Group Discussion Questions
Identify the protagonist of the story.
Who is the antagonist? What is the
conflict in this story?
The protagonist is Harrison Bergeron
The antagonist is the society
The conflict is man Vs society
Harrison Bergeron disagrees with
society and the policy of forcing
everyone to be equal by law.
Diana Moon Glampers (the handicapper
general) represents society
Where does the climax of the story
take place? Defend your answer.
The climax in the story takes place in
the studio when Harrison Bergeron
breaks into the studio, declares himself
Emperor, and removes his handicaps.
 The climax of the story is when the HG
comes into the studio with a shotgun
because we know what is going to
happen in the end of the story

What is the tone of the story? Find at
least two quotes to support your
answer. Why do you think the author
has chosen to write in this tone?
Sarcastic
 We know this is the tone because it is
extremely exaggerated, but told seriously.

 “The year was 2081 and everybody was finally equal”
(58).
 “The studio ceiling was thirty feet high, but each leap
brought the dancers nearer to it. It became their
obvious intention to kiss the ceiling” (64).
 He flung away his rubber-ball nose, revealed a man
that would have awed Thor, the god of thunder” (63).

The author used this tone to communicate how
ridiculous the idea of this society is. How can
everyone be equal? The sarcasm conveys the
author’s message.
Explain the meaning of the
following symbols
i Harrison Bergeron
ii The handicaps

Harrison Bergeron
 What humans used to be like
 Revolution and individualism
 Independence
 Heroism/Heroes

The handicaps
 The controlling government, the law
 Authority
 Unjust punishment
 False equality
 Inequality in society
 conformity
Describe the setting of the story.
Give quotes as evidence.

The story takes place in the future
 “The year was 2081” (58).

The society attempts equality/perfection
 “everybody was finally equal” (58).
 “Some things about living weren’t quite right
though. April for instance, still drove people
crazy by not being springtime” (58).
 “Nobody was smarter than anyone else”(58).
Find two similes in the story.
Explain their meaning. Why
does the author use them?

“His thoughts fled in panic, like bandits
from a burglar alarm” (59).
 His thoughts vanish with each loud noise.
 This simile associates thoughts with
crime/illegality. It shows both the effectiveness
of the device and the association of free
thought and punishment in this society.

“Harrison looked like a walking junkyard”
 Harrison is so great that his handicaps must
also be immense.
 The author uses this to show his power and
beauty, and how cruel his handicaps are.

“They leaped like deer on the moon”.
 This explains that Harrison and the ballerina
are both very talented and graceful.
 The author uses this to show how great they
can be without handicaps. It shows their
potential
 This is a ridiculous comparison. Deer on the
moon? This exaggeration lends itself to the
sarcastic tone of the story and the criticism
of this society/the idea of absolute equality.
What is ironic about this story? What
point does the author make using
irony?




The society is created so that everyone is equal, but
the handicapper general has power over everyone.
The handicaps are supposed to make everyone
equal so that life can be fair, but it is not fair to take
away talent and individuality.
The handicaps are supposed to be good for society,
but they actually take away many good things: free
thought, art, beauty, talent, intelligence.
The author’s point is that society cannot be equal in
the way that is described. We can be equal without
being the same.