“Harrison Bergeron”

Kurt Vonnegut

What is Satire?

Satire—any kind of writing, speaking, or art that ridicules some weakness in individuals or society.

Art

Music

Poetry/Prose

Drama/TV

Cartoons

Create a list of some elements of our society (political or social) that may be or have been satirized:

Weird Al Yankovic

“You’re Pitiful” satirizes the song “You’re Beautiful” by

James Blunt

George Orwell

Saturday Night Live

Hyperbole: A figure of speech that uses exaggeration to emphasize strong feelings or to create a satiric effect

Understatement: The technique of creating emphasis

by saying less than what is actually or literally true Sarcasm: a type of verbal irony often in the form of a

remark in which the literal meaning is complimentary but the actual meaning is critical

Verbal Irony: words of praise which convey criticism and words of criticism which convey praise

Quickwrite:

Think about the pressure you or students in your school might feel to be “the same”—to act, think, or dress the same way others do. Do you think the pressure to be the same comes from outside forces or from personal desires? Do you think being the same makes most people happy, or would they really prefer to act on their own? Jot down your thoughts.

In your small groups, read “Harrison Bergeron” and answer your group’s questions. Be ready to present your group’s findings to the class at the end of the story.

What does the 1st paragraph tell you about individuals in this society?

According to the information in the third

paragraph, how does the government control people? What is the government trying to prevent?

In this society, what makes a person normal or abnormal?

Why do you think this society uses

sirens? Why does the siren go off at this point in George’s head (pg 101)?

What does the description of Harrison’s appearance in the preceding four paragraphs tell you about him (pg. 103)?

What do you think Harrison means when

he says, “Now watch me become what I can become”? What does this statement tell you about his character?

What actions does Harrison take to defy the authorities? What is your opinion of his actions?

What does the ending reveal about what

happens to people in this society who act on their own?

What details about Harrison’s appearance and actions make him seem like a superhuman character?

Do you think Harrison, like many other

superhuman characters, wants to save people from evil, or do you think his motives are not so pure?

What attitudes about equality is Vonnegut mocking in the story? What statement is he trying to make?

Do you think this story has something to

say to us about the role of technology in our lives?

Satire: any kind of writing, speaking, or art that ridicules some weakness in individuals or in society.

Activity: Working in small groups, choose something

in today’s society (some weakness) that could be satirized. Once you have chosen a topic, think of a way you could comment on this weakness to incite change.

Create a short form of satire to present to the class. Your presentation may involve a short skit, commercial, paragraph, poem, song, or cartoon/comic.

Topic/Weakness: Presentation Format: