Text Evidence
What year does the story take place, and what has the government supposedly made everyone?
What is 2081, and everyone has been made equal?
What can readers infer about George's attitude toward the handicap laws when he refuses Hazel's suggestion to remove some of his weights?
What is George fears punishment and believes breaking the law could destroy society's system of equality?
Who is the government official responsible for enforcing the handicap laws?
Who is Diana Moon Glampers, the Handicapper General?
This word means the state of having the same quantity, value, rank, or ability.
What is equality?
What is one way the government limits George's freedom?
What is forcing him to wear handicaps because of his intelligence and physical strength?
What evidence from the story shows that George Harrison is more intelligent than the average person?
What is he is required to wear a mental handicap radio that interrupts his thoughts?
Harrison removes his handicaps in front of the television cameras. What does this action suggest about him?
What is he rejects the government's control and wants to demonstrate his individuality and freedom?
What internal conflict does George experience when Hazel suggests that he remove some of the weights from his handicap bag?
What is he may want relief from the handicaps but fears the consequences of breaking the law?
The dancers try to move together at the same rate and in the same way. Which vocabulary word best describes this action?
What is synchronizing?
Why does Harrison remove all of his handicaps?
What is to reject government control and demonstrate his freedom and natural abilities?
What evidence demonstrates that the government controls people based on their physical abilities?
What is strong or athletic people are forced to wear heavy weights or other handicaps to reduce their physical advantages?
Why is it significant that the citizens watching television quickly forget Harrison's death?
What is the government's system has made people unable to think deeply, remember important events, or challenge authority?
What is Harrison's main conflict with society?
What is Harrison versus the government because he refuses to accept the laws that suppress his intelligence, strength, appearance, and freedom?
Harrison's handicaps are designed according to his particular abilities. If the devices are carefully marked or adjusted according to measurements, which vocabulary word applies?
What is calibrated?
How does the government's definition of equality differ from equal rights or equal opportunities?
What is the government forces people to have equal abilities and outcomes instead of allowing individuals equal rights while keeping their differences?
What evidence best supports the conclusion that Hazel has difficulty thinking deeply about events?
What is she quickly forgets what she has seen or why she has been crying?
What can readers infer about Vonnegut's message from the extreme handicaps placed on talented people?
What is forcing everyone to have identical abilities can destroy individuality and achievement rather than create meaningful equality?
How are George and Harrison different in the way they respond to government control?
What is George follows the laws despite their unfairness, while Harrison openly rebels against them?
The government creates a system in which no person is supposed to have a higher rank or ability than another. Which vocabulary word describes an organization of people according to higher and lower ranks?
What is a hierarchy?
What evidence supports the argument that the government's pursuit of equality actually reduces freedom?
What is citizens are required to wear devices that restrict their intelligence, appearance, strength, and abilities?
Identify two pieces of evidence showing that the government uses punishment and fear to maintain equality.
What are citizens being forced to wear handicaps and Diana Moon Glampers killing Harrison and the ballerina when they refuse to obey?
What does Harrison's brief dance with the ballerina symbolize? Use evidence from the story to support your inference.
What is freedom from government restrictions and the potential of individuals when they are allowed to use their natural abilities?
Explain how Diana Moon Glampers contributes to the story's central conflict.
What is she represents the government's absolute authority and ends Harrison's rebellion through violence when he challenges the established system?
When Harrison and the ballerina leap into the air and appear almost free from gravity, which vocabulary word best describes the scene?
What is weightlessness?
Based on the story, what is the relationship between power and freedom? Support your answer with at least two pieces of evidence.
What is as government power increases, individual freedom decreases; for example, citizens are forced to wear handicaps, and Harrison is killed when he removes his handicaps and publicly challenges government authority?