Question

What is the childhood memory that reminds Montag of how he feels when he is reading on the subway? How does this memory relate to the title of Part II, "The Sieve and the Sand"?

Answer 1

Montag's childhood memory of trying to fill a sieve with sand is recalled when he is frustrated while reading on the subway, symbolizing the elusiveness of truth in his world. This memory correlates with the title of Part II, 'The Sieve and the Sand', representing the battle against the suppression of knowledge. The significance lies in the concept of Reader-Response Criticism, which emphasizes the personal connection between the reader and the text.

Step-by-step explanation:

The childhood memory that reminds Montag of his feelings while reading on the subway in Ray Bradbury's 'Fahrenheit 451' is a significant moment from his past. When Montag tries to read a passage from the Bible on the subway, he becomes frustrated by the advertisement jingle playing loudly, which prevents him from concentrating. This moment takes him back to his childhood memory of attempting to fill a sieve with sand on the beach in a futile effort to retain the sand for a dime his cousin had promised him. This task was impossible, as the sand would inevitably fall through the holes of the sieve, no matter how fast he filled it.

The memory reflects the title of Part II, "The Sieve and the Sand", suggesting the elusiveness of truth and knowledge in Montag's dystopian society, much like the sand running through the sieve. Just as Montag cannot keep the grains of sand from slipping through the sieve, he also struggles to grasp and comprehend the knowledge that is on the brink of being lost in his book-burning world. This memory and its relation to the title symbolize the theme of the incessant battle against the suppression of knowledge.

The concept of Reader-Response Criticism invites readers to explore how the text resonates with them on a personal level, what emotions or thoughts it provokes, and how experiences or memories may emerge through the process of reading. This criticism places importance on the individual's personal engagement with the text and the subjective interpretation that stems from this involvement.

Answer 2

Trying to fill up a seive with sand

Step-by-step explanation:

This excerpt is from the book Fahrenheit 451 authored by Ray Bradbury in 1953,

'Montag tries desperately to memorize part of the book -- particularly the line "Consider the lilies of the field; they toil not, neither do they spin" -- the noise is so distracting that he forgets the words as soon as he reads them. Montag is reminded of a childhood memory, of trying to fill up a sieve with sand: right now, he feels as if his mind is a sieve and the words are falling out of it.'

The Sand represents the knowledge that he seeks and The sieve represents Montag's desire to pour books and knowledge into his brain, but how "he read and the words fell through.