Thursday - 8/16

Harrison Bergeron:

Answer questions on page 45 1-10.

1) What's your initial response to the story?  Do you believe that everyone should be made equal?

Look up the definition of Satire.  Post it on your blogs.  How does Harrison Bergeron fit the description of Satire.

2) Television plays a key role in the story.  What kind of comment do you think Vonnegut is making about mass media?

3) Harrison was originally jailed "on suspicion of plotting to overthrow the government" (lines 105-106).  Was the government correct in its assumption?

4) Why did the Handicapper General shoot both Harrison and the ballerina, instead of just shooting Harrison?

5) What if everyone were THE SAME?  How would this look or feel?

6) Some schools try to minimize competition, believing that it demoralizes those who do not excel.  Other schools encourage competition through academic and athletic competitions.  Both sides have good reasons for their beliefs.  With a partner discuss you ideas about this topic and make a list of arguments that support each side.

Homework:  Students are magazine writers who have an opportunity to interview any story character from "Harrison Bergeron".  Students need to create a list of 8 to 10 questions they would like to ask their characters.  They then need to answer the questions and post this on the blog.

Begin to review the following terms: Allusion, tone, theme, foreshadow, setting, protagonist, antagonist, static character, dynamic character, exposition, inciting event, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution, conflict: person vs. person, person vs. self, person vs. society, person vs. nature, person vs. fate, symbol, personification, metaphors: direct, implied, extended, simile, verbal irony, situational irony, dramatic irony.