““Harrison Bergeron”Harrison Bergeron”by Kurt Vonnegutby Kurt Vonnegut

English IEnglish I

Bryan Station High SchoolBryan Station High School

AgendaAgenda

1.1. Bell WorkBell Work

2.2. Word WorkWord Work

3.3. Skill Focus Characterization and DialectSkill Focus Characterization and Dialect

4.4. What is Satire?What is Satire?

5.5. Preview of vocabulary in storyPreview of vocabulary in story

6.6. Pre-Reading: Context of Pre-Reading: Context of “Harrison Bergeron”“Harrison Bergeron”

7.7. Reading: “Harrison Bergeron” pages 99-106 Reading: “Harrison Bergeron” pages 99-106

8.8. Post Reading QuestionsPost Reading Questions

9.9. Connecting HB and F451Connecting HB and F451

10.10. HB Activity: Odd Angle on PerfectionHB Activity: Odd Angle on Perfection

11.11. Exit Slip: Dialect and CharacterizationExit Slip: Dialect and Characterization

Bell Ringer #10: (A) 5/5 & (B) 5/6Bell Ringer #10: (A) 5/5 & (B) 5/6

How do students in your school feel How do students in your school feel the pressure to be “the same”—to act, the pressure to be “the same”—to act, think or dress the same way others think or dress the same way others do?do?

Does this pressure come from outside Does this pressure come from outside forces or from personal desires?forces or from personal desires?

Do you think being the same makes Do you think being the same makes most people happy, or would they most people happy, or would they really prefer to act on their own?really prefer to act on their own?

Word Work #10Word Work #10

What do these words have in common?What do these words have in common?

1.1.Find the definition of THREE words.Find the definition of THREE words.

2.2.How are they related?How are they related?

They They reeledreeled, , whirledwhirled, , swiveledswiveled, , flouncedflounced, , caperedcapered, , gamboledgamboled, , and and spunspun. .

Characterization and DialectCharacterization and Dialect

Skill Focus:Skill Focus:

What is Characterization?What is Characterization?

What is the difference between What is the difference between DIRECT and INDIRECT DIRECT and INDIRECT characterization? characterization?

Which do you think it used more in Which do you think it used more in literature? Why?literature? Why?

Specialized VocabularySpecialized Vocabulary

Specific words used by people Specific words used by people belonging to the same group:belonging to the same group:region (urban vs. rural, North vs. region (urban vs. rural, North vs. South)South)ethnicityethnicityeconomic classeconomic classtime period/era or agetime period/era or agecareer fieldcareer fieldknowledge-baseknowledge-baseactivityactivity

Dialect Dialect is the is the SPOKEN LANGUAGE SPOKEN LANGUAGE used used by a large group of people. It is not by a large group of people. It is not specialized language, but the specialized language, but the WAYWAY in in which language or words are which language or words are SPOKENSPOKEN (said). (religion, age, (said). (religion, age, GEOGRAPHIC GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONLOCATION, gender, , gender, ECONOMIC LEVELECONOMIC LEVEL.).)

What is Dialect?What is Dialect?

““y’all”y’all” ““binkie”binkie” ““Do you want a coke?” (meaning ANY soft drink, not just coca-Do you want a coke?” (meaning ANY soft drink, not just coca-

cola)cola) ““Put the Ca– in the ga—rashe”Put the Ca– in the ga—rashe” ““Poke” or “sack” for BAGPoke” or “sack” for BAG ““I wanna go nite-nite.”I wanna go nite-nite.” ““I thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Thank you again for having I thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Thank you again for having

us to your gracious abode.”us to your gracious abode.” ““I am worried about paying the bills.”I am worried about paying the bills.” ““I don’t know how I will get dinner on the table, get the I don’t know how I will get dinner on the table, get the

laundry done, and get my husband’s shirt ironed for his laundry done, and get my husband’s shirt ironed for his meeting tonight while I get Susie to ballet and Joey to soccer meeting tonight while I get Susie to ballet and Joey to soccer practice.”practice.”

Genuflect, kneeler, Father, cathedral, altar boy, the “host”Genuflect, kneeler, Father, cathedral, altar boy, the “host”

Think: Who might use language like this?Think: Who might use language like this?

