Fire
Quote: "With his symbolic helmet numbered 451…
sky red and yellow and black." (Bradbury 1)
Symbolism: Fire symbolizes destruction in this story.
Montag uses fire to burn all the books and he tries to
destroy all the books using fire.
Theme: In this story, books burn at 451°F. 451°F is a
high temperature and Montag is a hard-working
fireman. Even though the burning temperature is
high, he keeps trying to burn the book.
Connection: In science, water boils at 100°C.
The boiling point of the water is 100°C.
In this story, books burn at 451°F.
Therefore, the burning point of the books is 451°F.
Water and books both obtain heat and lose
the appearance of themselves.
Blood
Quote: "This machine pumped all of the blood from
the body and replaced it with fresh blood and
serum." (Bradbury 8)
Symbolism: In the story, the blood symbolizes a
human being's soul. If a person does not have an
adequate amount of blood, the person can die.
He or she would not have a soul. For example, Mildred
did not have a soul when she fainted.
Theme: The blood can revive one's life,
such as Mildred's life.
Connection: Biologically, overdosing will give a lot
of bad effects to the blood system. It will make the
blood dirty, and it may could not pass through the
blood vessels. Overdosing can attack someone's life.
However, if the dirty blood is replaced with a new
and clean blood, then the fainted person may
wake up and have the soul.
Snake
Snake
Quote: “With the Brass nozzle in his fists, with this
great python spitting its venomous kerosene
upon the world” (Bradbury 1).
Symbolism: Symbolizes the Firemen's tool for burning.
Adds a negative vibe to the act of censorship.
Theme: Censorship sometimes involves destructive
and violent actions or events. It can also be viewed
negatively from the ones being censored.
Connection: Biblically, the Snake symbolizes evilness
and chaos but also life and cure. There's an
ambivalence. As we can see, to the ones supporting
the censorship acts, in their perspective, it can be a
cure, medicine or hope. However, from the ones
experiencing the censorship, it will be felt like a
disaster or punishment.
Light
Light
Quote: “There was only the girl walking with him
now,her face bright as snow in the moonlight,
and he knew she was working his questions around, seeking the best
answers she could possibly give.” (Bradbury 4)
Symbolism: In the story, light symbolizes Clarisse
because she was a light and hope that suddenly
came into Montag's life. She was a light who gave
Montag thoughts about the society and humanity.
Theme: The theme associated with light
is hope and realization.
Connection: In the Bible, light is represented as
guidance, providing a path for the righteousness
and wisdom to those who seek it. Since Clarisse
make Montag wonder about if his actions are right
thing to do, she can be represented as light.
Books
Books
Quote: "You can't guarantee things like that!
After all, when we had all the books we needed,
we still insisted on finding the highest cliff to jump
off. But we do need a breather. We do need
knowledge. And perhaps in a thousand years, we
might pick smaller cliffs to jump off. The books
are to remind us what asses and fools we are.”
(Bradbury 82)
Symbolism: Book symbolizes knowledge.
In this text, it reveals that people should continue
reading books so that they gain knowledge and
do not make stupid decisions. It gives an idea of
importance of ongoing education and thinking
for a better society.
Theme: The theme associated with books is the
importance of education and power of critical
thinking.
Connection: Critical thinking applies to history.
For example, because of NEwton’s critical thinking
toward the world, it developed the understanding
of the physical world. Newton’s question and
observation of gravity laid the foundation of
modern mechanics, which shows the importance
of thinking, knowledge.
River
River
Quote: “The river was very real; it held him
comfortably and gave him the time at last, the
leisure, to consider this month, this year,
and a lifetime of years. He listened to his
heart slow. His thoughts stopped rushing
with his blood.” (Bradbury 134)
Symbolism: The river in the text symbolizes the
rebirth of Montag. The time he stopped in the river
gave him a leisure time to think of his past years and
gave him a new perspective to look at the world. Montag
going into the river seems to reveal Montag entering
a new life after his reflection.
Theme: The theme associated with the river is the
time and reflection of one's life.
Connection: Rebirth in the history, such as
Renaissance can be connected to this text.
Renaissance is also known as 'rebirth,' that
many scholars and thinkers rediscovered and
reinterpreted the world, which eventually led
to the shift of nature and humanism.