Ideas for Reports and Papers

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1. Investigate Senator Joseph McCarthy's anti-Communist campaign during the early 1950s and compose a paper on how it might have shaped Bradbury's creation of Fahrenheit 451.

2. The characters in Fahrenheit 451 exist in a society governed by a totalitarian regime that controls nearly every facet of their lives. Similarly, George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four portrays a society under the dominance of a totalitarian government. Write a paper comparing Bradbury's and Orwell's depictions of life under such regimes.

3. Fire imagery is prevalent throughout the novel. For instance, Bradbury describes Montag and Mildred's living room as a volcano at one point. Write a paper analyzing Bradbury's use of fire imagery. Is it an effective literary device?

4. Watch Francois Truffaut's film adaptation of Fahrenheit 451 and compare it to the novel. What alterations does Truffaut make to the storyline? Why do you think he made these changes? Do you prefer the book or the movie? Explain your reasons.

5. Written in 1953, Fahrenheit 451 offers a grim portrayal of a future American society. Do you believe that the social issues that inspired Bradbury to write the novel have improved or worsened since its publication? Do you think any elements of Bradbury's vision of the future might become reality? Can you identify parallels in today's society to the novel's Seashell radios and "parlor walls"?

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