Description
This dystopian short story literary analysis of “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. provides a complete set of before-reading, during-reading, and after-reading activities designed to support close reading and critical thinking. The story’s sharp critique of equality, government control, and individuality makes it a strong anchor text for discussions about society, freedom, and power.
Students begin with pre-reading activities that activate prior knowledge and build personal connections, including a reflective journal entry and a creative anticipation activity. As they read, students work with literary and academic vocabulary and respond to reading comprehension and literary analysis questions that require careful attention to detail and the use of textual evidence.
After reading, students extend their understanding of the text by choosing from three project options that allow for creativity, interpretation, and deeper engagement with the story’s themes. These projects encourage students to apply their analysis in meaningful ways while reinforcing key concepts from the lesson.
The resource also includes background information on Kurt Vonnegut Jr. to help students better understand the author’s perspective and the historical context that influenced the story. The full text of “Harrison Bergeron” can be found online for free, making this lesson easy to implement without additional materials.
This lesson works well for middle school and high school ELA, particularly in units focused on dystopian literature, satire, theme, and social commentary, and it consistently sparks thoughtful discussion and debate in the classroom.