Thoughts on and Questions for Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five

Hi. I hope you are doing some good work and having some good fun this summer. I also trust, that despite the intensity of this book at times and some of its somber ideas, you will find some genuine pleasure in the freshness (still, after all these years) of the the narrative voice, the bizzare plot, and the depth of insight into our world Vonnegut is able to deliver.

It is important to understand that the firebombing of Dresden during WWII, around which the plot of the novel revolves, was real, and Vonnegut was there as a POW. 

The story centers on protagonist Billy Pilgrim. Your first task is to briefly summarize the literal plot of the novel in a quick paragraph. This is the basic starting point of any analysis of any work of art. This should be done in broad strokes, not minute detail. We simply want to know what happens, literally.

The back cover jacket of your copy of the novel claims Slaughterhouse-Five is "one of the world's great antiwar books". Focusing on Billy Pilgrim (not on the the obvious destruction and death of the literal firebombing), what happens to him and what does he do that supports this idea? Compose another brief paragraph. (Notice: In the first paragraph, we merely need to describe what happens. In this paragraph, we need describe what happens and then explain how those details demonstrate the "antiwar" claim.

The three most common words in the book are "So it goes". In what type of situations does Vonnegut employ the phrase? What does it suggest about his attitude? How does it fit, or not fit, with events in the book such as war and the belief system of the Tralfamadorians? This is another paragraph.

Lastly, if possible, tell me what insights you gained into human nature and society from this book.

Make yourself think patiently and write clearly while you do answer these few questions.

Bring this work with you on the first day of class.

Later,

McCurnin