Faulkner's Fast Five

Creating Classroom Success Stories

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Group Membership
  • Contact
  • Resources
  • Success Stories

A Movie Review of HBO’s Fahrenheit 451 from a High School English Teacher

Finally… the moment my students and I have been wishing and waiting for – an updated movie remake of one of our favorite novels: Fahrenheit 451.  We always have a little fun playing the role of director, choosing which of our favorite actors and actresses should play Montag, Beatty, Mildred, Clarisse, and all the other memorable characters.  However, we do always wonder… would Bradbury actually approve of any screen adaptation of his magnum opus?  I had so many questions before watching HBO’s hot, new adaptation: Who would play Montag?  Would it capture the theme accurately? What would be removed or added? And most importantly… would it be a good fit for using in class?  Keep reading for the answers. WARNING: There are spoilers.

1) Characters/Characterization: Not everything about the characters was 100% spot on, but that is to be expected, I suppose.  So what works and what doesn’t?

  • Beatty –  Captain Beatty is our resident manipulative, maniacal manager of the fire. He’s the villain through and through, loving to control the narrative and burn anything that gets in his way.  Right. Right? Well, maybe not.  Beatty’s ambiguity is what makes him so compelling, confusing, and complex.  In my opinion, the film does a nice job of painting a picture of Beatty of which Bradbury would approve.

  • Faber/Granger – These fiction-loving fellas aren’t named characters in the film, but their archetype is certainly present.  In fact, they play a huge role in the film in terms of propelling the conflict.  In the novel, the bulk of the conflict is driven by Montag’s internal struggle, but the film really hinges on both the person v. person and person v. society conflict with the “Eels” to move the plot. I suppose that’s a pretty decent substitution.
  • Montag –  I’m not sure anybody can really live up to our Guy Montag.  He’s always the hardest one to pinpoint and agree upon when we do our exercise in class of picking the actors/actresses.  Everyone just always has a different idea of who he should be.  He fumbles through most of the book trying to figure himself out, so maybe that’s why he is so hard to pinpoint.  HBO’s Montag experiences a similar struggle, but I am still not quite satisfied for some reason. Montag the confused – yes, I can get on board with that.  Montag the superstar – nah, I’ll pass on that interpretation.  Maybe my hopes were too high. That said, I would give Michael B. Jordan a B+.
  • Ms. Blake – What a powerful scene. Glad she – and it – was included. Enough said.

  • Mildred –  Initially, I was bothered by the fact that Mildred wasn’t included.  The more I think on it, though, I can accept the choice.  In the movie, she wasn’t just an obsessed robotic tv watcher, she WAS the robot.  Clever.  In the text, Bradbury needed a vessel to paint the picture society’s bad behaviors, etc.  On the big screen and with today’s special effects, it is possible to just make it evident in other ways.  Figuratively, too, it speaks to the whole idea of how little she actually contributed anything to Montag or society at all and how truly forgettable she was. Gone like a freight train (puns are intended), gone like yesterday. Wait, who was Millie again?
  • Clarisse – Clarisse provides the most mystery in the book, and the kids always love her.  Bradbury is even quoted as saying he is Clarisse in the book: full of wonder and curiosity.  It’s with Clarisse that the film falls of the wagon in the characters/characterization category.  Clarisse is supposed to be light and airy and a picture of innocence, but in the film, she is too dark and brooding for my liking. And then there’s the whole spark between Montag and Clarisse.  Not. My. Favorite.  My students always think they’ve “picked up” on something between Montag and Clarisse when they read the scenes with her, and I always stress how incorrect that reading is. Clarisse is a catalyst for Montag’s path toward the truth. In that that way – and only in that way – might she serve as a femme fatale, luring him to the light.  Am I surprised “Hollywood” used her character as a way to provide some on-screen romance? No, but it’s just textually inaccurate. As an aside here: My students didn’t like her in the film either.

2) Setting:  So much of what Bradbury penned was futuristic – and dare I say prophetic – in the 1950s.  Today, though, just about every bit of it has come to fruition, and what hasn’t can be computer generated for the movies.   I was pleased to see the infusion of the large screens; they are, in fact, everywhere: in homes, in streets, and even on the skyscrapers.  Bradbury’s biggest fear was the detrimental effects of people’s over consumption of and obsession with television. The TVs are ever present and “large and in charge.”  However, I’m not so certain the intended dystopian city that Bradbury envisioned really seemed “all that bad” in HBO’s version.   The setting, for me, kinda fizzled out.

