TEACHER NOTES

Title: Harrison Bergeron Author: Kurt Vonnegut Narrator/POV: 3rd person

Note: The narrator is not a character in the story, but he is privy to the thoughts
of one character (George was toying with the vague notion that maybe dancers
shouldnt be handicapped.). The events of the story are related by an objective
narrator, who does not draw conclusions, make decisions, or make judgments about the
events.

CHARACTER CHARACTERIZATION
Evidence from the Text
(Include page #.)
George Endures multiple government imposed handicaps, such as
(Harrisons birdshot weights and a radio transmitter in his ear that emits
Dad) sharp noise designed to keep peoplefrom taking unfair
advantage of their brains.
These sharp noises repress Georges above normal
intelligence; he cannot keep a thought in his head, even when
it concerns his own son.
Appears to support the oppressive government. He refuses to
remove the devices because he believes that any attempt to
change the present situation will inevitably cause
civilization to regress back into the dark ages.

Hazel She does not have to wear any handicaps mental or physical
(Harrisons because she possesses normal intelligence and strength.
Mom) (Normal seems to mean incompetent, or unable to understand
anything more than superficial ideas.)
Harrison Protagonist (superman character)
Bergeron 14 years old he is 7 feet tall, and his physical strength and
intellect exceed everyone else in the story: Harrisons
appearance was Halloween and hardware. Nobody had ever born
heavier handicaps (24).
He is in direct conflict with the laws of the society and with
those who uphold them. He tries to overtake the established
government, but he fails because after all he is not superman;
he is a human being.
The United Antagonist
States Ruthlessly maintains law and order without due process.
Handicapper
There are few descriptions of her, but all imply that she is
General
not above normal.
(Diana Moon
Glampers)

H-G Men Stereotyped characters that enforce the equality laws.

Ballerinas- Stereotyped characters that represent physically talented
individuals oppressed by devices like weights and masks that
prevent them from excelling beyond average, which in this
story seems to be below average.
 SETTING
Time & Place: United States in the year 2081 when Constitutional Amendments have
made everyone equal.

What is the significance of the setting? While the lack of description of the setting may
make it seem like a backdrop, it is important that it is set in the future in
the US because it serves as a warning to what the future may become if we
allow our individual freedoms to be taken away.
Dominant Mood: Dark; Complacent (content)
(Provide evidence from the text.)

PLOT (Sequence of Events)

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Driving Conflict: Person vs. Society: Individual vs. an oppressive government

(individuals freedom vs. the idea of forced equality) The author suggest that
individual freedom can be taken away easily, especially when its authorized
by those in power in the story its authorized by Amendments to the
Constitution. ***The people are suffering even if they do not know it.

What is the Climax of the story?

Harrisons death (The conflict seems to be the focus in this story since there
is a lot of rising action, leading up the climax, which occurs at the very end
of the story.

What is the Resolution of the story?

*Same as climax Harrisons death: Vonnegut has him eliminated to show that
when one group or person tries to have power over the public, that power
becomes corrupt.
RHETORICAL/ Evidence from the Text
LITERARY (Include page #.)
DEVICE
Allusion: Her name is an allusion to the Roman Goddess of the hunt,
The United Diana, who is associated with the moon.
States Diana was known for her vengeance, which could explain the
Handicapper ruthless killing of Harrison Bergeron in the end of the
General story.
(Diana Moon
Glampers
HG Men: Their name is an allusion to the G-men (Government
men, such as FBI and Secret Service) of the 1940s and 1950s.
Imagery Simile: Harrison looked like a walking junk yard (24)
(Figurative Simile: They leaped like deer on the moon (26)
Language)

Symbolism Harrison (and the ballerina) breaking free from his handicaps:
Breaks free of the government imposed chains and into the air
they sprang not only were the laws of the land abandoned, but
the law of gravity and the laws of motion as well They leaped
like deer on the moon (26). They broke free from the chains
(literally) and the oppressive government (figuratively).
***Remember, events in a story often work on both a literal and
figurative level.

Harrison claiming himself emperor:

In doing so, he tries to replace the authoritarian government
with another dictatorship. Vonnegut has him eliminated to show
that when one group or person tries to have power over the
public, that power becomes corrupt.

TONE & THEME

Tone: Satirical (satire ridicules a person, place or idea with the notion of
effecting change in morality.)
It mocks and scorns the idea that individual freedoms and competition should
be sacrificed to enforce equality.
It mocks the apathy (indifference) of people who let TV and radio consume
their thoughts and lives.
It ridicules the idea of an authoritarian government.

Theme: Theme topics: equality, freedom, power, media influence, specifically the
abuse of them. Possible thematic statements:
The political system depicted in Vonneguts story is distinctly American and
founded on the principles of egalitarianism, which holds that people should
be equal in every way. Equality is a beloved principle enshrined in
Americas Declaration of Independence in the phrase All men are created
equal, but Vonnegut suggests that the ideals of egalitarianism can be
dangerous if they are interpreted too literally.
Individual freedom can be taken away easily, especially when its authorized
by those in power.
Individual civil rights should never be sacrificed, not even for the alleged
common good.
Authoritarian government thrives on the ignorance of people and on the
suppression of intelligence and knowledge.
Victims of oppressive law want to enforce it rather than try to fight it
because they fear change and uncertainty.
 Strength can be used to oppress the weak, even when it is being used to
protect the weak against their oppressors.
Power can easily be abused.
The media, television and radio in particular, controls information, do not
require much from its audience, and causes a lack of concentration.
Therefore, it may have a numbing influence and disrupt normal thought
patterns. Instead of challenging people to think, television and radio
programming make it easier for people to avoid serious thought.