FAHRENHEIT 451 by Ray Bradbury
Ranked #936 in Education, #22,075 overall
the classic science fiction novel about censorship
Ray Bradbury's 1953 novel FAHRENHEIT 451 was a response to some of the major concerns of World War II, with a future society depicted as having evolved into a diet of mass media and literal sedation under a regime of censorship and book burning. With all houses constructed as fireproof, the job of firemen becomes that of fascist police: they hunt down and burn books. And why have books become banned in this imagined future? So that no one will ever get offended by anything that anyone writes. Sound like any present day situations to you?
This lens explores the debate and discussion that has surrounded the novel since its publication, and also includes info about movie adaptations.
Plot Synopsis
"Fahrenheit 451: The Temperature at Which Book Paper Catches Fire, and Burns."
~ Montag
Bradbury titled his book after the fact that paper ignites at a temperature of 451 degrees Fahrenheit. In the story, all books have been declared illegal and so with the development of fireproof homes, firemen have the jobs of tracking down and burning books. We follow along with a fireman named Montag as he goes from being content in his life and job to realizing how little people think or feel. His wife is obsessed with her soap operas, which she watches on a wall-sized screen referred to as a "family" and not as a television. After watching an old woman refuse to leave her house when the firemen come to burn her books (she lights the fire herself and commits suicide), Montag begins to question everything he's been taught...and he starts to read.
FAHRENHEIT 451 by Ray Bradbury
the novel, written in 1953
Fahrenheit 451
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About Bradbury and FAHRENHEIT 451
- Ray Bradbury | Books
- Internationally acclaimed with more than 5 million copies in print, FAHRENHEIT 451 is Ray Bradbury's classic novel of censorship and defiance, as resonant today as it was when it was first published nearly 50 years ago.
- Houston Community Newspapers Online - Parent criticizes book 'Fahrenheit 451'
- A Caney Creek High School dad is fired up because the Conroe Independent School District uses the book 'Fahrenheit 451' as classroom reading material.
- Mississippi School Bans Book on Censorship
- "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury banned February 1, 1999
- Book Review: Fahrenheit 451
- Magazine written entirely by teens for teenagers.
- Article: The Failure of Fahrenheit 451, by Jeremy Smith
- In 1953, Ray Bradbury published a novel in which the burning of books presages the burning of the world. In the half century since, Fahrenheit 451 has emerged as a staple of high school and college syllabi and continues to chart best-seller lists. .... While it is most often used as a way of talking about media and censorship, Fahrenheit 451 also represents a literary mode that seeks to prevent a certain future by describing it. This mode is often -- but not always -- dystopian. It is distinguished most by a moralistic and apocalyptic state of mind.
- Fahrenheit 451
- When Fahrenheit 451 was released in 1953, censorship was a major concern in the U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy, was leading a witch hunt to root out all suspected Communists sympathizers in the government, as well as writers, publishers, moviemakers, and performers.
- Fahrenheit 451 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.
451 Photo Gallery
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"Give the people contests they win by remembering the words to more popular songs or the names of state capitals or how much corn Iowa grew last year. Cram them full of non-combustible data, chock them so damned full of 'facts' they feel stuffed, but absolutely 'brilliant' with information. Then they'll feel they're thinking, they'll get a sense of motion without moving. And they'll be happy, because facts of that sort don't change. Don't give them any slippery stuff like philosophy or sociology to tie things up with. That way lies melancholy."
~ from Fahrenheit 451
![Bradbury: Fahrenheit 451 by g[wiz]](http://static.flickr.com/3029/3025022666_af98a3e40b_s.jpg)
The Book Banning Debate
This book has been repeatedly attack with banning attempts because it deals with themes of freedom of expression, censorship, freedom of thought, exchange of information, and questioning the government and authority figures. The society depicted is devoid of emotion due to usage of mood-modulating drugs, spends almost all of their free time watching tv and are encouraged to spy and report on one another.
What's your take on FAHRENHEIT 451?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byThis is an important piece of literature!
the almighty God of Literature says:
Down with censorship!
Posted February 15, 2012
TEAhug says:
This is defiantly a warning or a "this could happen" type of book. Shows how important the arts and self expression ,as well as the sharing of knowledge, really is.
Posted November 23, 2011
Will I. Am says:
brings up some good points
Posted November 22, 2011
jace says:
i <3 it!
Posted November 15, 2011
This book should be banned!
Puppylover19:) says:
It sucks I have to read this book for school and I don't really get the point in reading it. I mean I hear this book is like suppose to take place in the future right so in the future we will all be dumb. Well I guess some people don't think so but think about for a second when you go to school you have to learn out of what books! Also when you want to be smart and use your vocabulary in a higher manner what do people normally do? Read books! So what's the point in this book?
Posted November 09, 2011
Bruno Mars says:
its the gayest book ever!!!
Posted August 02, 2011
nigahiga says:
hate this book alot borrring
Posted June 21, 2011
Patches says:
I think there is definitely a point behind this book but because of the fact he was writing about the future at this point we have already passed alot of the ideas in his book. Also books will always be important in society. Even though we may be moving to the electronic versions of books, I feel that we will always still have libraries full of books. If people haven't noticed technogy has helped us in major ways as well as failed us. Ever noticed how things just break and theres no way you can fix it since they make the product to break or so you think so that you go and buy something new. People also will always be an individual. Everyone makes that clear and highly doubt there will be a time where everyone does and thinks the same way. This book was suppose to make a point but I don't feel it is accurate and should be read in schools. Why don't they choose something more realistic and something teenagers should really know about the world.
Posted January 18, 2011
Study Guides for Fahrenheit 451
Movie Info and News
- Fahrenheit 451 (1966)
- Fahrenheit 451 on IMDb: Movies, TV, Celebs, and more... In an oppressive future, a fireman whose duty is to destroy all books begins to question his task.
- Fahrenheit 451 - Movie Review and Sounds
- Review of and sounds from the movie Fahrenheit 451 starring Oscar Werner and Julie Christie from a novel by Ray Bradbury. Also includes wav sound files
- Ray Bradbury: Fahrenheit 451 - an infinity plus review
- A new movie of Fahrenheit 451 is planned ... It's a nice thought: a Hollywood movie which rails against the dumbing-down of society, and pleads for its audience to read books.
- Fahrenheit 451 (2010)
- In a terrifying care-free future, a young man, Guy Montag, who's job as a fireman is to burn all books, questions his actions after meeting a young girl...and begins to rebel against society.
Francois Truffaut's FAHRENHEIT 451
released in 1966
Fahrenheit 451
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This English-language movie was made by French-filmmaker Francois Truffant.. He barely spoke English at the time he made the film, and it was the first movie Truffant made which was shot in color. Julie Christie has a dual role, playing Linda, Montag's wife as well as Clarisse, the woman Montag meets on the train.
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FAHRENHEIT 451
Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451: The Authorized Adaptation
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Read It In Spanish!
Spanish Editon
Fahrenheit 451 (Spanish Edition) (Vintage Espanol)
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Get further insight and information
Fahrenheit 451 Study Guide
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