Harrison Bergeron

Reading Check

1. Ways to make everyone average or equal (Paragraphs 3, 10)

2. Assign handicaps and enforce their use (Paragraphs 1, 16-18, 77)

3. Students may share any of the following (or similar) adjectives: smart, athletic, under-handicapped, dangerous, tall, strong. (Paragraphs 40-43)

4. Emperor (Paragraph 52)

5. He is shot dead. (Paragraph 76)

Short Answer

1. Students may share any of the following reasons:

A) He claims he doesn’t even notice it anymore. (Paragraph 25)

B) He could go to prison or be fined. (Paragraph 27)

C) He believes one person disobeying will lead to chaos in society. (Paragraph 29)

2. Students may share any of the following:

A) Harrison is seven feet tall. (Paragraph 41)

B) Any example of Harrison’s handicaps (Paragraphs 42-43)

C) Any example from the scene in which Harrison sheds his handicaps (Paragraphs 54-57)

D) Any example from the dance scene (Paragraphs 69-75)

3. The television tube burns out, and she isn’t smart enough to remember things for any length of time. (Paragraphs 3, 78)

4. Vonnegut’s major themes include the dangers of a state-controlled society, the catastrophic consequences of a passive citizenry, the power of TV/media to distract or numb people to reality, and the downside of trading individuality for social stability. (Various paragraphs)