Harrison Bergeron Assignment 5

Roth

ENGL 2341

Assignment #5: Questions on Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron”

1) What tendencies in present-day American society is Vonnegut satirizing?

2) Is Diana Moon Glampers a flat or round character? Would you call Vonnegut’s characterization of her realistic? If not, why doesn’t it need to be?

3) From what point of view is the story told? Why is it more effective than if Harrison Bergeron had told his own story in first person?

4) Critics have said that in his stories, “Vonnegut proves repeatedly … that men and women remain fundamentally the same, no matter what technology surrounds them.” Try applying this comment to “Harrison Bergeron.” Would you agree?