Harrison Bergeron Summary
Kurt Vonnegut

Everything you need to understand or teach Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut.

Harrison Bergeron Summary & Study Guide
7 Student Essays
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30 Harrison Bergeron Lessons
20 Activities
180 Multiple Choice Questions
60 Short Essay Questions
20 Essay Questions
Pre-Made Tests and Quizzes
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Harrison Bergeron Summary

"Harrison Bergeron" was first published in the October, 1961, issue of the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. It was Vonnegut's third publication in a science fiction magazine following the drying up of the once-lucrative weekly family magazine market where he had published more than twenty stories between 1950 and 1961. The story did not receive any critical attention, however, until 1968 when it appeared in Vonnegut's collection

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Harrison Bergeron Study Guide

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Kurt Vonnegut Biographies (7)

Kurt Vonnegut

4,870 words, approx. 17 pages

Described as "a word cartoonist, a wise guy, a true subversive," by Valerie Sayers in the New York Times, Kurt Vonnegut is lauded as one of America's most respected novelists, "recognized as a thought... Read more

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

1,352 words, approx. 5 pages

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. (born 1922) is acknowledged as a major voice in American literature and applauded for his pungent satirical depictions of modern society. Emphasizing the comic absurdity of the huma... Read more

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

7,727 words, approx. 26 pages

As of 1977, Vonnegut's work includes eight novels, a play and a television play, two collections of short stories, a collection of essays, and a number of uncollected shorter pieces of fiction and non... Read more

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

4,032 words, approx. 14 pages

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., remains something of a paradox among science-fiction writers. Although his place of importance in serious American fiction is now secure, his relationship to the genre that nurture... Read more

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

16,743 words, approx. 56 pages

[This entry was updated by Peter J. Reed (University of Minnesota) from his entry in DLB 152: American Novelists Since World War II, Fourth Series.]Though Kurt Vonnegut had been a widely read short-st... Read more

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

14,456 words, approx. 49 pages

Biography EssayAs of 1987 Kurt Vonnegut's work includes twelve novels, a play and a television play, two collections of short stories, two collections of essays, and a miscellany of uncollected shorte... Read more

Kurt Vonnegut

8,346 words, approx. 28 pages

"I got to be a joke-maker as the youngest member of my family. My sister was five years older than I was, my brother was nine years older, and at the dinner table I was the lowest ranking thing there.... Read more

Essays & Analysis (7)

Equality in a Free Society

885 words, approx. 3 pages

"The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal. They weren't only equal before God and the law. They were equal every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quick... Read more

Society without Competition: Harrison Bergeron

641 words, approx. 3 pages

If society were to be deprived of competition, society's people would no longer be able to use their talents or gifts. I disagree with having competition being taken away. Being competitive is a chara... Read more

Contrasting "Harrison Bergeron" and "a Sound of Thunder"

774 words, approx. 3 pages

While analyzing "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. and "A Sound of Thunder" by Ray Bradbury, both two of the most remarkable short stories of all time, one would observe that they have distinct... Read more

Harrison Bergeron, a Review

1,059 words, approx. 4 pages

In the setting of 2081 of April, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. has created a dark and depressing environment where the society are close to their laws in the story "Harrison Bergeron." The government made thre... Read more

Equality in Harrison Bergeron

1,230 words, approx. 5 pages

Throughout the years of attempts on equality has it been effective? Harrison Bergeron was a story written by Kurt Vonnegut. This story show an example of what world wide equality would be like, but re... Read more

Harrison Bergeron - Equality

920 words, approx. 4 pages

Equality, a fortune sought for by countless men, by countless communities, countries, and even, civilizations. In some places, a luxury only the rich can afford, and in others a right with which you a... Read more

Sweet Individualism

612 words, approx. 3 pages

Sweet Individualism In Kurt Vonnegut's short story "Harrison Bergeron" the main point Vonnegut tries and get across is individualism. Vonnegut makes individualism important in the story by showing t... Read more

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