hi, i'm a student from germany. i recently read ray bradbury's book "fahrenheit 451".
know i have to write an essay about imaginary he uses and about bradburys style. reading this book was already very hard for me because english is not my motherlanguage. i saw a lot of fans of bradbury on this site and hoped that anyone could help me. i would be really happy. thank you

I always enjoy "meeting" those from other countries on this board. It thrills me that Ray has fans all over the world. Now, if you could please tell us a bit more about your topic, some of us may be able to give you some ideas.

And be sure to check in under the "Where Y'All From?" thread!

ragaga,

If you can, try to find a copy of "451" in German if you're having a hard time reading the book in English. Try a local bookstore or library.

Did you enjoy the book?

my topic is basically the style how bradbury wrote the novel. i told my english teacher, that he is repeating himself over and over again (for example when he is lying next to mildred: one drop of rain. clarisse. another drop. mildred. (p.17))to reflect the inner sadness of montag. my teacher said, that that is wrong. also i should write about imaginary used by bradbury. i couldn't find the book in german. i enjoyed it a lot although it is hard to understand for me sometimes and i need a dictionary. it shows a world of censorship and a really sad future. it shows also that freedom of speech and freedom to express yourself is very important

What did you think of the whole idea of the story? Now, don't take this wrong, please, but being from Germany, did you know about what happened during the years of Nazi Germany? "451" reflects a society that Hitler created before WWII. I think Bradbury used that theme to emphasize what the future would be like if humanity followed what Hitler did.

I would be happy to give some insight as a teacher who has taught this novel. Bradbury creates and alternate world in the book. It is what we call an anti-utopia. His creativity is in the fact that he totally alters the perception of the role of firemen and the people in the novel actually believe the lie. The book goes as far as to say that Benjamin Franklin, (who was an author himself), was the first to burn books. Franklin did pioneer the fire company of Philadelphia in real life. This is what we call revisionist history. Compare it to the book "1984" by George Orwell for the teacher and he/she will like that. In that book, the Ministry of Truth changes recorded history on a daily basis to suit the ruling party.

Ray's creativity lies in the fact that the characters and their situation are so believable when the mere concept of the novel is not. His mastery at characterization and plot development make it a success.

Ah, yes. I remember hearing about how Ben Fanklin was the first to burn books. But do you think that Hitler was inspired by Franklin? I mean, Hitler wanted to exterminate anything that might spark opposition in Nazi Germany. But I think that the main reason Hitler did it was to take away the intelligence of humans to ensure that nobody would rise above the chaos and oppose him.

Books are a main source of intelligence in humans (at least back during Bradbury's time) so Hitler was making sure nobody would think differently about his dictatorial rule. Bradbury was imagining a society that would adopt Hitler's idealism and destroy any source of knowledge and rely on technology and entertainment.

But Bradbury's book also emphasizes another important value...family. In "451," you can see that Clarisse spoke of no front porches on houses because nobody talked to each other anymore. I think Ray was predicting...no, PROPHESIZING (that is right, right?)...what families in the future would become. Remember how Clarisse said her family was "weird?" They enjoyed each other's company and talked for the longest time.

Pabillsman, what do you see for the future of families? If people keep up this lifestyle, do you think that families will be like the ones in "451?" Or is there hope for the future?

Also, do you think "451" could become a reality?

What's everybody else's opinion? Ragaga? Imskipper? Dandelion?

well, the book reminds me of the time in nazi germany. they burnt books that were not arial or didn't express the ideas or views of the nazi regime. in the book they burn books too, so that people can't get more informations to question their society.
I want to thank you for your information so far. i didn't know that franklin burnt books. it might be that hitler was inspired by him but mainly he was inspired by musolini, the italian socialist dictator. anyway, the book expresses the mild form of what would have happened if hitler had won the war. luckily he didn't (thanks to the allied forces and soviet russia. thank you thank you thank you) I don't want to sound like some mtv guy (VOTE VOTE VOTE) but i think they are right. if you want to prefent that something like this happens again, you have to vote

i just remembered something: does anybody remember the movie equilibrium (i'm not a 100% sure with the name) it's about burning books andwipping out feelings in humans

I hope and pray that our families would never turn out like they were in 451, but I'm just not sure. For all the new communication devices we have (cell phones, fax, e-mail, etc.), somehow it seems like there is less REAL communication than years ago. It seems that it's just too easy to leave messages all over the place for people and never really talk to them. Also, many families just do not spend the time together that I think they should. Oh God, I sound like one of those old people talking about "the good old days," but I can't help it. People work too many days and too many hours, and spend far too much time away from their families. And I'm not just referring to the adults. So many of my students are way overbooked on after-school activities or just plain and simple, going out with their friends, and often do not get home at night until well after nine o'clock on a school night. And I can't even begin to tell you how many parents I have spoken to over the 26 years I've taught that say, "I just don't know what to do with him/her any more." And that's because they've let their children become strangers. I know there are still lots of great, very close families out there, but I do think some of the "drifting" has begun.

