Hello Year 9,We hope you enjoyed the first section of Fahrenheit 451.
This week, we’ll focus on the two female characters who have been
introduced: Mildred Montag and Clarisse McClellan. They’re very different, and
they represent two different ways of life which are available to Montag. For
this reason, they’re presented by Bradbury as opposites; it’s worth noting
that, in the 1966 film version, the idea of these characters being foils is emphasised by both
characters being played by the same actress: Julie Christie.
In literature, a foil is a character that shows qualities
that are in contrast with the qualities of another character. The objective is
to highlight the traits of the other character. Think Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy.
Or George and Lennie in Of Mice and Men.
Or Buzz Lightyear and Woody. All of these characters are designed as opposites,
or at least to have some sharply contrasting qualities.
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| Julie Christie as Mildred and Clarisse in Fahrenheit 451 (1966) |
It’s also worth noting how meeting Clarisse makes Montag feel:
‘He felt his body divide itself into a hotness and a coldness, a
softness and a hardness, atrembling and a not trembling, the two halves
grinding one upon the other.’
This idea of Montag being divided in two represents his two
choices. He can go on with life as a fireman (represented by Mildred) or he can
explore his rebellious, heretical thoughts (represented by Clarisse).
Here’s your work for the week beginning 8th June:
1) Do this recap quiz.
2) Write a title: Contrasting
characters: Clarisse and Mildred.
Note: Don’t do 2a if you already
made character notes as part of the optional tasks last week. You can do both
tasks if you like.
Either:
a) Collect some quotes and make some notes on these two characters.
Think about the imagery used to describe them, how they make Montag feel, what
they like to do, etc.
Or:
b) Write a paragraph which supports this topic sentence:
Bradbury has designed the characters of Mildred and Clarisse as
opposites.
(After writing the topic sentence, your job is to
use evidence from the text to show how
they have been presented as opposites – and why.)
3) Read Fahrenheit 451 from the bottom of page 21
(The Mechanical Hound slept…) to page 45 (‘He did not open the window.’)
You can read/download the text here. There is an audiobook that you
can listen along with here (skip
to 36 mins 14 sec).
Optional task:
Answer these ‘keeping track’ questions as you read:
Extra
challenge:
Find out more about two allusions
which Bradbury makes:
Question: What is the significance
of these allusions to the story of Fahrenheit
451? (We’ll provide an answer next week)
That’s it for now. Next week, we’ll get to the end of Part 1 (of 3) of
the book.
Let us know if you have any problems. Please feel free to leave a comment if you have any observations or questions about the book.
THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
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