Personal Choice #3: Fahrenheit 451

 

Author: Ray Bradbury

Title: Fahrenheit 451

Genre: Science Fiction

Bibliographic Data in MLA format: Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. G.K. Hall, 1997.

Recommended Grade Level(s): 8-10

Number of Pages: 256

*Brief, concise plot description (no more than one paragraph): 

This is a story about a dystopian society where books are banned and the role of fireman has been adapted to be the person who burns books instead of fights fires. The protagonist, Montag, is one of these firemen, who suddenly changes his mind about what he is doing and comes to a realization that causes him to fight for the preservation of literature in a place where that is highly illegal. 

Possible Teaching Concerns (may refer back to the text(s) used in class): 

There is some violence in this novel including burning alive, suicide, and mechanical beasts that kill people. It is a somewhat frightening novel, especially for younger readers, which is why the age group is where it is. 

Personal Reaction to/and/or Evaluation of novel: 

I thought this novel was fascinating. The complexity and predictions of the future for a novel published at this time were astounding and it was very interesting. I think the message about the importance of words and books was very inspiring and I think all students need to see what a world without books may look like. Especially in a time where reading is getting less popular, I think this is a timeless message. 

Canonical work with which to juxtapose this novel & a brief (one paragraph) description of the rationale to connect the 2 works: 

I would compare this work to 1984 because it is another dystopian novel that writes about the future of technology from a fairly distant time period. The connection point between these two novels is the protagonist fighting back against a tyrannical, dystopian government.