as a form
(label it): the circus had slumped into charcoal and rubble and the of entertainment, seeing Montags pain as in this case
metaphor show was well over.” (Bradbury 111) a circus show and not the actual circumstance.

REFLECTING on DISCUSSION: Ways Discussion Enhanced my Understanding

Answer at least two of the F451 Seminar Reflection Questions (see posters on corkboard)

Q My answer

What was an A question that was brought up that I also was thinking about is if Beatty actually wanted to die or not. I had
interesting not thought of the fact that maybe beatty wasn't suicidal, and that maybe he believed Montag would never
question asked pull the trigger, and Montag believing it that way may just be his guilty conscious rationalizing his actions.
during today's
discussion? Why
did this grab your
attention? What
did you
learn/realize from
the answers
people suggested?