Unit 13
"Harrison Bergeron"
This song includes eighth grade vocabulary words that students are likely to encounter on state tests. It teaches the following words: aloof, avid, commemorate, confiscate, decree, desist, encroach, flair, hindrance, imperative, institute, ovation, prodigy, sedative and ungainly. This song poses the question originally asked by author Kurt Vonnegut: Do we really want to create a society where everyone is equal?
Intro
I used to have a flair for writing rhymes,
A natural talent for crafting lines.
But then they issued a decree to the people,
An order that stated we were all equal.
All across the nation we gave it an ovation,
We stood up and clapped, till they noticed that
Not everyone could stand up and clap like us,
So they weighed us down and kept us handcuffed.
The weights were a hindrance to our movements,
They held us back, so we’re equal now.
They instituted and set up new rules that
Made pretty kids ugly, and skinny guys fat.
Then they took away and confiscated
The books; it was not debated.
So that we’d remember, they built a statue that
Commemorated the day we became the same.
Are you close or aloof to the daily news?
Do you know what society is doing to you?
Do you know about the wars we wage, the rise of AIDS,
The price we pay to make our lives this way? (x2)
This girl Holly probably was a prodigy,
So smart she won nine weeks straight on Jeopardy.
I called up the cops, I was feeling jealous,
I said we need to make Holly the same as the others.
It’s necessary and imperative,
Right now she’s the brightest girl that ever lived.
Not my relative, you better give her a sedative,
Some medicine to calm her down, that’ll settle it.
I used to be a dedicated and avid runner,
They put a chain around my leg and added another.
They made me stop and desist, the cops came quick,
They had to make sure that I run with a limp.
Now I’m clumsy and ungainly,
And you’ll get two years in prison if you unchain me.
They encroached upon our rights, took them gradually,
Is this how equality has to be?
Are you close or aloof to the daily news?
Do you know what society is doing to you?
Do you know about the wars we wage, the rise of AIDS,
The price we pay to make our lives this way? (x3)
The year was 2081, and everyone was finally equal. That is the first line in a short story by Kurt Vonnegut called "Harrison Bergeron." First published in 1961, the story asks an important question: Do we really want to create a society where everyone is equal? What would the government have to do in order to make everyone truly equal?
You'll learn these words: flair, decree, ovation, hindrance, institute, confiscate, commemorate, aloof, prodigy, imperative, sedative, avid, desist, ungainly, encroach.
You'll learn these words: flair, decree, ovation, hindrance, institute, confiscate, commemorate, aloof, prodigy, imperative, sedative, avid, desist, ungainly, encroach.
flair (noun)
a natural talent or ability; style
James had a flair for taking photos and arranging them attractively in scrapbooks.
Synonyms: gift, talent, aptness
Antonyms: inability, limitation
a natural talent or ability; style
James had a flair for taking photos and arranging them attractively in scrapbooks.
Synonyms: gift, talent, aptness
Antonyms: inability, limitation
decree (noun)
an authoritative order or decision
The presidential decree to release the prisoners was on the President's desk, waiting to be signed.
Synonyms: an act, mandate
Other forms: Decree is also a verb meaning "to command or to issue," as in: I decree that all students who wear hats in the classroom will receive a detention.
an authoritative order or decision
The presidential decree to release the prisoners was on the President's desk, waiting to be signed.
Synonyms: an act, mandate
Other forms: Decree is also a verb meaning "to command or to issue," as in: I decree that all students who wear hats in the classroom will receive a detention.
ovation (noun)
loud, prolonged applause
Mr. Costello received a standing ovation after he was recognized for saving three children from drowning.
Synonyms: acclaim, applause
loud, prolonged applause
Mr. Costello received a standing ovation after he was recognized for saving three children from drowning.
Synonyms: acclaim, applause
hindrance (noun)
something that holds you back
The young boy's newly broken arm was a hindrance to him playing catch with his friends.
Synonyms: encumbrance, obstacle, restraint
Other forms: A hindrance hinders (verb) you.
something that holds you back
The young boy's newly broken arm was a hindrance to him playing catch with his friends.