Good question about families, Soccer. I think that we as a society have become more isolated as far as neighborhoods go, but I think families can stick together if they value it. When I was growing up, my aunts uncles, and cousins lived just up the street. It was nothing to do the "pop in" on them. All holidays required a walk instead of a car trip. And yes, those front porch conversations were what held together the community, and I do wish we could get them back. The problem is that there are too many things that occupy our time today--one of which I am doing right now!!!!!!!

However, there is hope. I have a cousin who lives in a fairly new housing development (25 years old). They all have that front porch mentality and they will pass it on to their kids. The problem is that people move away after college now and don't always return home to continue the lineage.

Families can last, though. Unfortuantely I have no grandparents or parents left, though I am only 37 yrs. old. But my sister, brother, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins still remain close. I hope the family never goes the way of 451. Once again we can thank Ray for the warning and learn to cherish things we take for granted.

quote:

Originally posted by lmskipper:
For all the new communication devices we have (cell phones, fax, e-mail, etc.), somehow it seems like there is less REAL communication than years ago. It seems that it's just too easy to leave messages all over the place for people and never really talk to them.

Again, I think the point is how we use these new communication devices in the best way. The fact that they exist is not the reason why there is less communication. First of all, they enhance our possibilities of communication. Without them, for instance, a community like this, with members from all over the world (even though it does not provide a means of communication as "real" as in face-to-face situations) would not be possible!

quote:

People work too many days and too many hours, and spend far too much time away from their families.

This sounds more like a point to me. Also, the increasing request of "flexibility" and "mobility" in many jobs makes it much more difficult to even entertain lasting relationships or start a family.

Imskipper,

The "drifting" you mentioned...I have seen it. Many teens don't spend enough time with their parents, and their relationships become more and more distant. Being a teenager (15) I have seen the drifting of teens and parents with many of my friends. Either they don't spend enough time with their parents--or they only have one parent because of divorce--or they want nothing to do with their stepparents. My sister and I have the same biological parents and we have strong bonds with our parents. Any time I have a bad day, somethings bothering me, or I just need to talk to somebody, I talk to my dad. My sister relies on my mom. And I can see that because man-to-man talks...you know the ordeal.

pabillsman,

I'm sorry that you don't have any parents to share your feelings with, but the fact that you still have close ties to the rest of your family is a rare blessing. Some people don't want anything to do with the rest of their families and can't stand them at all!!

ragaga,

Do you think that America can turn into another Nazi Germany? What's your opinion?

first of all, about the drifting, i've seen it too. my dad is always away and if he's there i'm away. but i grew up like this and my dad and me still got strong bonds. i think what drifting makes so easy is that everything is so far away. you really depend on a car in the usa if you want to get away and you have to work a very long time to get money. in germany i never really needed a car. if i wanted to visit friends even in another city i took my bike, a bus or the train. here making friends is not as easy as in germany because everything is so far away.
to soccer:
"Do you think that America can turn into another Nazi Germany? What's your opinion?"

yes, there is always a possibility. i don't want to upset anybody now, if i do, i'm sorry, but when george bush became president i was a bit worried. there are a lot of similarities to how he and hitler did stuff. but i don't want to talk about bush now, he is not my president. if you want to know if it is possible that the usa can turn into another nazi germany you must first know how hitler came to power.
1. there were no jobs in germany
2. hitler gave them jobs, he gave them the picture of a enemy (jews, communists, gays...)
3. hitler told the people that poland attacked germany (actually he staged an attack on germany) and that conquering poland was just to protect germany
4. censorship of anything that may hurt the nazi regime


if someone tells you there is your enemy, ask youself, did this guy really hurt me and how
if someone tells you that this one attacked you talk to them and try to find out for yourself what is going on
if someone is taking away a book because it's bad, get anotherone and look for yourself why it is bad
try to make your own oppinion and do not copy another ones