Breaking Equality: The World of Harrison Bergeron

Breaking Equality: The World of Harrison Bergeron

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to understand the themes and motifs in 'Harrison Bergeron'

Introduce the learning objective to the students and explain what they can expect to achieve at the end of the lesson.

What do you already know about the concept of equality?

Who is Harrison Bergeron?

Harrison Bergeron is the protagonist of the short story written by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. in 1961.

Introduce the main character and the author of the short story.

Dystopian Society

The story is set in a dystopian society where everyone is forced to be equal.

Explain the concept of a dystopian society and how it is portrayed in the story.

The Handicapper General

The government uses the Handicapper General to enforce equality by requiring citizens to wear physical and mental handicaps.

Discuss the role of the Handicapper General and how the government enforces equality in the story.

Harrison's Rebellion

Harrison rebels against the government's notion of enforced equality by removing his handicaps and showcasing his superior abilities.

Explain the central conflict of the story and how Harrison Bergeron rebels against the government.

Themes: Individualism

The story highlights the importance of individualism and the dangers of conforming to societal norms.

Discuss the theme of individualism and how it relates to the story.

Themes: Equality

The story raises questions about the nature of equality and whether it is possible or desirable to enforce it.

Discuss the theme of equality and how it is portrayed in the story.

Symbols: Handicaps

The handicaps represent the government's attempt to enforce equality, but they also symbolize the suppression of individuality.

Discuss the symbolic significance of the handicaps in the story.

Symbols: Dance

The dance between Harrison and the ballerina represents the beauty of individuality and the power of human connection.

Discuss the symbolic significance of the dance scene in the story.

Mood: Satirical

The story uses satire to critique the government's attempt to enforce equality.

Explain the satirical tone of the story and how it contributes to the overall message.

Discussion: Government Control

What are your thoughts on the government's attempt to enforce equality in 'Harrison Bergeron'? Do you think it is possible or desirable to enforce equality?

Engage the students in a class discussion about the themes and motifs of the story.

Discussion: Individualism vs. Conformity

Do you think it is more important to prioritize individualism or conformity in society? Why?

Engage the students in a class discussion about the importance of individualism and conformity in society.

Writing Prompt

Write a short essay on the theme of individualism in 'Harrison Bergeron.' How does the story critique the notion of enforced equality?

Assign a writing prompt to the students to assess their understanding of the story's themes and motifs.

Quiz

Take a short quiz to test your understanding of the story and its themes.

Administer a short quiz to the students to evaluate their comprehension of the story.

Further Reading

Read more of Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s works, such as 'Slaughterhouse-Five' and 'Cat's Cradle,' to gain a deeper understanding of his writing style and themes.

Provide suggestions for further reading to the students who are interested in exploring more of Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s works.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.