This lesson plan helps students analyze the major characters in *Fahrenheit 451* by Ray Bradbury using a visual character map.
Subject: English Language Arts · Grade: 9–11 · Time: 45–60 minutes
Major characters
Guy Montag
- Role: Protagonist
- Traits: Curious, conflicted, brave, evolving
- Motivation: Seeking truth, meaning, and freedom from ignorance
- Development: Transforms from loyal fireman to rebel who preserves books
Captain Beatty
- Role: Antagonist
- Traits: Intelligent, cynical, authoritarian, well-read
- Motivation: Maintaining the status quo, enforcing censorship
- Development: Reveals his own hypocrisy; burns Montag's house
Mildred Montag
- Role: Symbol of societal numbness
- Traits: Shallow, addicted to technology, disconnected
- Motivation: Avoiding reality through screens and pills
- Development: Never changes; represents what Montag leaves behind
Clarisse McClellan
- Role: Catalyst
- Traits: Curious, observant, gentle, nonconformist
- Motivation: Asking questions, seeing the world differently
- Development: Disappears early but sparks Montag's transformation
Faber
- Role: Mentor
- Traits: Timid, intellectual, regretful, brave
- Motivation: Preserving knowledge, guiding Montag
- Development: Finds courage through Montag's actions
Activity: Character map storyboard
- Open Storyboard Creator
- Choose 3 characters from above
- For each character, create panels showing traits, motivations and key moments
- Export PDF or share a live link