Reading Comprehension Questions
Part one: “The Hearth and the Salamander”
These are to be completed by Tuesday September 17th.
Please complete them on a separate sheet of paper. There are questions that
cover up to and including page 40.
1. Describe what the firemen do for a living in this society.
2. In the opening scene, books are compared to birds. Explain why.
3. Identify who Montag meets on the way home.
4. During a conversation, Montag says that "You never wash it off completely"
referring to the kerosene. What could this mean symbolically?
5. Analyze why Bradbury introduces Clarisse before Montag's wife, Mildred.
6. Contrast life in Montag's house from that of Clarisse's house.
7. Explain what Mildred does all day.
8. Describe what Clarisse is doing when Montag sees her on page 21?
9. Describe the mechanical hound and explain its purpose.
10.Explain how Montag tries to interact with the hound and the hound’s
response.
11.Analyze why this society considers Clarisse to be “anti-social.”
12.Summarize what happens at the home of the old lady who refuses to leave.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Part one and two: “The Hearth and the Salamander” & “The Sieve and the Sand”
These are to be completed by Wednesday September 25th.
Please complete them on a separate sheet of paper. There are questions that
cover up to and including page 80.
1. Describe what happens to Clarisse, how Montag learns this news, and his
reactions.
2. Explain that Beatty reveals about himself and his knowledge.
3. What does the word “sick” symbolize in this instance?
4. Why do you think Millie did call in Montag right away after he showed her
the books?
5. What does Bradbury mean when he writes, “Poor Millie,” on page 74?
6. Montag and Mildred think someone is at the door. Why doesn’t the doorvoice tell them if someone is there?
7. Paraphrase what Montag means when he says he has seen a snake.
8. Summarize the rumor Montag has heard.
9. Identify who Faber is. Examine the origin of this English professor’s name.
10.Analyze Faber’s comment, “I don’t talk things, sir. I talk the meaning of
things. I sit here and know I’m alive.”
11.What book is Faber referring to when he says, “So it’s true”?
Reading Comprehension Questions
Part two and three: “The Sieve and the Sand” & “Burning Bright”
These are to be completed by Monday October 7th.
Please complete them on a separate sheet of paper. There are questions that
cover up to and including page 135.
1. List the 3 qualities Faber says are essential.
2. Identify what Faber gives Montag to help him with this meeting with
Beatty.
3. Name the poem that Montag recites. How does it affect the women?
4. Examine Beatty’s behavior at the firehouse.
5. Analyze Beatty‟s comments to Montag. Examine how this provides
foreshadowing.
6. Examine Montag‟s attack of Beatty.
7. Describe Montag‟s plan after the attack.
8. Summarize the advice he gives Faber.
9. Interpret “Twenty million Montag's running, soon, if the cameras caught
him.”
10. Examine the role of media in this society and its reporting of Montag‟s
escape.