3) OMNIS: This is a massive change from the book, but it may just be this detail that shows us – 2018 watchers of the film – how close we might actually be to Bradbury’s dystopian future.  OMNIS holds every piece of literature, art, and history in a DNA strand, preserving the long forgotten culture that the firemen tried to erase.  While there are underground members of society, like Granger and his “railroad” crew that memorize entire books in order to preserve them, it is this OMNIS that they work to protect and preserve. Once the OMNIS is introduced into the plot, it becomes the major source of the conflict, as it is the focus of the firemen’s revenge.  The twist is that this DNA strand has been implanted in a bird.  After some thought, I decided I might be satisfied with this change as I see connections with it and the prominent role of the Phoenix in the novel.   OMNIS becomes a symbol of hope in a bleak, literature-loathing society that hints at the emergence of a better future. It’s a reminder that it doesn’t matter how much “graffiti” (books) the firemen decide to burn, there’s still hope out there for a free-thinking future — much like the Phoenix that is burned but rises again.

4) Theme: Ultimately, Bradbury wants readers to put themselves in the characters’ shoes: What role would you have played in this dystopian universe: perpetuator, bystander, fighter? Would you see the truth like Montag, or continue to fumble your way through the pursuit for emptiness happiness like Mildred. Would you fight to manipulate and cover the truth like Beatty or use truth to lead others to it like Faber or Granger?  It is the growth from within that he wants – that really can bring the change that this culture needs. Truth, knowledge, morality — all erased and replaced with what people see rather than what they think.  The movie does a good job of making that clear — maybe a little too clear (some points didn’t leave much to the imagination), but in order to bridge the gap to “modern audiences,” I can see the need.  Maybe that’s a tad ironic, and telling, in and of itself.  Nonetheless, tons of lines from the book are woven throughout, and I enjoyed hearing Bradbury’s voice.

5) The Ending: Bradbury’s ending is open, or so many of my students say, and most really do hate that.  I always pose the question to them, though, Is it really open ended? Throughout the entire book, Bradbury wants readers to realize that the value of books is to provide information, but more importantly to make people think.  On one hand, the open ending forces readers to do that. On the other hand, maybe the ending so open at all. Montag did figure out his purpose, and if you read it that way, then what else was there?  Either way, the movie definitely provides us with Bahrani’s idea of what he thought should be Montag’s purpose: keep the “books” alive.  But die?  I could see a case for his death in the book, but die at the hand of Beatty.  That idea should be torched.  In the movie, the books “rise from the ashes” to live on and that offers some hope, but having Beatty kill Montag gives the villain way too much power, and erases hope that the books — and future — will really be safe.   To link in another once “hot” film, President Snow said, “Hope, it is the only thing stronger than fear.  A little hope is effective, a lot of hope is dangerous. A spark is fine, as long as it’s contained.” (Sidebar: Does anybody else see the HG connections? I can’t unsee it.)  If Bahrani intended to remove that hope, that’s dark and maybe it’s a little too dark.  But perhaps that’s just me trying to look on the bright side.

Final thoughts: Is it appropriate for class?  HBO rated the film TV-MA for violence and language.  That said, just about any novel we pick up is going to have violence and language or worse.  I am not a fan of it either, and I don’t want to convey that at all.   Otherwise, it’s pretty benign. All in all, I did think it was time well spent showing it to my students. It brought up so many conversations; and we really did decide that the book is better.  It doesn’t get much better for my little English-teacher heart.  In my school, anytime we show a film, we have to get our principal to approve it.  So, I did that, and I wrote a parent letter and created a set of questions student would answer during the viewing.  He was fine with that, and I had zero parents ask for an alternative assignment.  I do have older students, but if you cover your bases this way you should be fine.  (See my Teacher Talk Video on Facebook here about dealing with novels with difficult content.)

  Get the letter I drafted and the questions HERE for free!

