Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451 p.1-6: Clarisse meets Montag

The word stolid comes from the Latin root stolidus,

meaning "dull or stupid." Read the word as it is used in the excerpt:

"With his symbolic helmet numbered 451 on his stolid head, and his eyes all orange flame with the thought of what came next, he flicked the igniter and the house jumped up in a gorging fire that burned the evening sky red and yellow and black" (1).

Using the Latin root to determine the meaning, what does the word stolid tell readers about Montag?

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Last updated by Aslan
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The number 451 is not Montag's identification number. At this point in the story, Montag has not yet been enlightened. He is still an extension of the state hence the word Stolid. Montag still does not think for himself.

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