Literary Focus:Literary Focus:

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

Look at the first paragraph of the short Look at the first paragraph of the short story (page 99). story (page 99).

What is funny, in a mocking or critical What is funny, in a mocking or critical way, in this opening paragraph? way, in this opening paragraph?

““Harrison Bergeron” Harrison Bergeron”

By By

Kurt VonnegutKurt Vonnegut

ReadingReading

ContextContext

Pre-ReadingPre-Reading

IntroductionIntroduction

"Harrison Bergeron" was first published in "Harrison Bergeron" was first published in the October, 1961, issue of the Magazine of the October, 1961, issue of the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. It was Fantasy and Science Fiction. It was Vonnegut's third publication in a Vonnegut's third publication in a science science fictionfiction magazine following the drying up of magazine following the drying up of the once-lucrative weekly family magazine the once-lucrative weekly family magazine market where he had published more than market where he had published more than twenty stories between 1950 and 1961. The twenty stories between 1950 and 1961. The story did not receive any critical attention, story did not receive any critical attention, however, until 1968 when it appeared in however, until 1968 when it appeared in Vonnegut's collectionVonnegut's collection

Author Biography (Author Biography (Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. ( (November 11, , 1922 – – April 11, , 2007))

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., was born in 1922, the Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., was born in 1922, the youngest of three children of Edith and youngest of three children of Edith and Kurt Vonnegut, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Kurt Vonnegut, in Indianapolis, Indiana. His siblings had attended private His siblings had attended private schools, but financial difficulties during schools, but financial difficulties during the Great Depression meant that the Great Depression meant that Vonnegut had to attend public schools. Vonnegut had to attend public schools. He has said that he gleaned the basis of He has said that he gleaned the basis of his political and social beliefs from his his political and social beliefs from his junior civics class.junior civics class.

His novels are mostly social satires His novels are mostly social satires that raise questions about morality, that raise questions about morality, freedom and what we should value. freedom and what we should value.

During World War II, he was held During World War II, he was held captive in the underground meat captive in the underground meat locker of a slaughterhouse in Dresden, locker of a slaughterhouse in Dresden, Germany. This inspired his most Germany. This inspired his most famous novel, famous novel, Slaughterhouse-FiveSlaughterhouse-Five..

VocabularyVocabulary

ball-peen hammerball-peen hammer

Noun: Noun: hammer with a ball-hammer with a ball-shaped headshaped head

calibratedcalibrated

Verb (used as an adjective): Verb (used as an adjective): marked with measurementsmarked with measurements

hindranceshindrances

Noun: obstacles; things that Noun: obstacles; things that restrain or prevent an activityrestrain or prevent an activity

symmetrysymmetry

Noun: Noun: balanced arrangementbalanced arrangement

consternationconsternation

Noun: Noun: fear; bewildermentfear; bewilderment

coweredcowered

Verb: Verb: drew back or crouched drew back or crouched in fear and helplessnessin fear and helplessness

synchronizingsynchronizing

Verb: Verb: causing to occur at the causing to occur at the same rate or timesame rate or time

1. What has guaranteed equality in the story?

2. How old is Harrison?3. What has happened to Harrison and why?4. How has the government made George

and Hazel equal? What does George have to wear? And what does this do?

5. What does Hazel say she would do if she were Handicap General?

6. What is the name of the Handicap General?

7. What is the consequence for taking lessening the weight of the handicap bag?

8. What reason does George give for not trying to cheat? Because of this reason, what can we infer about George’s opinion of the current laws?

9. Why wasn’t the news bulletin clear at first to the George and Hazel and other viewers?

10. Why did the ballerina apologize about her voice?

11. What is the news bulletin?12. Describe Harrison Bergeron with all of his

handicaps?13. What does Harrison declare on television?14. What happens to Harrison? Be specific.

Connecting “HB” to F451Connecting “HB” to F451

In the two pieces of literature we are In the two pieces of literature we are currently reading, both the main currently reading, both the main characters are on their own in some characters are on their own in some way. way.

Compare and Contrast the ways in Compare and Contrast the ways in which the characters are on their which the characters are on their own or assert their individuality.own or assert their individuality.

