Preview

Rhetorical Analysis

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
656 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Rhetorical Analysis
Brooke Collins 11-10-12 Block #1A Draft #1 Change for You, Not For Others
Well-known Sci-fi writer, Ray Bradbury, in his novel, Fahrenheit 451, illustrates that relationships reflect who individuals are and who they want to be. Bradbury’s purpose is to promote the idea that a person should have the courage to listen to their own beliefs and thoughts of happiness rather than to blend in with society. He adopts a disoriented and poetic tone in order to appeal to similar feelings and experiences on a non-realistic scale in his young adult readers.
Bradbury uses symbolism to indicate that relationships reflect who individuals are and who they want to be. Fire seems to mean a lot of different things at different moments in Fahrenheit 451. Beatty and his fireman minions use it to destroy. But the woman whose house they burn interprets it another way: "Play the man, Master Ridley; we shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out." For her, it represents strength. Montag himself discovers an alternative use for fire at the end of the novel; when he realizes that it can warm instead of destroy. Like that whole cycle of life thing, fire has a constructive and destructive half. And like the books that are burned, each character in the novel is forced to interpret for them and confront contradictory perspectives – just like Beatty said about the books. Symbolism helps view the story from multiple points of view, and also gives a more vivid understanding of the thoughts and feelings of the characters.
Bradbury also uses Imagery to illustrate that relationships reflect who people are and who they want to be. There are several references throughout Fahrenheit 451 to essentially yucky animals and insects (that’s the technical term). When Mildred gets her stomach pumped, the machine is like a snake. The earpiece she wears at night is like a praying mantis. The helicopters in the chase scene are described as insects. Even the

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Fahrenheit 451 Symbols

    • 348 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Symbols are a big part of the world, without them we wouldn't know what happened in the past. In the book Fahrenheit 451 Bradbury uses symbols as a way to provide imagery and to elaborate on specific ideas. Fahrenheit 451 uses three prominent symbols, the number 451 plastered on the helmets of firemen, the burning of the books within this society, and the phoenix. They all represent big issues in the world.…

    • 348 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, the presence of fire has obvious significance. What is important to look at, however, is how it’s meaning evolves throughout the book. As Guy Montag’s views change on society and the world around him, so does the connotation of fire. First, the fire represents power, and the satisfaction that comes with it. Then, as Montag is exposed to more radical thinking, the meaning evolves into violence and destruction. By the end of the novel, the image of fire symbolizes hope, as he works with Faber, and the book people to restore society.…

    • 625 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 has been highly regarded and analyzed by a variety of critics through its monumental plot, haunting language, and frighteningly relevant themes. The dystopian backdrop and themes of the novel are deeply connected to the environment of which the novel was written and the events that transpired throughout Bradbury’s life fuelled his artistic response to the McCarthyism era. Through deep analyzation of Bradbury’s life, Garyn G. Roberts concludes that, “Fahrenheit 451 is the result of the keen observations and personal experiences of its author; it is also a cultural artifact, which reflects who we were, who we are, and who we might become” (36). Bradbury has indeed developed a strong connection to books at a very early stage in his life and this has been presented in his own storytelling of the types of book he writes. Bradbury’s life can also be said to be an antithesis to Montag’s world since the presence and feelings associated with literature contrasts very well in their respective realms. Furthermore, Bradbury encourages his audience to examine the culture of which society is evolving towards throughout time in order to understand the functions and needs of human relationships. To support this analyzation, Andrea Krafft…

    • 624 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Clearly, a single word can have a dozen different interpretations. In the dystopian novel, Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury illustrates a futuristic civilization where life is meaningless, and technology is so depended upon that it restricts free-thinking. Within the novel, he embeds the symbol of fire, which alternates in significance via each character. Through the use of symbolism, Bradbury demonstrates the power behind fire; through imagery he reveals the destruction it can partake in, and through diction he reveals that a controlled fire can evolve into a symbol of warmth and comfort.…

    • 91 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ray Bradbury especially does with the symbolism of fire by putting clever titles for the sections as we see him do in section one of The Hearth and the Salamander, changing Montag’s perception of fire, and having fire capture both destruction and renewal when he brings the topic of the mythical bird Phoenix.The title of the first section of Fahrenheit 451, In the title of “The Hearth and the Salamander” the hearth references to the floor of a fireplace where people bond and build relationships on it and “the Salamander” is also associated with the firemen’s uniforms and fire truck. in the novel wear salamanders on their uniforms and the firemen also call their fire truck a “salamander.” Montag’s understanding of fire also factors into the story because fire play the role of a destructive, devouring, and life ending force, and the role of a nourishing flame where people used it for warmth. Montag also finds an alternative to seeing fire as a destructive force when he sees the fire warming instead of burning which helps him realize that fire can give as well as take away. The Phoenix that Granger mentions at the end of the novel is the epitome of fire being both destructive and renewing. Fire is an interesting theme in Fahrenheit 451 because it significantly factors into the novel and the meaning of it changes as you read…

    • 983 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Fahrenheit 451 is a well-written book that tells a story of a dream world and one man who wakes up from that dream. Montag, the protagonist of the story, brings home a book of poetry one day and begins to read the poem Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold to his wife and her guests. Many critics think that Bradbury picked this poem because it paralleled life in his book. The poem Dover Beach can be compared to Fahrenheit 451 because both pieces of writing talk about themes of true love, fantasy and allover hopelessness.…

