Fahrenheit 451

by Ray BradburyThe novel is about firemen who are paid to set books ablaze.

The system was simple. Everyone understood it. Books were for burning…along with the houses in which they were hidden.

Why Fahrenheit 451?Fahrenheit 451 is the temperature at which paper burns.

Free write #7For this part of the Power Point, I will pose several questions that I would like you to answer throughout the presentation. Each response should be like a free write-jot down what comes to your mind about these topics.

a. Why is important that a society is literate?

b. What are the effects of an anti-literate society?

c. List three reasons if you had power over people why their literacy could threaten your power.

d. When you hear the word “censorship”, what do you think of?

Written in 1953

History of Burning BooksSome particular cases of book burning are long and traumatically remembered - because the books destroyed were irreplaceable and their loss constituted a severe damage to cultural heritage, and/or because this instance of book burning has become emblematic of a harsh and oppressive regime. •Library of Alexandria•the obliteration of the Library of Baghdad•the burning of books and burying of scholars under China's Qin Dynasty•the destruction of Aztec codices by Spanish conquistadors and priests•Nazi book burnings of Jewish literature.

Although one motivation for book burning may be censorship, it is in most cases an act of displaying severe displeasure, hatred, or contempt for the book's contents or author, or to attract attention for the outrage perceived by those who highly appreciate the book and its content. For example, the burning of Beatles records after a remark by John Lennon concerning Jesus Christ, the destruction of the Sarajevo National Library, and the 2010 Qur'an-burning controversy.

Banned Books

http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/ideasandresources/free_downloads/2011banned.pdf

Often challenges are motivated by a desire to protect children from “inappropriate” sexual content or “offensive” language. The following were the top three reasons cited for challenging materials as reported to the Office of Intellectual Freedom:the material was considered to be "sexually explicit"the material contained "offensive language"the materials was "unsuited to any age group"

What is a Banned Book?A banned book is one that has been censored by an authority—a government, a library, or a school system. A book that has been banned is actually removed from a library or school system.

The Most Challenged/Banned

Book from 2000-2010

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“Whoever would overthrow the liberty

of a nation must begin by subduing the

freeness of speech.” Benjamin Franklin

e. FW – What is important about having “free speech”?

1950s

Technology

FW – f. What are the benefits of technology?

g. What are the drawbacks?

h. What are the future implications of technology on our society?

Teenagers1950s

Elvis PresleyRock-n-Roll

JeansSaddle ShoesJames Dean

JukeboxPoodle skirtsMalt shopsDisneyland

Drive-in movies

1950s Culture

Leave It To Beaver

The Cleavers are the 1950's 'All-American Family' in this 'feel-good' family sitcom. Parents Ward and June, and older brother Wally, try to keep Theodore ('the Beaver') out of trouble. However, Beaver continues to end up in one kind of jam or another. The show ran from 1957 - 1963

And then this…

Terms we will discussCookie-Cutterhaving the same appearance (as if mass-

produced)

Conformistto act in accord with the prevailing

standards, attitudes, practices, etc., of society or a group

Censorshipthe suppression of speech or other

public communication which may be considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or inconvenient to the general body of people as determined by a government, media outlet, or other controlling body.

FW –

i. When is conformity a necessity?

j. When does conformity hinder a society?

k. What ideas are presented to society through the videos from the 1950s?

New Literary TermsTerm Definition Sample

Allusiona reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or art

Epiphany sudden understanding

Connotation The emotional implications and associations that a word may carry.

Polysydeton repetition of conjunctions in a series of coordinate words

I like eggs and bacon and coffee and pancakes.

Pathos evokes feelings of sorrow and pity; usually with helpless suffering

FW- l. Respond to the following quote:

“If they give you ruled paper,

write the other way.”~Juan Ramon Jimenez

Ray Bradbury

Ray Bradbury (born August 22, 1920) is an American fantasy, horror, science fiction, and mystery writer. Best known for his dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451 (1953) and for the science fiction stories gathered together as The Martian Chronicles (1950) and The Illustrated Man (1951), Bradbury is one of the most celebrated among 20th and 21st century American writers of speculative fiction. Many of Bradbury's works have been adapted into television shows or films.