Characterization PracticeCharacterization Practice

Post-Reading Post-Reading

CharacterizationCharacterization Characterization is the process of Characterization is the process of

revealing the personality of a character in revealing the personality of a character in a story. A writer can real a character by:a story. A writer can real a character by:

1.1. Letting us hear the character speakLetting us hear the character speak

2.2. Describing how they look and dressDescribing how they look and dress

3.3. Letting us listen to their inner thoughtsLetting us listen to their inner thoughts

4.4. Revealing what other characters in the story think Revealing what other characters in the story think or say about the characteror say about the character

5.5. Show us what the character does—how they act.Show us what the character does—how they act.

6.6. Telling us directly what the character’s Telling us directly what the character’s personality is like: cruel, kind, sneakypersonality is like: cruel, kind, sneaky

Connect to ReadingConnect to Reading

If you lived in Harrison Bergeron’s If you lived in Harrison Bergeron’s world, what sorts of handicaps do world, what sorts of handicaps do you think that you might be given? you think that you might be given? Why? Why do you think these are Why? Why do you think these are your strengths? What sort of your strengths? What sort of weaknesses do you have that would weaknesses do you have that would force other people to be given force other people to be given handicaps, to bring them down to handicaps, to bring them down to your level?your level?

Harrison Bergeron ProjectHarrison Bergeron ProjectAn Odd Angle on PerfectionAn Odd Angle on Perfection

Part One:Part One: For this first part of the project take a hard, honest look at For this first part of the project take a hard, honest look at

yourself. Take off the rose colored glasses and see yourself for yourself. Take off the rose colored glasses and see yourself for what you really are. You will need to decide what traits/talents what you really are. You will need to decide what traits/talents you have that need to be handicapped for equality purposes. you have that need to be handicapped for equality purposes. You will also need to decide what traits/talents of yours would You will also need to decide what traits/talents of yours would be the standard for others to be handicapped to. be the standard for others to be handicapped to.

1. Find 5 traits that will be handicapped. Only 2 of 1. Find 5 traits that will be handicapped. Only 2 of which can be physical attributes.which can be physical attributes.

2. Find 5 traits that are the new standard of equality. 2. Find 5 traits that are the new standard of equality. Only 2 of which can be physical attributes. Only 2 of which can be physical attributes.

3. Create a visual of yourself with your new 3. Create a visual of yourself with your new handicaps including a legend of the explanation.handicaps including a legend of the explanation.

4. Create a visual of your partner with their new 4. Create a visual of your partner with their new handicaps based on your standard of equality. handicaps based on your standard of equality. Include a legend with an explanation.Include a legend with an explanation.

Part Two:Part Two: For the second part of the project, along with For the second part of the project, along with

your partner, pick a well-known figure who is at your partner, pick a well-known figure who is at the “top of their game”. Choose someone whose the “top of their game”. Choose someone whose accomplishments could never be described as accomplishments could never be described as being equal or average. being equal or average.

1. Describe 5 traits of this person that has 1. Describe 5 traits of this person that has allowed them to rise to the top.allowed them to rise to the top.

2. Find 5 specific examples how we as a society 2. Find 5 specific examples how we as a society have tried to handicap them. have tried to handicap them.

3. Create a visual of your figure with their 3. Create a visual of your figure with their handicaps. Make sure to include a legend handicaps. Make sure to include a legend detailing your choices.detailing your choices.

Part Three:Part Three: 1.The third part of the assignment is a 1.The third part of the assignment is a

reflection of you. Think about an ordinary reflection of you. Think about an ordinary day in your life. day in your life.

2. Find 5 examples of you handicapping 2. Find 5 examples of you handicapping someone around you, either directly or someone around you, either directly or indirectly.indirectly.

3. Organize these examples into a written 3. Organize these examples into a written form, and include a reflection of what you form, and include a reflection of what you have learned doing this project.have learned doing this project.

Dialect and CharacterizationDialect and Characterization

Exit SlipExit Slip

1.1. Using the “Handicap” Chart you Using the “Handicap” Chart you created for yourself complete the created for yourself complete the following:following:

Personality Traits What would you the writer reveal about your character?

1. What would you sound like?

2. What do you look like; dress like?

3. What are some of your inner most thoughts?

4. What do others say or think about you?

5. How do you act—show us in writing?

6. Tell us directly what you are like…kind, cruel