Looking at Fahrenheit 451 and Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography, there are many similarities. Benjamin Franklin believes that education is beyond important. He's also fascinated with books. In fact, Benjamin Franklin help conduct at least five libraries. He also formed a club where people would rent books for leisure. This is similar to Montag and his gradual love for books. When he discovers his first book, he finds it very fascinating and wants to learn more. He wants everyone to have access to the incredible world of books, instead of never getting to experience the wonder of them. Both these people have a passion for learning, understanding, and reading. This creates conflict, and eventual success, like Ben Franklin experienced as well.
Fahrenheit 451 also reminds me of the two pieces by Thomas Paine, "Common Sense" and "The Crisis." These two works talk about fighting for what is wanted which is liberty and freedom from England. Paine describes the horrible things that England has done, to promote the longing for a change. In Fahrenheit 451, Montag wants a change from the society of no books or thinking. He wants people to understand the beauty and great qualities of understanding and books. So, he decides to fight back against the society for what he believes is right and a necessity, just like what Thomas Paine tried to promote to England.
Fahrenheit 451 brings up more of the qualities of rationalism because of how Montag begins to think and wonder and rationalize about certain elements of society which he thought was unsuitable. This portrays the greatness of books along with fighting for what is right, just like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Fahrenheit 451-How does it relate to what I have learned in class?
Two ideas from the book that stood out were a one-way society, rebellion, and breaking away from a cause that was disliked. A one-way society reminds me of the Puritans and their society. The rebellion and breaking away of a person from the society reminds me of the rationalism era and the Revolutionary War.
The Puritans were very religious, and religion was their only practice and belief. The whole of the group of people believed one specific idea, that if they were good, God could look down on them and they may go to Heaven. This one belief society was not very original and specific. The society in Fahrenheit 451 believed that books were bad and poisonous, if you will, to the society. Books are bad and should not be read or there will be punishment. These two societies are parallel in that they have one way of thinking and if there was another idea that could change the status quo, it must be destroyed. But, there were rebellions.
The rationalism era is when people could think and rationalize. Montag, after reading, truly reading, his first book, began to think. Once he had begun to think, he started to have the idea that the society and way things are need to change. So, he started to rebel against the society's ways. The colonists began to think as well, during the rationalism era, and they started to rebel against some of the ideas of England. They didn't like that they weren't being represented and taxed. So, they had mini rebellions against theirmonster mother country which eventually led to the Revolutionary War.
The cause of the Revolutionary War, like mentioned above, was to break away from an idea of England that the colonists didn't like. Montag wanted to break away from the idea of no books in his society. So, he did. He rebelled and ran away. Then, he was successful. In the end, the society/city was destroyed and he, with others, were going to start over and bring back books. The Revolutionary War created liberty and freedom from the evil country of England, and Montag giving his city a piece of his mind created the start and end of a rebellion against the terrible, strict society.
The Puritans were very religious, and religion was their only practice and belief. The whole of the group of people believed one specific idea, that if they were good, God could look down on them and they may go to Heaven. This one belief society was not very original and specific. The society in Fahrenheit 451 believed that books were bad and poisonous, if you will, to the society. Books are bad and should not be read or there will be punishment. These two societies are parallel in that they have one way of thinking and if there was another idea that could change the status quo, it must be destroyed. But, there were rebellions.
The rationalism era is when people could think and rationalize. Montag, after reading, truly reading, his first book, began to think. Once he had begun to think, he started to have the idea that the society and way things are need to change. So, he started to rebel against the society's ways. The colonists began to think as well, during the rationalism era, and they started to rebel against some of the ideas of England. They didn't like that they weren't being represented and taxed. So, they had mini rebellions against their
The cause of the Revolutionary War, like mentioned above, was to break away from an idea of England that the colonists didn't like. Montag wanted to break away from the idea of no books in his society. So, he did. He rebelled and ran away. Then, he was successful. In the end, the society/city was destroyed and he, with others, were going to start over and bring back books. The Revolutionary War created liberty and freedom from the evil country of England, and Montag giving his city a piece of his mind created the start and end of a rebellion against the terrible, strict society.
Fahrenheit 451-How does it relate to my definition of American Literature?
My definition of American Literature is that it emanates the emotion. Fahrenheit 451 makes the readers feel that books are beyond important. The books make readers angry at the way the city is run. They are also annoyed at the people living in the city because of their incompetence and small-mindedness. If only the characters could understand the importance of literature, then there would be knowledge and understanding. Also, thing wouldn't be as stiff and similar. There would be uniqueness and originality. The main character, Guy Montag, feels these emotions as well. That is what makes the readers feel so passionate about books, because Montag is as well. The author writes this book to make the audience feel sorry for the people who disregard books and he makes them want to fight for what is right. He makes the audience want to go to war with the characters as well.
The definition is backed up with a look at wars during American times and how that impacted the literature of the time. In the book, about halfway through, Montag begins to have a self verses self and a self verses society conflict, almost as if he's going to war with the two. He wants to fight for books and knowledge, but no one understands him. He starts to have a dilemma with society and the norms of the time. He feels that the idea of no books or knowledge is ridiculous and wants everyone to think about the things he gets out of books. In the end, he gets his wish because, someone let's a bomb loose in the city and destroys everything. This can relate to the time because when this book was created, in the 1950s, the Korean War was taking place. This, and the great amount of talk of bombs going around in America during the time, were wrapped together in this book. The war with what society wants and what Montag wants is a war itself, and at the end, when the bomb was released.
In the end, the author, Ray Bradbury, shows that books are a necessity or people can rebel against the idea of a strict, similar society and fight against it. In the end, taking away such an important influence in an area will eventually be destroyed because of the withdrawal. People need to learn and understand and be unique, which is what the author shows us through the main character's feelings making the audience feel his emotion.
The definition is backed up with a look at wars during American times and how that impacted the literature of the time. In the book, about halfway through, Montag begins to have a self verses self and a self verses society conflict, almost as if he's going to war with the two. He wants to fight for books and knowledge, but no one understands him. He starts to have a dilemma with society and the norms of the time. He feels that the idea of no books or knowledge is ridiculous and wants everyone to think about the things he gets out of books. In the end, he gets his wish because, someone let's a bomb loose in the city and destroys everything. This can relate to the time because when this book was created, in the 1950s, the Korean War was taking place. This, and the great amount of talk of bombs going around in America during the time, were wrapped together in this book. The war with what society wants and what Montag wants is a war itself, and at the end, when the bomb was released.
In the end, the author, Ray Bradbury, shows that books are a necessity or people can rebel against the idea of a strict, similar society and fight against it. In the end, taking away such an important influence in an area will eventually be destroyed because of the withdrawal. People need to learn and understand and be unique, which is what the author shows us through the main character's feelings making the audience feel his emotion.
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