English
Nam.w1.1
Fahrenheit451SocraticSeminarquestionpacket.docxName____________________________________________________________Date____________________Per_______
Fahrenheit 451 Socratic Seminar
According to Facinghistory.com, “In a Socratic Seminar activity, students help one another understand the ideas, issues, and values reflected in a text through a group discussion format.” (See website for more info: https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/teaching-strategies/socratic-seminar). In short, this will be a discussion that I will begin but you will continue and finish; I will merely be a “guide on the side.” You will be participating in a discussion on various questions/issues that either directly pertain to the novel or arise from the novel.
I don’t know where this conversation will go, which of these questions will be answered/discussed during class, or if we’ll even finish on time; let’s just see where it goes, and if we need an additional day to continue this discussion, that’s fine.
Last thing: Although some of the questions below can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no,” that is not a sufficient answer. If you think “yes,” you must provide reasons why; same with “no.” This is part of your preparation and participation.
Directions:
The questions below will be the questions used during the discussion. You will receive a grade for your prepared notes and participation. This assignment is intended for you to ponder, think, and review the book, analyzing and synthesizing what you’ve read. If you use the internet to gain ideas, you need to cite your source. Having the exact same answers as someone else (whether a friend in class or something found online) implies plagiarism unless cited and will result in a 0.
Points are given based on how much each student participated: to be eligible for full credit, each student must participate at least once (adding to the conversation and not just saying “I agree”, “yes”, and other vague statements). To my talkative students: I know you might want to lead the entire discussion, but please be mindful that this is an assignment in which every student must participate. Allow everyone to speak up. :)
The General (quotes from the book not necessary for these questions; these are more your thoughts):
1. Books are banned in Bradbury’s novel, and some books even risk becoming extinct. If you had to memorize any book so that it would not become extinct, which book would it be and why?
2. How do you feel about Bradbury’s depiction of Jesus as “part of the ‘family’ now?” Has Jesus become a marketing tool or a superficial person in our society? What are other examples of marketing that is personalized and targets a specific group?
3. Are there any circumstances where censorship might play a beneficial role in society? Are there some books that should be banned? Why or why not? Explain.
4. Think about some of the things that have been eliminated in Bradbury’s fictional society—books, but also funerals, front porches, rocking chairs, gardens, and quiet time in general. Can you think of some other examples? What is the reasoning behind this? Which would you miss the most if our society were to evolve in this direction? Why?
Controlling them
independently
5. If this book took place in a different setting, how would that change the story? Name another setting and what difference it would make.
The Specific (Your answers for the following need to include evidence from the book, cited with page numbers and supplemented by your own analysis): (minimum 3 sentences each question!)
1. What do you think are the most important or impactful lines/quotes from the book? Describe why these lines are so important, powerful, or interesting. Select 2-3 lines/quotes in case your favorite one is taken already.
2. Beatty tells Montag that firemen are "custodians of peace of mind" and that they stand against "those who want to make everyone unhappy with conflicting theory and thought." How well are the firemen accomplishing these objectives? What are some other sources of unhappiness in their society? Can conflicting ideas exist even without books that have been destroyed and outlawed?
3. Why does Montag memorize the Old Testament’s Book of Ecclesiastes and the New Testament’s Book of Revelation? How do the final two paragraphs of the novel allude to both of these books of the Bible? How does this translate to life now?
4. Do you think Clarisse was a trap/set up for Montag, or was she just an odd person? Is there a possibility she isn’t actually dead? Could something else have happened to her? Cite evidence from the book to support your answer.
