Harrison Bergeron Literature didactics

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• HBO
• Studiejaar 1

Harrison Bergeron

(Nicky & Karin)

Index for this LessonUp:

* Bio Kurt Vonnegut

* Trailer / Story of 

 Harrison Bergeron

* Audiobook

* Aspects of dystopia / utopia       (TedTalk)

* Study questions

What could this story be about?

Kurt Vonnegut's writing

Simplistic and dry

Themes: 

Pacifism

Social equality 

Need for common decency
Main villain: dehumanisation 

Vonnegut believed: simplicity is a lost art, one that when utilized correctly could convey every emotion in human language in only a few words.

He targets dehumanization through technology, sexuality and violence as his main villains.

Kurt Vonnegut

1922-2007

American Writer 

Slaughterhouse-Five (novel)

Harrison Bergeron (short story)

Studied "The Shape of Stories"

"If you want to really hurt you parents, and you don't have the nerve to be gay, the least you can do is go into the arts. I'm not kidding. The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven's sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possible can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something.”

Assignment 1 Dystopian stories

Read or Listen to "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut

 

Name a positive aspect of the society in the story:

What is lacking in the society?

0

Aspects of dystopia?

Dystopia

- Themes

- Government

- Characters

- Conflict

- Plot

- Imagery

- Compare to our society

Utopias and Dystopias

What did the early philosophers try to create?

Why does the creation of a perfect world seem to be impossible?

Uniformity / Sameness

No free will / surveillance

Corrupt government / propaganda

Segregation / Unequal power

Perfect exterior hides evil secret

Unexpected hero

Which of these events was NOT a major influence on dystopian fiction?

1. The Protestant Reformation
2. The demise of Michael Jackson
3. World wars
4. The industrial and digital revolutions

Test content

You will be asked to write on the following:

• Characteristics of Utopian and Dystopian society
• The message of Harrison Bergeron
• Popquiz
• Your opinion on these matters....

Which of the following is NOT a type of character?

1. protagonist
2. antagonist
3. dynamic
4. pastoral

What do we call a character that does not change throughout the course of the narrative?

1. dynamic
2. static
3. boring
4. round

What is the setting in a story?

1. Characters
2. Time
3. Time & location
4. When you set the table

Plot is...

1. Events that make up a story
2. The exploding part of story/ turning point of story
3. setting and characters
4. the solution to the problem

Which part of the plot is
the most intense?

1. falling action
2. exposition
3. exposition
4. climax

What is the definition for "Exposition"?

1. The introduction of setting, situation and main characters
2. The part where the antagonist is "exposed"
3. When the plot deals with paintings in an exposition
4. Exposition is the beginning of the story

Which of the following show the elements of plot in order?

1. climax, rising action, exposition, falling action, resolution
2. exposition, climax, rising action, falling action, resolution
3. exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution
4. resolution, rising action, climax, falling action, exposition

What is the definition of "Theme"?

1. A story's plot
2. A universal idea/central idea about life
3. A motto (for example: "better late than never")
4. The theory behind short story writing

What did you think of this lesson?

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Thanks for your attention