Fahrenheit 451 Important Events

Guy Montag first meets Clarisse McLellan

4

Montag meets his new neighbor, Clarisse, who opens his eyes with her wildly different perspective on life and her fascination with nature. This meeting between the two makes Montag question many aspects of his life and he realizes the vast emptiness that has consumed him.

Montag's Wife Overdoses

11

Shortly after returning home from his meeting with Clarisse, Montag finds that his wife, Mildred, has overdosed on sleeping pills and calls the emergency hospital. Mildred is saved and the next morning she has no recollection of the events that took place the prior night.

Old Woman's House Burns With her Inside

36

The firemen are called to a house that has an attic filled with books. Montag tries to get the woman that lives in the house to leave before it is too late, but the woman refuses and chooses to stay inside the house. Montag also takes a book from the house before it is set ablaze.

Montag Learns of Clarisse's Death

44

Once Montag returns home from the burning of the woman's house he inquires about Clarisse's abrupt disappearance from Mildred, who informs him that she was hit by a car and is more than likely dead. This news leads Montag to become increasingly dissatisfied with his life.

Captain Beatty Warns Montag

50

Captain Beatty visits Montag the morning after the woman's house was burnt. During this visit Beatty explains to Montag why books were banned and also gives him 24 hours to burn any books in his possession or the firemen will burn his house.

Montag and Mildred Read Montag's Book Collection

63

After Captain Beatty left the house, Montag reveals to Mildred his collection of books that he has amassed over time by taking books from houses that were to be burned. Mildred initially panics upon seeing the books, but is convinced by Montag to read the books to see if there is any value to be gained from them.

Montag Meets With Faber

76

Montag recalls meeting an old English professor and decides to try meeting with him. Montag then arrives at Faber's house with a copy of the bible and wants to speak with Faber. During their conversation Faber tells Montag that he doesn't need books, but rather the ideas within them. The pair also make a plan to topple the firemen by planting books in the firemen's houses. Faber also gives Montag an earpiece to wear so that the two may communicate.

Montag Recites Poetry at His Home

95

Montag recites poetry from a book, specifically Dover Beach, after he becomes frustrated by the conversation Mildred and her friends are having. This causes Mildred's two friends to run out crying and makes Mildred extremely upset.

Montag is Forced to Burn His Own House

106

The firemen are called to another house during a match of poker, upon arriving Montag realizes it is his house. Captain Beatty then forces Montag to burn his own house with a flame thrower and places him under arrest, taking his earpiece in the process. This causes Montag to kill Beatty and the mechanical hound, and incapacitating the other two firemen before running.

Montag Escapes and Finds Granger

128

Montag runs to Faber's house who gives him some of his old clothes to throw off the mechanical hounds. Montag then runs to a river and changes into the clothes, the search is declared over and a random civilian is murdered and declared as Montag. After floating down the river Montag meets Granger and a group of people called the book people. Early the next morning the city is bombed and destroyed, Montag and the book people set off to restore society and find survivors.