Bellringer The Handicapper General demands total equality in the short story, Harrison Bergeron. What three handicaps would YOU be required to wear in this futuristic society?

Essential ? What is a theme? I can determine a theme in a passage.

Harrison Bergeron

What does equality really mean? The year is 2081, and everybody was finally equal...in every which way, thanks to the 211th, 212th, and 213th amendments to the U.S. Constitution…

“ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL” The Declaration of Independence

The Story Written by Kurt Vonnegut Published Set in 2081 in a world where everyone MUST be equal. Genre: science fiction, dystopian, satire

Theme Central idea or ideas explored by a literary work Examples include prejudice, discrimination, love, justice, hope etc.

Themes Danger in total equality The power of the media

Characters Harrison Bergeron The Ballerina Diana Moon Glampers George Bergeron Hazel Bergeron

Irony - Definition a state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often amusing as a result. a literary technique, originally used in Greek tragedy, by which the full significance of a character's words or actions are clear to the audience or reader although unknown to the character.

Three Types of Irony Verbal: When a person says one thing BUT the opposite is meant – Example: George and Hazel watch a mediocre performance and Hazel remarks, “that dance-it was nice.” Dramatic: When the reader knows something that one or more characters may NOT know – Example: George and Hazel think they live in perfect world but we know their world is unequal and flawed. Situational: A situation where the reader expects/intends one thing to happen BUT something totally different happens – Example: The ballerinas don weights and masks to cover their graceful movements and beauty.

Irony in the Text ballerinas who might otherwise rise above their peers in grace, elegance and beauty: “were burdened with sashweights and bags of birdshot, and their faces were masked, so that no one, seeing a free and graceful gesture or a pretty face, would feel like something the cat drug in.”

George Bergeron [He] had a little mental handicap radio in his ear. He was required by law to wear it at all times. It was tuned to a government transmitter. Every twenty seconds or so, the transmitter would send out some sharp noise to keep people like George from taking unfair advantage of their brains.

Vocabulary In Context Vigilance – alert attention; watchfulness Vague – unclear, hazy Wince – to shrink or flinch involuntarily, especially in pain Luminous – bright, brilliant Calibrated – marked with measurements Hindrance – something that interferes with an activity.

Vocabulary Continued Symmetry – a similarity between the two sides of something; balance. Consternation – a confused amazement or fear. Cower – to draw back in fear; cringe. Synchronizing – matching the timing of synchronize.

Homework Create a poem, illustration, prose, or song lyrics that represents discrimination to you.