Dystopian Elements in Harrison Bergeron

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Dystopia Definition & Characteristics

Lesson Plans by Rebecca Ray

Perfection comes at a cost, and remains perpetually out of reach. This contradiction is just one of the reasons dystopias have captivated readers of all ages. The idea of a utopia, juxtaposed with the stark reality that it can never exist, makes a compelling setting for social commentary and critique.

Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut

Lesson Plans by Kristy Littlehale

”Harrison Bergeron”, the short story penned by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. in 1961, imagines the world in 120 years, where the government has taken complete control over free thought and complete equality has finally been achieved – at a price, of course.

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Lesson Plans by Kristy Littlehale

Differentiated instruction has become a way for us not only to deliver the key concepts to all students, but scaffold our lessons so that students of all abilities can demonstrate their understanding in the ways that best suit them.

Harrison Bergeron

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Elements of Dystiopia

Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut - Dystopian Elements in "Harrison Bergeron"

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Harrison Bergeron Dystopia | Study elements of dystopia and have students create fun comics and storyboards!

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PEOPLE RESTRICTED FROM INDEPENDENT THOUGHT / ACTION
“He tried to think a little about the ballerinas… George was toying with the vague notion that maybe dancers shouldn’t be handicapped. But he didn’t get very far with it before another noise in his ear radio scattered his thoughts.”
ELEMENTS OF CONFORMITY, OR EXTREME EQUALITY
GOVERNMENT IS OPPRESSIVE
“It was then that Diana Moon Glampers, the Handicapper General, came into the studio with a double-barreled ten-gauge shotgun. She fired twice, and the Emperor and Empress were dead before they hit the floor. Diana Moon Glampers loaded the gun again. She aimed it at the musicians and told them they had ten seconds to get their handicaps back on.”
GOVERNMENT PORTRAYS SOCIETY AS A UTOPIA
SETTING IS FUTURISTIC, OR IN A FICTIONAL UNIVERSE
“The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal.”
PROTAGONIST WISHES TO RESTORE PEOPLE TO A CONVENTIONAL LIFE
“They weren’t only equal before God and the law. They were equal every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else.”
“‘ If I tried to get away with it,’ said George, ‘then other people’d get away with it - and pretty soon we’d be right back to the dark ages again, with everybody competing against everybody else. You wouldn’t like that, would you?’”
While Harrison is not the protagonist, he attempts to buck the system by breaking out of prison, declaring himself better than others by making himself an “Emperor”, forcing the musicians to play improved music, and showing the viewers how to dance unencumbered by governmental handicaps. “Not only were the laws of the land abandoned, but the law of gravity and the laws of motion as well.”

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Dystopian Elements in Harrison Bergeron

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Dystopia Definition & Characteristics

Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut

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Harrison Bergeron

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