Harrison Bergeron
What are the science fictional elements of this story?
Aliens- the Handicapper General is considered an alien due to her cruel nature of device invention that disrupts normal brain processes.
Time Travel - the events are set in 2081; traveling into the future rather than talking about the present time, or even the past.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Computer Space - the plot is highly marked with technological advancements, such as reality television.
Unrealistic science - the use of hearing devices controlled by the government to disrupt the normal brain processes seems silly.
Does the story argue for anything?
Vonnegut satirizes on the present day government policies that seem to be controlling the free flow of information. In as much as we live in a free society, the government tends to scrutinize the information shared to make sure it is in line with its policies.
Why isn't the point of view of the story in the first person?
The story’s point of view is in the third person, an observer. It cannot be in the first person since the thought process, in this case, is tampered with; nobody is free enough to reason critically of the government's tyranny.
What is the tone of the story?
Absurd tone. The events in the story are illogical, ridiculous and silly. Harrison Bergeron is shot on live TV with his parents watching yet his father comes from the kitchen and asks why Hazel is crying.
Hills like White Elephants
What point of view is used in the story?
Third person. A third person is observing the girl and the man's encounter.
What are the two characters talking about?
The girl's pregnancy abortion. The man says that it is the only that making them unhappy, that he knows of people who have done it before, and that it is a simple procedure.
Are there any symbols of note?
Hemingway uses the setting to convey the thematic considerations. The hills like white elephants are used to describe the girl's unwanted pregnancy. White elephants are an unwanted species.
Explain the title of the story.
The title stands for the girl's pregnancy. On the one hand, it is beautiful like the hills the girl admires. But on the other side, it is unwanted since it possesses certain inconveniences, like the white elephants.
General comments about the story?
It is incredible to see how the girl can come to such a firm conclusion amidst all the confusion and the man's opposing stand about the pregnancy. Hemingway teaches about good morals such as sound judgment amidst a troubling environment.