    • 1216 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Sisario, Peter. "A Study of the Allusions in Bradbury 's Fahrenheit 451." English Journal 59.2 (Feb. 1970): 201-205. Rpt. in Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Deborah A. Stanley. Vol. 98. Detroit: Gale Research, 1997. Literature Resource Center. Web. 7 Oct. 2013.…

    • 1527 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Fire is depicted, throughout history, as a symbol of knowledge and awareness. Fire is usually a symbol that appears in novels right at a time when the main character has an epiphany or realizes something important. In Fahrenheit 451, fire is represented throughout the whole novel as a destructive force and only in the end is it shown as something good. The fire when Montag was with the “hobos” is the main example in the novel of how fire is a symbol for knowledge. “they finished eating and put out the fire. (Bradbury 164)” This quotation may not seem relevant but if you read deeper into the surrounding events, the fire represents a source of knowledge as the hobos converse with Montag. The fire in this section of the novel, in a way, illuminates Montag’s soul. It makes him realize his faults and helps him to reconstruct his views towards the society.…

    • 638 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Undoubtedly, imagery is one of the major elements that makes Fahrenheit 451 so memorable. The way Bradbury intertwines both similes and metaphors creates a flawless image of the setting. An example of this is when Guy and Clarisse are at the hospital and Bradbury compares Clarisse's stomach getting pumped to a snake going into her stomach: “They had this machine. They had two machines really. One of them slid down into your stomach like a black cobra down an echoing well looking for all the old water and the old time gathered there” (12). This implies that the “snake” is reviving Mildred after she has just attempted suicide. Another example of where imagery is represented by metaphors and similes is when Bradbury is comparing humans to tissues: "Well, after all, this is the age of the disposable tissue. Blow your nose on a person, wad them, flush them away, reach for another, blow, wad, flush" (15). This highlights that in this future society people are seen as disposable and that once one gets sick of an individual one can simply reach for someone else. All in all, Bradbury strategically uses both metaphors and similes in order to create imagery thought the…

    • 1033 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis

    • 595 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Throughout this opinionated editorial, the author tries to convince her audience that same sex marriage should not be legalized. She hopes to appeal to the readers of the Wall Street Journal by the use of facts, rhetorical appeals, and religious accusations.…

    • 595 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis

    • 3465 Words
    • 14 Pages

    Visual elements are an important component of many advertisements. Although the role of imagery in shaping consumer response has long been recognized (Greenberg and Garfinkle 1963), only recently have visual elements begun to receive the same degree and sophistication of research attention as the linguistic element in advertising (Childers and Houston 1984; Edell and Staelin 1983; Meyers- Levy and Peracchio 1992; Miniard et al. 1991; Scott 1994a). The area is now characterized by conceptual and methodological diversity, with a variety of new propositions and findings emerging. Historically four approaches can be distinguished, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. The archival tradition is perhaps the oldest (e.g., Assael,…

    • 3465 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis

    • 622 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Totalitarian state attempts to control all aspects of its citizens’ lives. Freedom of speech and thought, emotions, individuality and privacy are scarce commodities under this regime. This must not make sense to the majority, yet still we do not rebel. You may well believe the party is managing our society well, there is strong evidence that this is not the case. As the party has gained more and more power, it has also taken away more and more rights.…

    • 622 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis

    • 730 Words
    • 3 Pages

    According to National Geographic, a hurricane is a spiraling tropical storm reaching wind speed up to 160 miles an hour. The winds are destructive and can cause tornadoes. They can also cause it to rain more than 2.4 trillion gallons a day causing further damage by floods. It can affect an individual emotionally and mentally. An analysis of John James Audubon’s “The Hurricane” provides insight to the crafting of an effect essay. Three areas of observation are the author’s credibility and technique, as well as relevance to the audience.…

    • 730 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Fahrenheit 451: Symbolism

    • 1240 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury is a futuristic novel, taking the reader to a time where books and thinking are outlawed. In a time so dreadful where those who want to better themselves by thinking, and by reading are outlaws as well. Books and ideas are burned, books are burned physically, where as ideas are burned from the mind. Bradbury uses literary devices, such as symbolism, but it is the idea he wants to convey that makes this novel so devastating. Bradbury warns us of what may happen if we stop expressing our ideas, and we let people take away our books, and thoughts. Bradbury notices what has been going on in the world, with regards to censorship, and book burning in Germany, and McCarthyism in America. That is what he is speaking out against. Bradbury is also a very symbolic writer, he incorporates symbolism into his book. Bradbury's use of symbolism throughout the novel makes the book moving and powerful by using symbolism to reinforce the ideas of anti-censorship.…

    • 1240 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Authority & Individual

    • 1427 Words
    • 6 Pages

    In Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, authority is depicted as ruthless. This is shown throughout the novel through the character of Montag and through the use of symbolism, oxymoron, repetition and imagery. “It was a pleasure to burn” this quote is an oxymoron and it portrays Montag’s sadistic perspective as he enjoys something that is destructive. Bradbury uses symbolism to discuss the ruthlessness of authority, by using Montag as a symbol of authority. This is shown through the numbers 451 illustrated on Montag’s helmet. The number 451 symbolises the temperature at which paper catches fire and burns. Ruthlessness is also shown through repetition. “To see things blackened” and “turned dark with burning”. These sentences portray how the colour black is repeated throughout the text. Imagery is also used in the text to highlight the ruthlessness of authority. Montag’s “fierce grin of all men signed and driven back by flame” signifies Montag as an authority figure. Therefore, authority is discussed as ruthless in Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, using characterisation, themes and various language techniques.…

    • 1427 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays