Slaughterhouse V -1 Why Write?

Outline General Introduction Starting Questions on Chapter 1 Chapter I: Frames Why Write – the author in the text Views of Life – So it goes

Kurt Vonnegut ( ) The “author” in SH-V. Joined WWII, became a prisoner of war during the Battle of the Bulge (the last offensive on Germany’s part) on December 14, 1944, and sent to Dresden. Studied anthropology in the University of Chicago, but his thesis was rejected. Became a writer since, published Slaughterhouse-Five in 1968 (the peak of anti-war movement), which made him successful and a guru figure in post-60’s literary field.

Slaughterhouse-Five--Background Dresden Bombing: Dresden -- "Florence on the Elbe" February 13 & 14, 1945; estimated deaths: 130,000 to 250,000, almost all of them civilians. Part of a massive attack coded as “Thunderclap,” which targeted the German cities of Berlin, Dresden, Leipzig, and Chemnitz. Irony: Dresden is not a strategic point (no factories, no railways, bridges, etc, but a lot POW’s)  meaninglessness

Slaughterhouse-Five--Plot Time Traveling -- Four segments of Billy Pilgrim’s his childhood, his World War II years, his postwar life as a family man and optometrist in New York, his capture by aliens who come from the planet Tralfamadore

Starting Questions Why does the author discuss ‘how’ he gets to write this novel? What views of the war, history and life does he introduces here?

Chapter I – the “ Frame ” of the Story the author in the novel Makes claim to “reality” – p. 1 Discusses his inability to write; How the novel is prepared for; Dresden in context

Why write For writing: Dresden, worse than Hiroshima, but not much publicity p. 10; Obsessed (as “telephoners”, but his memory useless – p  repetitions as nonsense or false starts (or rhymes p. 7; of names p. 4; “so it goes”) Against writing: anti-war being anti-glacier, or anti-death 3-4 O’Hare’s wife: books encouraging wars 15 Lot’s wife looking back

Preparation: Exposing the Frames 1. the title decided, Children’s Crusade 15 and research arranging climax and plots p. 5; to the publisher 19 —nothing intelligent to say about a massacre

Historical Perspectives: Children’s Crusade --sold as slaves; p.16 The seige of Dresden in 1760  History is not progressive;  Is it linear?

Life as a Dark comedy Self-Belittling: the author’s life after the war //Yon Yonson 2-3, 7, 11 (//Billy Pilgrim) Life’s transience -- “So it Goes” as a reporter 9 -“So it goes.”  News media’s indifference (later) airplane crash, and the wife’s car accident 25)  lice, champaign 84; 73 “if the accident will.” p. 2

Life as Presented by Commercial Culture P. 18 World’s Fair in NY; Three Musketeers candy bar More next time

Characters (mentioned so far) Views of people – no difference? P. 8 Bernard V. O'Hare Edgar Derby Roland Weary Paul Lazarro