Fahrenheit 451 Literature Guide, Novel Unit Plan, Ray Bradbury

If you teach Fahrenheit 451 as a novel unit, stop over to my teacherspayteachers store and take a look at my complete unit plan. Also, did you enjoy the memes above? I have to brag on my students. Those were all their original work, and I have to admit, I laughed out loud at most of them.

 

Sign up for my monthly newsletter – “Teaching Tidbits” – that is delivered directly to your email inbox each month.  Each month you’ll get announcements, tips for teaching, updates on new and revised resources, and, of course, an email-only exclusive FREEBIE! Just for joining, you’ll receive a free gift: Worksheet Analysis Sampler for a Variety of Texts.

 

Filed Under: book review, books, books turned movies, Catching Fire, fahrenheit 451 party, memes, movie, movie guides, movie lesson plans, novel, novels, Reading Strategies, real world connection, secondary classrooms, secondary ELA, secondary English Teachers, secondary lessons, teachers pay teachers, teaching ideas, teaching strategies, teaching tips, The Hunger Games Leave a Comment

When the Weather Outside is Frightful….. Teach Snow-Themed Literature Lessons

As I sit here watching the snow falling outside my window on
a much needed snow day off from school, I think about my plans for when I head
back.  Seeing as how it will still be
very cold and somewhat snowy when we do return, my students might in the mood
for some snow-themed literature.  If your
area is covered with a blanket of snow as well, consider a wintry lesson while
the ground thaws! Depending on the level of students you teach or how much time
you have, check out this list of stories that features a snowy setting. What’s
better than that?  Print-and-go lessons
to accompany them, so you can make the most of your spontaneous snow days, too!
1) “To Build a Fire” by Jack London: It doesn’t get any colder than this one! In my unit guide for this snowy saga, students are challenged to see if they would survive the wilderness before they trek through a series of activities to enhance their reading of this short story.
To Build a Fire Short Story Unit -Nonfiction Paired Text,
2)  “Stopping
by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost
: This poem may be the most obvious choice for a snow-day lesson, but have you considered pairing it with music? In my classroom-tested mini lesson, students explore theme across texts. 
"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" Winter, Poetry Clos
3) Frankenstein by Mary Shelley:  I’m pretty sure that this text fits well with just about any situation from Halloween to the New Year to a snow day with its rich themes, layers of characterization, and diverse settings.  The 2004 Lions Gate version of Shelley’s story sticks very closely to the text and never fails to draw my students in with the bitter warning this tale issues about science and human nature. 
Frankenstein Movie Viewing Pack {Graphic Organizer, Quiz, Prompt}
4) The
Hunger Games
by Suzanne Collins
: Much like Frankenstein, I believe that I could work The Hunger Games into just about any lesson or unit I am doing regardless.  It’s certainly one of my favorite young adult texts, and it’s perfect for my list of texts that made the cold cut.  From President Snow himself to the cold setting in District 12 to Katniss’s icy personality, The Hunger Games would be a hot pick for a snow day flick. And for kicks, check out my previous post Where Frozen Meets the Hunger Games!
The Hunger Games Movie Guide Pack, Questions, Prompts, Add
5) The
Giver
by Lois Lowry
: I vividly remember first reading this novel in the 7th grade, and I fell in love. In. Love.  I read it over and over, and then I read the sequel.  I imagined each and every scene in my mind as my 7th grade teacher read it aloud to our literature class. I can still see those images I pictured when I read it even now.  Needless to say, it was those images that I hoped to see on the big screen when the movie version was released in 2014.  I wasn’t entirely correct with my visions, of course, but surprisingly, what I had dreamed up for the Giver himself as well as the last scene of the snowy home was similar to what developed on screen.  That is most certainly a credit to the master of words that is Lois Lowry.  I’m excited about my newest item: The Giver Movie Viewing Guide.
The Giver Movie Viewing Guide, Questions, Prompts, Sub Pla
Do you have a “cool” lesson that teens will love?  Link up your resources any subject grades 7-12 below and share the linky!
An InLinkz Link-up

Filed Under: Frankenstein, movie guides, robert frost, snow day, snow literature, snow poetry, stopping by woods, stories about snow, the giver movie, The Hunger Games, to build a fire, Uncategorized 1 Comment

