Fahrenheit 451 Dialectical Journal Analysis

Hearth and the Salamander:

Entry 1:

Passage: "'No. The same girl. McClellan. McClellan. Run over by a car. Four days ago. I'm not sure. But I think she's dead. The family moved out anyway. I don't know. But I think she's dead." -Page 44 (Mildred)

Situation: Mildred tells Guy about Clarisse's supposed death.

Analysis: I feel this passage is worthy of discussion for two reasons: Clarisse was my favourite character (and the only sane person in this story), but she was also the person who was in charge of creating the conflict. Clarisse was the person to make Guy question his role as a fireman, and it is strange that she has suddenly disappeared.

Entry 2:

Passage: "'All of those chemical balances and percentages on all of us here in

Analysis: This passage appears to be important as it suggests that someone― a fireman or who has access to the Hound― has a vendetta against Guy. This is important because it's the first hint of a true antagonist that the readers have gotten.

Entry 3:

Passage: "'The first time we ever met, where was it, and when?'...'Funny, how funny, not to remember where or when you met your husband or wife.'" Page 40 (Mildred and Montag)

Situation: Mildred and Guy cannot remember anything about when they met.

Analysis: This passage is curious as it really makes you think: "If they can't remember when they met, are there other things they can't remember," and, "Why can't they remember?"I believe this will be very important later on.

Sieve and the

Throughout the book, Beatty alludes that he knows more about books than most, even quoting directly from them, suggesting he has read them. I infer that Beatty went through a similar situation as Montag, but instead of fighting, he decided to go along with what was happening.

Entry 8:

Passage: 'With an effort, Montag reminded himself again that this was no fictional episode to be watched on his run to the river, it was in actuality his own chess game he was witnessing, move by move." Page 131 (Montag)

Situation: Montag reminds himself that what is going on is actually happening.

Analysis: I like this passage, because Montag is trying to remind himself that what is happening is real, as this a great example of not only irony, but what is going on in his head at the moment. He has become so panicked, that his body's response is to view what is going on in a detached manor. This is also ironic in the sense that to Montag, yes, this is real (even if he has to convince himself of that fact), but to the reader it is exactly as he describes: just a story.

Entry 9:

Passage: "And he was surprised to learn how certain he suddenly was of a single fact he could not prove. Once, long ago, Clarisse had walked here, where he was walking now." Page 138 (Montag)

Situation: Montag walks by the railroad, and he somehow knows Clarisse had done the