Fahrenheit 451

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

ACTIVITY 1: “Character Playlist”

Students list titles of songs in a playlist that serves to represent character’s traits, emotions, and experiences.

Pick one of the primary characters (Montag, Clarisse, Beatty, Mildred) and create a playlist of 8-15 songs that provides insight into the character’s experience, motivations, beliefs, feelings, etc. Pay attention to the lyrics of the entire song, not just the title (for example: “Burn the House Down” for Beatty or Montag might be an intriguing title but does not provide any insight into their character). Screenshot your playlist or write out the songs in order. Write 1-2 sentences for each song explaining your choice.  

Teaching Suggestion: Consider beginning the activity by playing a song that you would pick for one of the characters. Analyze the lyrics with the students and connect them to the character’s personality and experience, or perhaps major themes that they connect to. Add guidelines or restrictions as to the content of the songs (in title and/or lyrics) as you see fit for your group. Encourage students to refer to the text to remember what we know about their character.