Questions for “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut
Students must do questions on Pg. 353. Facts of the story #1-5.
Students choose 3 of 5 DQ’s on Pg. 353-354. Do 3 of the 5 Discussion Questions.
Facts of the Story
1. What kind of handicap has been imposed on people with better-than-average
mental capacity?
2. What kind of handicap has been imposed on people with better-than-average
physical ability?
3. Is George right when he says that Hazel would be as good a Handicapper
General as anybody else? Explain/
4. Why has Harrison Bergeron been put in jail?
5. What penalty do Harrison and his ballerina partner pay for refusing to wear
their handicaps?
Discussion Questions
1. “Harrison Bergeron” is a satire, a kind of writing that ridicules people’s
actions and beliefs. What belief does Vonnegut ridicule, or satirize, in this story?
What kind of society is he mocking?
2. Even if it were possible by some practical method to remove all competition
from society, would such a removal be a good thing? Why? Consider the effect
the lack of competition would have on business, on sports, on education.
3. What do you think would be the most damaging result of removing all
individual talents and skills from society? What is the difference between
believing people are equals under the law and believing that everyone should
be “equal every which way” (that is, the same)?
4. What do you think of Hazel’s comments about the radio announcer who fails
in his attempt to read the news? “ ‘That’s all right—‘ Hazel said of the
announcer, ‘he tried. That’s the big thing. He tried to do the best he could with
what God gave him. He should get a nice raise for trying so hard.’ “Do you think
people should be rewarded for effort as well as for accomplishment? Explain
why or why not.
5. Do you think that Harrison, by his heroic defiance of the system, may have
accomplished something good? Explain.