Fahrenheit 451

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1. 
   gbeatty Teacher
   College - Freshman

   These are both mythological creatures who had close ties to fire, and who specifically were not hurt by it. The phoenix was burned, but only in the process of regeneration. The salamander lived among the flames, happily. They are appropriate from the government's point of view, because these creatures symbolize what they want their fireman to be, and connect heroic associations with their oppressive acts.

   Sources:

   http://phoenix.gov/birdesig.html

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   Posted by gbeatty on Saturday April 26, 2008 at 2:11 PM
   
   

2. 
   pmiranda2857 Teacher
   High School - 11th Grade

   Stretching Ray Bradbury's symbolism of the Salamander and the Phoenix can translate into this: the salamander, the lizard who is a mythic being able to live even in the presence of fire.  It skin is cold and it is suggested that the cold body can put out the flames.  The Phoenix, is of course a symbol of rebirth.  The rising Phoenix out of the ashes is reborn to live again.

   Even though Bradbury uses the Salamander to represent the fire trucks in the book, maybe the Salamander, resistant to fire can be a symbol of the spark that still exists in mankind, as evidenced in Guy Montag, Faber, and others who desire to read books and be educated.  That spark cannot be totally extinguished it has a salamander-like quality resisting the fire. Living alongside the fire, yet surviving.

   The rebirth in human society of intellect,  especially symbolized as a rising Phoenix is a beautiful image.  Since Bradbury is a writer, he would apply this image to this important concept of starting over and learning to love the written word all over again.  

   Its a stretch, but I enjoy interpreting images and symbols in literature!

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   Posted by pmiranda2857 on Monday May 5, 2008 at 5:00 PM
   
   

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