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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Example of a Protocol: Protocol Prompt from Kurt Vonnegut's "Harrison Bergeron": What is the ambiguity of Harrison's heroic rebellion against his society? Anonymous D.K. Peterson English 2120 February 9, 1999 "Harrison Bergeron" "Harrison Bergeron" by author Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. tells the story of a town in the twenty-first century where everyone is equal. Equal by any means necessary. The individuals who are above average in any capacity are given artificial handicaps from the Handicapper-General so that their individual talents are not above anyone else's. It is the exceptional, intelligent, and handsome Harrison Bergeron who is put in jail for the extraordinary qualities he possesses. Harrison is a genius, and outgrows handicaps faster than they can put them on him. Harrison escapes from jail and goes to the news studio and announces to the town his intentions. Vonnegut uses Harrison's rebellious act as a tool in the last scene to give the story its open-ended conclusion. In the last scene of Harrison Bergeron, Harrison claims, "I am the Emperor! Cried Harrison. Do you hear? I am the Emperor! Everybody must do what I say at once! He stamped his foot and the studio shook" (1335). It is in this scene Harrison is demanding that the people listen and do what he says immediately. Even as Harrison is screaming, the people are bowing down before him at his mercy, thinking they will die if they do not follow his orders. Vonnegut is showing the audience that Harrison is powerful and above all those in his community and that he is going to exercise his power. This act of rebellion allows the audience to think Harrison wants to be ruler of the people, and shows that the people in town feel Harrison has authority over them, an example of exactly what a ruler is. It is in the following scene that Vonnegut gives his audience unsure feelings about the story's end. "Harrison says, 'Even as I stand here'-he bellowed, crippled, hobbled, and sickened- 'I am a greater ruler than any man who ever lived! Now watch me become what I can become!' " (1335). In this scene Harrison speaks in a rage, but also in somewhat of a desperate manner towards the people. The author's careful choosing of words illustrates the ambiguity of the last scene. The author states that Harrison bellowed, which means he cried or uttered in a loud voice. The audience is left to wonder whether Harrison was forceful, or pleading. However, Harrison expresses to the people that he is physically torn down, but even with this, he still is mentally powerful. It is when Vonnegut ends the story with Harrison tearing off his handicaps that leaves the ending of the story open to interpretation as to what Harrison's true intentions are. Does Harrison really desire to be the ruler of the people? Or does Harrison just want to be the ruler for the moment so that he can persuade the people to rid themselves of their handicaps, in order for them to see what they can become? By ending the story like this, the audience can only know what truly happens. Otherwise, the audience must use its own interpretation and provide their own ending. Top -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Research Writing & the Revision/Rethinking Process Example of an Anonymous Proposal/Research Paper/Revision on Zora Neale Hurston Example of a Research Proposal Anonymous Professor D.K. Peterson English 2120 March 2,1999 Word Count: 469 Zora Neale Hurston was a very controversial writer. My interest in Hurston's writings concerns her use of strong female characters and the language they used. My research paper will analyze Hurston's reasoning for using such strong female characters during a time when females were not supposed to be outspoken. I also intend to explain why Hurston used the dialect she used in her stories and why it became controversial. The language of Hurston's characters is a mixture of slang and southern accent. I will discuss how although language of this type ordinarily labels one as illiterate and weak, Hurston's female characters, despite using this language, are portrayed as strong. Throughout my research paper I will discuss the many questions surrounding Hurston's writings. I will do this by focusing on two female characters, language, and the setting. I believe that using these three areas of analysis will allow me to successfully answer questions about Hurston's writing style. In my approach, I plan to use two of Hurston's works, Their Eyes Were Watching God, and her short story, "Sweat." These two works will allow me to explore the female aspect of my project. Through two of the women characters in these works, I will explore linguistics, dialect, word choice, pacing, syntax and moments of long speech.
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