Synonyms: encumbrance, obstacle, restraint
Other forms: A hindrance hinders (verb) you.
institute (verb)
to establish or begin
The school administration is going to institute new rules due to the increase in graffiti on school property.
Other forms: Something established is an institution (noun), while an institute (noun) is "an organization for the promotion of a specific cause".
to establish or begin
The school administration is going to institute new rules due to the increase in graffiti on school property.
Other forms: Something established is an institution (noun), while an institute (noun) is "an organization for the promotion of a specific cause".
confiscate (verb)
to use authority to take possession of private property
At the airport, the security agents will confiscate any items that could be used as a weapon.
Synonyms: seize, commandeer
to use authority to take possession of private property
At the airport, the security agents will confiscate any items that could be used as a weapon.
Synonyms: seize, commandeer
commemorate (verb)
to honor the memory of
On the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, New York City choose to commemorate the victims and heroes with a tribute in light.
Synonyms: to memorialize, pay tribute, to revere
to honor the memory of
On the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, New York City choose to commemorate the victims and heroes with a tribute in light.
Synonyms: to memorialize, pay tribute, to revere
aloof (adj)
uninterested or distant
Henry was so aloof that he didn't realize that the actor he had idolized for five years was standing right next to him.
Synonyms: detached, distant, disdainful
Other forms: You can also use aloof as an adverb: He stood aloof.
uninterested or distant
Henry was so aloof that he didn't realize that the actor he had idolized for five years was standing right next to him.
Synonyms: detached, distant, disdainful
Other forms: You can also use aloof as an adverb: He stood aloof.
prodigy (noun)
a child with an extraordinary talent or ability
Steven was considered a musical prodigy at the age of four because he could play Mozart from memory.
Synonyms: child genius, phenomenon
a child with an extraordinary talent or ability
Steven was considered a musical prodigy at the age of four because he could play Mozart from memory.
Synonyms: child genius, phenomenon
imperative (adj)
necessary, required, critical
It is imperative to study for your driver's test to ensure that you pass.
Other forms: Imperative is also a noun meaning "a command," as in: The lieutenant gave an imperative for all the soldiers to drop and complete fifty push-ups.
necessary, required, critical
It is imperative to study for your driver's test to ensure that you pass.
Other forms: Imperative is also a noun meaning "a command," as in: The lieutenant gave an imperative for all the soldiers to drop and complete fifty push-ups.
sedative (noun)
calming or soothing
The sedative music helped to calm the crying baby
Other forms: A sedative (noun) "a soothing medication," will sedate (verb) or calm a person.
calming or soothing
The sedative music helped to calm the crying baby
Other forms: A sedative (noun) "a soothing medication," will sedate (verb) or calm a person.
avid (adj)
enthusiastic and eager
Melissa was an avid bicyclist and sometimes rode over thirty miles a day.
Synonyms: devoted, ardent, voracious
enthusiastic and eager
Melissa was an avid bicyclist and sometimes rode over thirty miles a day.
Synonyms: devoted, ardent, voracious
desist (verb)
to stop doing something
Vladmir Putin threw up his arms to show that he would desist.
Synonyms: cease
to stop doing something
Vladmir Putin threw up his arms to show that he would desist.
Synonyms: cease
ungainly (adj)
awkward, clumsy
Frank was so ungainly that he would fall off his unicycle all the time.
Synonyms: blundering, uncoordinated, klutzy
Antonyms: graceful, skillful, coordinated
awkward, clumsy
Frank was so ungainly that he would fall off his unicycle all the time.
Synonyms: blundering, uncoordinated, klutzy
Antonyms: graceful, skillful, coordinated
encroach (verb)
to advance beyond usual limits
Sometimes I feel like my twin sister tries to encroach on my side of the bedroom with all of her belongings.
Synonyms: to invade, overstep, trespass
to advance beyond usual limits
Sometimes I feel like my twin sister tries to encroach on my side of the bedroom with all of her belongings.
Synonyms: to invade, overstep, trespass
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