Reflection

REFLECTION:

This was actually the first time, I’ve read an English book from bottom to top and I must clearly say, that it’s not the same as reading a simple article or texting with others. The English level on the book I read was way too high for me and the fact that the book came out long time ago didn’t help me at all to understand more. My base thinking in choosing the book was to challenge myself and it definitely was a challenge. At least we had enough time to read it. Sadly I couldn’t remember all the new words mentioned in the book, but I still managed to remember some. After all, this book was still helpful since I managed to improve my English vocabulary skills.

7th entry

ANALYSIS - Write about something in the text in terms of those qualities that professional writers look for in real life: conflict, contrast, contradiction and characterization:

From all the books I read so far, I can tell that most professional authors always try to get the reader to think about certain things in life. They always try to find a relation from the story in the book, to certain things in real life. That could be either problems we’re currently facing or anything that’s worth thinking about. But mostly their messages behind the book are hidden in certain text phrases or conversations. It’s already hard to catch these important hidden informations in German books, but it’s even more difficult with an English book. Also usually characters resemble certain ways of thinking. In my book’s story Clarisse McClellan is someone who questions things and doesn’t just accept as they are. I really think that the world could use more people who go trough life with more critical thinking, but I think that’s something I’m not able to change.

6th entry

ANALYSIS - Write about the style of writing the author uses:

What I found special about this book, was that the author was using a lot of adjectives and verbs which I never heard of before. It’s good that I bought a "Reclam" version so most words are translated on the same pages as they are mentioned. But I never got to read a text with so many words I had to look up.

Generally I think that the way of writing the author uses is made for those with an advanced English level. Still I didn’t regret my choice, because you can’t learn anything, when you don’t discover anything new.

Actually I’m used to go trough a lot of foreign words when reading an advanced book with German language. But it’s still something different when it’s a book like Fahrenheit 451.

5th entry

RECOUNT - In your own words what has happened in the book?

The story is mainly about a firemen called Montag who meets his neighbour called Clarisse McClellan on a late day. After their meet up, they have a little communication where the girl finds out, that Montag is different than the other firemen, but also does Montag find out that Clarisse is not like a usual 17 year old girl. After that, Montag returns home to his wife finding out that she had taken way to many sleeping pills and is being doctored but by people who actually aren't doctors. His wife becomes better after they replaced her blood with fresh blood, but the next day she doesn't remember anything of what happened. Montag again goes out to clear his mind when he meets Clarisse again and again he has a strange conversation with her.

Note: I may be wrong about some things, because the book was really not that easy to read.

4th entry

PREDICTION - At any point of the story predict how some character is going to change / develop as the story progresses:

I somehow got a feeling, that the firemen Montag is going to strike against the burning of books, since as Clarisse already said, he's different that the other firemen. And also it's clear that the burning of books isn't right and for me even has no other use than keeping the population stupid or to hide certain things from them (no idea why they'd want to do that). I got a feeling that Clarisse McClellan is going to have a positive effect on Montag, because she’s someone who always questions certain things like burning books. Nowadays when you have a job and get an order from your boss, you just follow that order without asking for the reason. I’m sure that used to be the same earlier, but sometimes you should ask and not just follow orders.

3rd entry

CHARACTERIZATION - Describe a character from the book. Say why you like / dislike the character:

I like the way Clarisse McClellan is. It seems like she's someone who's not afraid of asking anything (even if its things, which you shouldn't ask). Many people nowadays don't ask certain things, because they know that they shouldn't ask them. But those who don't ask will never get the informations they are looking for. Clarisse McClellan seems to have a huge self-confidence and also a good sense of humor. It’s also funny that the firemen doesn’t overreact to the questions of her. I only know very few people who are not afraid to ask certain things and that’s why I think that Clarisse McClellan is the most special character from my book.