What Does Success Look Like?
Scholars analyze Montag’s reaction to reading the stolen books. Scholars explain Faber’s reasoning for the unpopularity of books in this dystopian world.
Seminar 5: Fahrenheit 451: Part 2 (pages 67–88)
Do Now — 10 minutes
- Show an exemplary Exit Ticket from the previous seminar. Have scholars discuss what makes it exemplary. Have scholars articulate the transferable takeaway from the work study that they will apply to their revisions.
- Scholars revise their Exit Tickets from the previous seminar based on the feedback you gave them.
Launch — 2 minutes
- Build excitement for today’s reading and discussion by telling scholars that they will see Montag grapple with the value of literature as he begins to read the stolen books.
Read and Discuss 1 — 30 minutes
Read:
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- Play Audiobook (Chapter 2, 0:00–7:48): Part 2, pages 67–71 (stop at the page break)
Discuss:
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- Scholars discuss the following questions in pairs: Why is Montag interested in reading the books? Why does Mildred resist reading? Call on pairs to share out. Insist that scholars back up their claims with evidence from the text.
- If scholars nailed the previous questions, ask: How is Faber different from others in this society?
Read:
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- Play Audiobook (Chapter 2, 7:50–15:59): Part 2, pages 71–76 (stop at the page break)
Discuss:
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- Scholars discuss the following question in pairs: Why does Montag recall the episode from his childhood involving the sieve and the sand? Call on pairs to share out. Insist that scholars back up their claims with evidence from the text.
- If scholars nailed the previous question, ask: What is the mood on pages 75–76? How does Bradbury create this mood?
Write — 10 minutes
Write an essay of no more than 200 words:
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- How does Montag feel as he rides the subway on pages 73–76? Why does he feel this way? Justify your argument with at least two concrete pieces of evidence from the text.
Wrap-up — 5 minutes
- Show an exemplar essay to scholars. Have scholars discuss what makes the claim clear and compelling. Have scholars articulate the transferable takeaway from the work study that they need to apply to their own work moving forward.
Read and Discuss 2 — 25 minutes
Independent Reading (15 minutes):
Part 2, pages 76–88 (stop at the page break)
Discuss:
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- Scholars discuss the following question in pairs: According to Faber, what is missing from this society? Call on pairs to share out. Insist that scholars back up their claims with evidence from the text.
- If scholars nailed the previous question, ask: What does Faber mean when he says that books “show the pores in the face of life” (page 79)?
Exit Ticket — 8 minutes
Write an essay of no more than 200 words:
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- According to Faber, why are books hated and feared? Justify your argument with at least two concrete pieces of evidence from the text.