"One bird said to Billy Pilgrim: 'Poo-tee-weet?'" (pg.215)
This is a reoccurring theme throughout the novel. Again and again this bird appears and says the exact same thing. While doing so, it helps reveal the theme of the novel. The theme is that there are minimal intelligent things to say about a war. All it is is a massacre of fellow humans. Birds have nothing to say about it, and neither do smart humans. Vonnegut is very anti-war throughout the book. He also reveals this theme by the progression and drastic change in Billy Pilgrim's life.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Slaughterhouse-Five: Comedic Relief
"He farted temendously and then he belched." (pg.189)
Here Vonnegut decides to utilize comedic relief. After so many tales of death and agony, this is much needed. This old man cannot stop farting and burping, which made me laugh. This changes the pace that the story had been going on. It interrupted the story in a way. Before this, there was talk of all the destruction in Dresden. So many people had died. There were bodies in pits buried underground underneath the rubble. Again, it must be hard for Billy to live through this, just going into the war to be a chaplain's assistant.
Here Vonnegut decides to utilize comedic relief. After so many tales of death and agony, this is much needed. This old man cannot stop farting and burping, which made me laugh. This changes the pace that the story had been going on. It interrupted the story in a way. Before this, there was talk of all the destruction in Dresden. So many people had died. There were bodies in pits buried underground underneath the rubble. Again, it must be hard for Billy to live through this, just going into the war to be a chaplain's assistant.
Slaughterhouse-Five: Personification
"The one flame ate everything organic, everything that would burn." (pg. 176)
The fire bombing of Dresden has begun. The fire is being personified as a hungry beast. It is engulfing everything in flames. It is eating everything and it is spreading fast. These fires are horrible, and many people are killed. Also, Americans bombers are to leave nothing behind. They even shoot at fellow Americans. That is awful, but it was apart of the war. This war damaged Billy on the inside. It changed his life forever, and he would never be the same again.
The fire bombing of Dresden has begun. The fire is being personified as a hungry beast. It is engulfing everything in flames. It is eating everything and it is spreading fast. These fires are horrible, and many people are killed. Also, Americans bombers are to leave nothing behind. They even shoot at fellow Americans. That is awful, but it was apart of the war. This war damaged Billy on the inside. It changed his life forever, and he would never be the same again.
Slaughterhouse-Five: Situational Irony
"They were, in fact, distant cousins, something they never found out." (pg.158)
This quote is talking about Billy and the guard named Werner Gluck. Because they resemble each other, Vonnegut draws a comparison between the two. They actually to turn out to be related. However, they never get to find this out. Gluck will go on to die in the firestorms in Dresden. Billy will survive. Gluck is also a lot like Billy in the way he acts. He is very timid and not very smart.
This quote is talking about Billy and the guard named Werner Gluck. Because they resemble each other, Vonnegut draws a comparison between the two. They actually to turn out to be related. However, they never get to find this out. Gluck will go on to die in the firestorms in Dresden. Billy will survive. Gluck is also a lot like Billy in the way he acts. He is very timid and not very smart.
Slaughterhouse-Five: Foreshadowing
"So I promised him I'd have this silly cocksucker shot after the war." (pg.141)
This quote from Paul Lazzaro is foreshadowing Billy's death. Lazzaro promised Weary that he would avenge his death by killing Billy. Billy sees his death. He describes it as him seeing purple and hearing a buzzing noise. Later on, Billy states that he will always die on February 13, 1976. Lazzaro will come back to shoot Billy. He will keep his promise to Weary. Billy accepts his death because he learned from the Tralfamadorians that he will always be alive.
This quote from Paul Lazzaro is foreshadowing Billy's death. Lazzaro promised Weary that he would avenge his death by killing Billy. Billy sees his death. He describes it as him seeing purple and hearing a buzzing noise. Later on, Billy states that he will always die on February 13, 1976. Lazzaro will come back to shoot Billy. He will keep his promise to Weary. Billy accepts his death because he learned from the Tralfamadorians that he will always be alive.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Slaughterhouse-Five : First Person
"That was I. That was me." (pg. 125)
The point of view that this story is told from is weird. Vonnegut is telling Billy's story in third person, but he goes into first person sometimes to intervene with the story. Here he is showing that he was in the prison with Billy. He is showing that he is relevant in the story. He is checking in with the reader in a way. He reminds the reader that he was there and he witnessed this as well. He does this because the reader can see that Billy is crazy. Vonnegut wants to reassure that these events are true by validating them with his presence.
The point of view that this story is told from is weird. Vonnegut is telling Billy's story in third person, but he goes into first person sometimes to intervene with the story. Here he is showing that he was in the prison with Billy. He is showing that he is relevant in the story. He is checking in with the reader in a way. He reminds the reader that he was there and he witnessed this as well. He does this because the reader can see that Billy is crazy. Vonnegut wants to reassure that these events are true by validating them with his presence.
Slaughterhouse-Five : Motif
"So it goes." (pg. 92)
Throughout the book, Vonnegut has used the phrase "so it goes" as a motif. He uses it after every time death is mentioned. He is trying to get a point across in doing this. He is saying that death is a way of life in war. People and things die all the time around you in war. With the phrase "so it goes," he is pointing out everytime he experienced death, which is a lot. Also, he is saying that death is inevitable. "So it goes" can be seen as him saying something like "life goes on" meaning that people will die, but you have to move on from that until it is your time to pass.
Throughout the book, Vonnegut has used the phrase "so it goes" as a motif. He uses it after every time death is mentioned. He is trying to get a point across in doing this. He is saying that death is a way of life in war. People and things die all the time around you in war. With the phrase "so it goes," he is pointing out everytime he experienced death, which is a lot. Also, he is saying that death is inevitable. "So it goes" can be seen as him saying something like "life goes on" meaning that people will die, but you have to move on from that until it is your time to pass.
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