F451: part one Flashcards
what is the significance of pleasantville?
this displays 1950’s America and an “optimistic” conformity
what is plato’s cave?
this is an allegory of the life of all enlightened people, sense that sun is the light of reason. what we aspire in life, they are phantoms for example good marriages- we all start from a very difficult place.
what is the significance of Clarisse?
By her skill of reading, she is able to see and enjoy the natural world rather that “performing” happiness to be accepted by society. The text “living a feminist life” by Sarah Ahmed inspired the reader to leave the rat race and embrace individual freedom.
what is an apologist?
This is someone who argues in favour of something that is unpopular, they tend to be seen in a negative light- Beatty can be seen in this way
what is the significance of the woman choosing to burn with her books in part one?
Bishop Hugh Latimer, in 1555 under Queen Mary Latimer was burned at the stake and became one of the three Oxford Martyrs, the Queen and the judges felt that their burnings were moral. Latimer noted to Ridley that their deaths will seal them as trailblazers.
what is the significance of the Tower of Babel?
this is a city that is built following a Great Flood, God observing their city and tower confounds their speech so that they can no longer understand each other.
what is the significance of Montag’s reference to death?
Montag reads about people dying rather than “breaking small eggs”, throughout history people have proven more willing to face death, rather than deal with the government.
There is also a literary reference to Jonathan Swifts Gulliver’s travels; “it is compared that 11000 have at several times faced death rather than submit to break eggs as the smaller end”
what is the significance of self-inflicted pain out of boredom?
Participants in the boredom condition administered more electric shocks, this served to disrupt the monotony. This was compared to those that watched a sad or neutral fragment of a film. This relates to Mildred/HMT.
