1/11/17 Maeve McVeigh

Today we began class by congratulating Mr.Rivers on receiving the teacher of the year award. We then discussed F451 in preparation for what was originally intended to be today's test but was bumped a day. We discussed part 3 of the novel, Burning Bright. We compared how the setting of the book changed vastly from the beginning to the end. Originally, the setting was very bland. It lacked details, emotion, connection, uniqueness and much more. However, towards the end of the novel Montag experiences much more because his setting now has something to actually experience. There was river, grass, Montag goes into great detail of everything he sees and feels. This world no longer lacked detail, instead Montag was overwhelmed with the amount of details he could provide based on what he was seeing and feeling. We also discussed how Montag truly understood and appreciates now what Clarisse was trying to tell him all along. He only wishes she was there to experience it with him. We also discussed how his relationship with Granger and the group was. They are a community however, unlike the community Montag was used to there was no conformity. They each had their own focuses on what they would discuss and they each got to be their own individuals. We also discussed the symbolism of the Phoenix and the Salamander. The salamander represent the firemen. This made sense when it was explained that the salamander was once thought to be a mythical creature able to live in fire and withstand it's effects. Which also explained certain types of Pokemon such as Charmander which is a combination of char (fire) and salamander. We then discussed the symbolism of the Phoenix. The Phoenix represents rebirth. Which any Harry Potter fan already knew as we see Dumbledore's Phoenix burn to ashes and then become reborn from the ashes. This is shown by the city burning down to ashes by bombers and the city is now a clean slate. Montag and the  group he is with will now experience and influence the rebirth of the city.