Mr. Kolade's 8th grade English Weblog » Fahrenheit 451

Science Fiction Test Review

Mr. Kolade — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 16:13:00 +0000

Here is your opportunity to ask questions that you might want to be answered and have some of your fellow classmates answer them in preparation for your test on Wednesday.

To start, here is a question from Maya:

Mr. Kolade, What are the concepts, symbols, and ideas that you want us to know for “Super Toys Last all Summer”?

How would they do?

Mr. Kolade — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 00:24:04 +0000

Just thought about this as I awoke from my much needed nap….

From what you know so far, how would the major characters in the book (Beatty, Clarisse, Mildred and Montag) get along in our society? In our modern society of music videos, reality television, and MySpace, how would they do? What would they think?

I’m actually quite excited to see what you guys come up with.

Where did Fahrenheit 451 come from?

Mr. Kolade — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 14:14:12 +0000

If you were wondering how Ray Bradbury came up with the book, here’s an interesting video interview with the author. He explains how he came up with the names, the themes, and even some of the technology. (He also claims to have invented a number of things because of this book.)

View Google Full Screen

He seems like a fairly interesting guy. What do you think?

“We need not to be let alone.”

Mr. Kolade — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 15:48:15 +0000

Let you alone! Thats all very well, but how can I leave myself alone? We need not to be let alone. We need to be really bothered once in a while. How long is it since you were really bothered? About something important, about something real? (52)

- Montag

Montag says this to Mildred after the traumatic experience with the old woman burning herself. Why does he say this to her? What does he mean by this? Do you think that he has a point?
Do you agree with this statement and is it good to be bothered? Why or why not?

The 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books and Fahrenheit 451

Mr. Kolade — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 19:41:02 +0000

Here is a list of the 100 most challenged books from 1990 – 2000. (From the American Library Association) Hopefully you note that many of the books that some of you have read are on there (including some for school). When looking at the list, think about who would want these books to be banned and why would they want them banned?

Is this any different from what is happening in Fahrenheit 451? And what does this say about our society?

What do you think about some of your books being challenged? Should they be?
(Take a look around the ALA site… there are a lot of interesting things related to censorship)

Censorship… Does it affect you?

Mr. Kolade — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 14:15:38 +0000

Many of you may not know to just what extent aspects of your lives are being censored. I know that a number of you use ‘MySpace’ and love it. But how many of you know that even this popular site that is “committed to protecting the rights of its users and respecting their right to express [themselves],” keeps you from certain things? (MySpace Sued For Mass Censorship)

Should this be allowed? Should people be able to see whatever you want? Or should certain companies and in some cases, countries, be able to determine what people should be able to say, speak, or hear for their own protection? Which is worse, the fact that companies censor or that countries censor, or are they the same? In addition, should companies (Yahoo, Google, etc.) work with countries in censoring materials?

Here’s an article on countries that censor their citizens and the people that are trying to fight it. (Online Protest Targets 13 Nations…) What do you think?

There are a number of questions here to answer and discuss. Read the articles and answer any or all of the questions… Or just discuss how you feel about the idea of censorship in general.