Harrison Bergeron Themes

What is the main conflict of this short story?

• external: Harrison vs. society

• external: George vs. society

• internal: George vs. himself

• internal: Hazel vs. herself

Which of the following citations supports how Harrison views himself in relation to other people?

• "THE YEAR WAS 2081, and everybody was finally equal."

• "Hazel had a perfectly average intelligence, which meant she couldn't think about anything except in short bursts."

• "Even as I stand here" he bellowed, "crippled, hobbled, sickened - I am a greater ruler than any man who ever lived!"

• "That's my girl," said George. He winced.

Which inference helps the reader to know that "Harrison Bergeron" takes place in a future, American society?

• The narrator mentions President Kennedy.

• The narrator mentions ballet and musical performances.

• The narrator mentions amendments to the Constitution.

• The reader does not have enough information to infer this.

Consider the characters of George and Hazel. Why isn’t Hazel handicapped? Choose the citation that supports your answer.

• "Two years in prison and two thousand dollars fine for every ball I took out," said George. "I don't call that a bargain."

• "It was such a doozy that George was white and trembling, and tears stood on the rims of his red eyes."

• "He tried to think a little about the ballerinas. They weren't really very good-no better than anybody else would have been, anyway."

• "Hazel had a perfectly average intelligence, which meant she couldn't think about anything except in short bursts."

Based upon their conversation, George and Hazel believe that handicaps --?

• keep society from falling apart.

• challenge citizens to work harder.

• make competitions more interesting.

• prevent people from hurting each other.

Based on the number of handicaps Harrison wears, the reader can infer that he is... 

• the same as everyone else

• dangerous to others in society

• above average in many ways 

• glad he doesn’t live at home 

In the story "Harrison Bergeron", how is the word "equality" defined?

• to signify our common ground as human beings

• to show that race doesn't matter

• to mean that class doesn't matter

• to mean that people are the same in every possible way

According to the text, select all the reasons that Harrison was arrested.

• Harrison was disrespectful to his parents while growing up.

• Harrison refused to wear his handicaps.

• Harrison is too intelligent and too strong.

• Harrison was suspected of plotting to overthrow the government.

• Harrison removed his father's handicaps when he came home from work everyday.

Choose the vocab word that best completes this statement about the text.

Every twenty seconds or so, the transmitter would send out some sharp noise to keep people like George from taking unfair ____________ of their brains.

• advantage

• handicap

• hindrance

• impediment

What is one theme explored in Harrison Bergeron?

• The dangers of making everyone equal

• The importance of following the laws

• The importance of family