“Rain even tastes good!”

Let’s start with some writing to limber up our brains.

Ray Bradbury mentioned that it’s ridiculously easy to predict the future: just look around you and guess that there’ll be more of the same.  Think about the world as you know it now and imagine at least 3 ways that the US or the world in general could become a dystopia in the future. Start with a problem (say, Global Warming) and then imagine how that problem could get worse (no more snowboarding! except in Antarctica!) and then even worse (lack of water that normally comes from the mountains causes water riots in the city, gangs that control Seattle by hording H²O. (100-200 words)

Then, we’ll be working on our Sci Fi posters. See last Friday’s post for info.

Next, we’ll answer questions about F451 pgs 20-49 to get us up to speed plot-wise.

1. What is the mechanical hound and what is its purpose?
2. What is the hound’s reaction to Montag?
3. Why does society consider Clarisse “anti-social” (page 29)?
4. According to the offical rule book, who was the first fireman?
5. At the next fire, what does Montag take?
6. What does the woman at the house Montag goes to do that causes such a ruckus? Why does she quote “Master Ridley”?
7. On page 40, Beatty reveals something very important about himself and his knowledge. What is it?

After we talk through those, I hope to be able to get to some excerpts from “Hearth and Salamander.” For the quote your group is given: 1) paraphrase the quote 2) explain what criticism Bradbury is making of modern society.

HW: Finish “Hearth and Salamander” and be ready for our first quiz: plot questions and quote questions.