47 pages • 1 hour read
Kurt Vonnegut Jr.Harrison Bergeron
Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1960A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Essay Topics
The story is divided into three scenes. Describe and explain why the author structured the story this way.
The H-G men take Harrison away from George and Hazel. How does his abduction affect them throughout the story? Why do they react this way?
The first paragraph of the story establishes the political premise. How does this premise function in the story? What conflicts does it provoke or resolve?
George wears an earpiece that emits loud noises. What does the earpiece symbolize? How does this affect his thoughts throughout the story?
Analyze the character of Harrison Bergeron. Is he a hero or a villain? Why does the author characterize him in this way?
What is the significance of the dance between Harrison and the ballerina? Why did the author choose this as the climax of the story?
Analyze the character of Diana Moon Glampers. What is her function in the story? Why did the author include her?
What is the political message of the story? Cite passages from the text to support your answer.
“Harrison Bergeron” suggests that the values of equality and freedom are incompatible. Are they? How should a society seek to balance them?
Related Titles
By Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