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Medium
  • Pinterest

Categories

Latest on Pinterest

  • In this easy-prep writing prompt pack, students will analyze texts that discuss a topic which is a major driving force in the world: the future of fuel in the vehicles we drive. They will then write an essay where they take a stand on the issue of "banning gas-powered vehicles" after reading those articles/texts. If your state requires students to synthesize from multiple sources for state testing, then this prompt meets that requirement.
  • My data program started with just a simple chart years ago where students would color in their scores each time we would write an essay. Now it has grown into a teaching strategy, a method, and a routine embedded into my class structure and student learning process that truly informs instruction. My process for collecting data in the classroom is meaningful for both me and my students.
  • Teacher Planners for Multiple Preps, Middle-High School Fruit of the spirit
  • Lord of the Flies Unit Plan
  • BENEFITS OF USING TASK CARDS IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL
  • Lord of the Flies Unit Plan
Follow Me on Pinterest

LATEST ON FACEBOOK

Julie's Classroom Stories

16 hours ago

Julie's Classroom Stories
Make your classroom personal with pictures you've taken from your travels - near and far. Kids enjoy the view, and they are often great conversation starters. More on decorating your classroom at my blog. juliefaulknersblog.com/journey-classroom-theme-ideas/ ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Julie's Classroom Stories

5 days ago

Julie's Classroom Stories
New Writing Prompt Pack! Added to my argument writing bundle and curriculum. If you have either of those, you can get this for free. If not, follow the link to grab it. Perfect current events topic for summer school! www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Writing-Prompt-Pack-Argumentative-Essay-on-Gas-Powered-Vehicl... ... See MoreSee Less

Writing Prompt Pack, Argumentative Essay on Gas-Powered Vehicle Ban

www.teacherspayteachers.com

In this easy-prep writing prompt pack, students will analyze texts that discuss a topic which is a major driving force in the world: the future of fuel in the vehicles we drive. They will then write a...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Julie's Classroom Stories

1 week ago

Julie's Classroom Stories
Have you ever heard of or used task cards with your classes? I use them for reading and writing. Check out this blog post where I explain all about task cards. juliefaulknersblog.com/using-task-cards-in-middle-and-high-school/ ... See MoreSee Less

Benefits of Using Task Cards in Middle and High School - Faulkner's Fast Five

juliefaulknersblog.com

There are plenty of reasons and ways to use task cards in any middle or high school classroom. This post shares practical ways for using task cards.
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Julie's Classroom Stories

2 weeks ago

Julie's Classroom Stories
18 - the magic number today 🪄6/5/04 is our “marry day” anniversary- that’s what my niece called weddings before she knew that word. If you think about it, though, her way makes so much more sense. A wedding is special, but having a great life with someone is really about focusing on the marriage. I’m thankful God sent me this guy (🦄) and I know he feels the same way about me🤣🤣😜😜 Prayers for 18 x infinity more. ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Julie's Classroom Stories

4 weeks ago

Julie's Classroom Stories
Thinking of setting up a classroom library over the summer or updating yours? Check out (pun intended) my free supplies. www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Classroom-Library-Materials-Free-4733097 ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Latest on Instagram

