"Harrison Bergeron" By: Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
About the Author
Kurt Vonnegut Jr. was born on November 11,1922 in Indianapolis. He had two siblings, a sister and a brother and at first his life was simple, being rich with his father's job as an architect. Everything changed for Vonnegut Jr. and his family when the Great Depression came, they lost all their money and he had to be taken out of private school. Vonnegut lost both parents at the same time, they did not die but his father gave up on life and his mother became addicted to prescription drugs and alcohol. These tragic events could reflect in Vonnegut Jr.'s work.
Pre Reading Assignment
People can be both equal and unequal with one another in many different circumstances. For example, it would be fair if everyone got to choose who their partners would be for an assignment. Also, it would be unfair to exclude one person or a group of people from a game just because you do not like them. In the book "Harrison Bergeron", it is not fair that the smart people have to be held back because they are not like everyone else. However, in the book "Harrison Bergeron" it is fair that everyone is equal because no one will feel bad about themselves. Unfairness and Fairness can come in many different ways and sometimes we may agree with the unfair side of things because it seems fair to us but sometimes you do not agree and that is ok because there will always be a situation where someone does not agree just like we did.
Society could help achieve equality by fining those who decide to exclude someone else or mistreat someone else on a serious level with a particular reason to do so, such as their race or gender. This would help because unless someone wants to go broke, they will probably stop making their foolish decisions.
Society could help achieve equality by fining those who decide to exclude someone else or mistreat someone else on a serious level with a particular reason to do so, such as their race or gender. This would help because unless someone wants to go broke, they will probably stop making their foolish decisions.
Vocabulary in Context
Vigilance: watchful, enforcement "...to the unceasing vigilance of agents of the United States Handicapper General." (p.13)
Transmitter: admits a signal "It was turned to a government transmitter." (p.14)
Abnormal: not normal "He began to think glimmeringly about his abnormal son who was now in jail." (p.15)
Extraordinary: something amazing "She must have been extraordinarily beautiful." (p.17)
Luminous: something that is light or soft "Her voice was a warm, luminous, timeless melody." (p.17)
Hindrances: rules or restrictions "He had outgrown hindrances faster than H-G men could think them up." (p.17)
Synchronizing: doing something the same "Harrison and his Empress merely listened to the music for a while—listened gravely, as though synchronizing their heartbeats with it." (p.19)
Transmitter: admits a signal "It was turned to a government transmitter." (p.14)
Abnormal: not normal "He began to think glimmeringly about his abnormal son who was now in jail." (p.15)
Extraordinary: something amazing "She must have been extraordinarily beautiful." (p.17)
Luminous: something that is light or soft "Her voice was a warm, luminous, timeless melody." (p.17)
Hindrances: rules or restrictions "He had outgrown hindrances faster than H-G men could think them up." (p.17)
Synchronizing: doing something the same "Harrison and his Empress merely listened to the music for a while—listened gravely, as though synchronizing their heartbeats with it." (p.19)
Contrasting Ideas
When something in a story is tragic, people may feel sad or angry. For example, a tragedy could be when someone gets killed or dies. This would be a tragedy because it would be a very disturbing event that causes you to have mixed feelings. When something is humorous, it might make you laugh. For example, if someone said a joke or made a mistake it could be considered humorous because it would make you laugh. Mistakes can be made when deciphering humor from tragedy because if someone falls down the stairs by accident it may seem funny at first, but later you make think that they could have gotten hurt. It is important to be careful when describing something as humorous or as tragic.