Kurt Vonnegut Jr Harrison Bergeron

The year was 2081, and finally everyone was equal. They weren’t only equal before God and the law. They were equal every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else. How do you think the world has been made ‘equal’? Text prediction

LET’S READ! Harrison Bergeron

Plot questions 1) What is the main idea in this Dystopian society? What happened to make society run like this? Why might people want this type of society? 2) Who is in charge of enforcing this and how is this enforced? 3) Why is Harrison taken away from his parents? 4) Describe Hazel’s level of intelligence. How does this make her behave? 5) How is George different from Hazel? 6) What does Harrison attempt to do and why? 7) What happens to Harrison as a result of this? 8) How do George and Hazel respond?

Pair Discussion 1. What do we think the story is about? Consider ideas such as ‘playing God’, is equality always a good thing, how much control is too much control, is equality more valuable than freedom? 2. How do we feel about the characters- do you have more sympathy for George or Hazel? Why? 3. When Harrison frees himself his first action is to declare himself in charge of everything- as the emperor. How do you feel about this?

Satire Satire is any kind of writing or art that ridicules or mocks some weakness in individuals or in society. The main weapon of the satirist is laughter. The methods of satire are mockery and exaggeration. When something is presented to us as ridiculous, its flaws comically exaggerated, we have to laugh. The satirist’s hope that this laughter is the first step in bring about change.

Harrison Bergeron Satire How does “Harrison Bergeron” fit the qualities of a satire? What attitudes is he mocking? What kind of change do you think Vonnegut is trying to bring about? The satire Harrison Bergeron raises a serious question concerning desirability of social equality and the extent to which society is prepared to achieve it.

Kurt Vonnegut Jr Vonnegut described himself variously as a sceptic, freethinker, humanist, Unitarian Universalist, agnostic, and atheist. He disbelieved in the supernatural, considered religious doctrine to be ridiculous and believed people were motivated to join religions out of loneliness. He rejected the divinity of Jesus

Vonnegut is influenced by his early work as a journalist in Harrison Bergeron. His sentences are short and easily understood so as to be largely accessible. A dystopian setting enhances his social and political critique by imagining a future world founded on absolute equality through handicaps assigned to various above- average people as punishment for being a little better than others.

Writing style Vonnegut also punctuates his dystopia with humour. Even the most horrifying scenes are underlined by jokes or absurdity. When the news announcer is supposed to read a news bulletin he has to hand it to a nearby ballerina because of his speech impediment, and the ballerina then alters her voice to a "grackle squawk" because it would be "unfair" to use her natural voice, described as a "warm, luminous, timeless melody". This absurdity highlights the madness of the world of "Harrison Bergeron".

Character Profile Activity Each of you will be given instructions for this activity. Glue these in your books. Do 2 character profiles (George & Hazel) Draw the profiles in your exercise books.

Theme Main idea/theme= the balance between equality and freedom. Government control over a society. How do we see the theme through? Harrison Bergeron and his quest for freedom from his handicaps? Diana Moon Glampers and her execution of Harrison? George Bergeron and his reaction to the death of Harrison? Hazel Bergeron and her reaction to the death of Harrison?

Writing your thoughts down What are some of the problems that arise in a society in which people are made to be “equal every which way”? Use evidence from the text to support your answer. In this society, we are typically taught that equality is always the best option. What is the difference between believing that all people are equal under the law and believing that all people are the same? Use text evidence to support your answer.

Paragraph Responses Students are to write two paragraphs on refill about Harrison Bergeron to be submitted for feedback. Para 1: Describe and explain how one character helped you to understand a theme in the story. Hazel Harrison Diana Moon Glampers George

Paragraph Responses Students are to write two paragraphs on refill about Harrison Bergeron to be submitted for feedback. Para 2: Describe and explain how one event helped you to understand a theme in the story. Hazel’s crying Harrison’s escape from prison Diana Moon Glampers executing Harrison Reactions to Harrison’s death