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By Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury Biography Born August 22, 1920 in Illinois
Mother was SwedishFather worked for Electric Company
Grandfather was a newspaper publisher
Ray Bradbury Biography
Bradbury was 12 when he went to the Carnival in 1932.
He met Mr. Electrico who “ touch him with an electrified sword, made his hair stand on end, and shouted ‘Live Forever’”!
Bradbury began writing after this incident…. He wanted to blend literature and science.
Ray Bradbury Biography Ray moved to Los Angeles when he was 13.
He graduated from LA High, but did not go to college.
He sold newspapers and wrote stories in the UCLA library basement.
Ray Bradbury Biography 1938 Bradbury published his first Science
Fiction story (earned $15).
He married in 1947 and had 4 daughters.
He published Fahrenheit 451 in 1953.
Historical ContextBradbury wrote in the 1950’s anti-
conservatism / post – modernism / disillusionment.
He was influenced by WWII and science of atomic bombs.
Who else wrote in this context?
Setting Setting is a futuristic American town.
Why is the setting so vague?
Main Characters Guy Montag – protagonist, fire man
Mildred Montag – married to Guy, vapid conformist
Clarisse McClellan - non conformist, teenage neighbor
who is the catalyst for change
Captain Beatty – chief of the fire dept., an enigma
Main Characters Mechanical Hound – robotic dog
Mrs. Blake’s neighbor – a martyr who burns house
Faber – retired, non conformist English professor
Granger – leader of “rebels”
Important ThemesDystopia vs. Utopia
Conformity vs. Non conformity
Ignorance vs. Intelligence
Nature vs. Technology
