Fahrenheit 451: Symbols

Symbols are shown in red text whenever they appear in the Plot Summary and Summary and Analysis sections of this LitChart.

Fire

Fire is an interesting symbol in Fahrenheit 451 because it symbolizes two different things. Through the firemen, who burn books and wear the number “451” on their helmets, fire symbolizes destruction. (451°F is the temperature at which paper and books burn.) Yet at the same time, Clarisse reminds Montag of candle-light, and so fire, when controlled, symbolizes the flickering of self-awareness and knowledge.

The Phoenix

The mythologies of many Mediterranean cultures include the story of the phoenix, a bird that is consumed by flames but then rises from the ashes. The phoenix is a symbol for renewal, for life that follows death in a cleansing fire. After the city is reduced to ashes by bombers in Fahrenheit 451, Granger makes a direct comparison between human beings and the story of the phoenix. Both destroy themselves in fire. Both start again amid the ashes. If people keep books—which preserve the past and allow people to learn the lessons of prior tragedies—Granger hopes that humanity will remember the suffering caused by destruction, and will avoid destroying itself in the future.

The Hearth and the Salamander

“The Hearth and the Salamander” is the title of the first section of Fahrenheit 451. Both hearths and salamanders are associated with fire. Hearths (fireplaces) are traditionally the center of the home and the source of warmth. The firemen wear salamander imagery on their uniforms and call their fire truck a “salamander” because salamanders were once believed to live in fire without being consumed by it.

The Sieve and the Sand

“The Sieve and the Sand” is the title of the second section of Fahrenheit 451. The title refers to Montag’s childhood memory of trying to fill a sieve with sand. He’s reminded of this episode as he’s trying to read the Bible on the subway. While he’s trying to memorize what he’s reading, an announcement for toothpaste keeps derailing him. To Montag, the sand represents the knowledge that he seeks—something of material importance—and the sieve represents his mind trying to grasp and retain this knowledge.