#teacherproblemsinsummer #teachersonbreak #teacher #teacherproblemsinsummer #teachersonbreak #teacherhumor #teacherfunnies
#fridayfoodforthought #summertime #summerquotes #fridayfoodforthought #summertime #summerquotes
Pinch and zoom... This dress has lemons on it 🍋 Pinch and zoom... This dress has lemons on it 🍋 - I immediately thought of the caption: "When life gives you lemons..." But, since I'm super interested in the psychology of the #enneagram, I thought it would be fun to explore how each person would respond to a potentially sour situation. So here goes!⁠
When life gives you lemons...⁠
🍋 Type 1 (The Perfectionist): you make the most perfect batch of lemonade #bethechange
🍋 Type 2 (The Helper): you make sure no one else has to taste the lemon #bigheart
🍋 Type 3 (The Achiever): you deny ownership and get rid of the lemon as fast as you can by finding someone else to whom you think it belongs #notmylemon #saveface
🍋 Type 4 (The Individualist): you record a vlog, make a caption for IG, Tweet, and write post blog about how the lemon made you feel ⁠ #sigh
🍋 Type 5 (The Investigator): you research the best way to use lemons and then experiment with a few of those options⁠ #knowledgeispower
🍋 Type 6 (The Loyalist): you wonder if there are more lemons and if this is the biggest lemon you will get. Then you make a plan to avoid the next lemon.  #expecttheunexpected
🍋 Type 7 (The Enthusiast): you plan a fun and adventurous trip and pack the lemons as a snack⁠ #letsgo
🍋 Type 8 (The Challenger): you squeeze the juice in the eyes of your enemies⁠ #nomercy
🍋 Type 9 (The Peacemaker): you keep calm and ignore the lemons⁠ #everythingisfine #lifegoeson
--⁠
Put your #enneagramtype in the comments and let me know if I got close on your response!⁠
...⁠
⁠
⁠
#teacheroutfit #wearitwednesday #teacherstyle #teacherootd #whattheteacherwore #outfitoftheday #fashion #personalitytypes #whenlifegivesyoulemons #psychology #enneagramlife #enneagramtalk
On the blog: Everything you need to know about ess On the blog: Everything you need to know about essential questions in lesson planning. ⁠
...⁠
⁠
#teachingenglish #juliesclassroomstories #classroomsuccessstories #iteachenglish #highschoolenglishteacher #teachinghighschool #highschoolteacher #lessonplanning #teachingtips #tipsfornewteachers #essentailquestions #faulknersfastfive #faulknersfastfiveblog #teacherprofessionaldevelopment
#fridayfoodforthought #summertime #summerquotes #fridayfoodforthought #summertime #summerquotes
My teacher planners are designed exclusively for t My teacher planners are designed exclusively for teachers with multiple preps and are perfect for getting your lesson plans and goals organized! With the PDF and ready-made-for-Google formats, you'll have everything you need to plan successfully. There are options for A/B Block Schedule or up to 4 Preps. Link in bio. ⁠
...⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠
#teachingenglish #juliesclassroomstories #classroomsuccessstories #iteachenglish #highschoolenglishteacher #teachinghighschool #highschoolteacher #backtoschool #teacherplanners #classroommanagement⁠
#plannergoodies
I wore this outfit to my mother's retirement lunch I wore this outfit to my mother's retirement luncheon. She served our community in education for 45 years as an English teacher and then in administration. That kind of commitment is often unheard of these days. I'm super proud of her accomplishments!⁠
...⁠
Top - #targetfinds⁠
Jeans - #loveloft⁠
...⁠
⁠
#teacheroutfit #wearitwednesday #teacherstyle #teacherootd #whattheteacherwore #outfitoftheday #fashion
Finished my first book of summer. Here are my thou Finished my first book of summer. Here are my thoughts on Dolly's #runroserun: ⁠
💡The voice is engaging, but I do wonder if it would have been better if it were told in first person. ⁠
💡Overall the characters were fun, but pretty predictable and somewhat flat. ⁠
💡There was enough suspense to keep me reading; however, the turning point seemed rushed and thus the main "secret" was underdeveloped. The secret wasn't what I was expecting, so that was nice. ⁠
💡Most of the time I felt I was reading a commercial: there was a lot of brand-name dropping. In many cases, I had no idea what was even being referenced. Perhaps that was a choice to show the stark contrast between the main character and the person she was trying to become. ⁠
💡I enjoyed the way the song snippets were incorporated in. ⁠
💡I'll always enjoy reading a story set close to home #tennesseeismyhome. ⁠
💡Favorite quote: "How had she became as necessary to his life as oxygen? ...The world is full of mysteries. He supposed the human heart - his human heart - had turned out to be one of them."⁠
⁠
Overall, I give it 3 stars out of 5. ⭐⭐⭐⁠
...⁠
⁠
#bookish #reader #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #currentlyreading #dollyparton #jamespatterson #summerreading
18 - the magic number today 🪄6/5/04 is our “m 18 - the magic number today 🪄6/5/04 is our “marry day” anniversary- that’s what my niece called weddings before she knew that word. If you think about it, though, her way makes so much more sense.  A wedding is special, but having a great life with someone is really about focusing on the marriage. I’m thankful God sent me this guy (🦄) and I know he feels the same way about me🤣🤣😜😜 Prayers for 18 x infinity more.
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2022 · Website Design By Jumping Jax Designs

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Group Membership
  • Contact
  • Resources
  • Success Stories