"Me and Mike, ve vork in mine....." - pg. 155
I'll let you research the rest of that poem. What entertained me was how out-of-the-blew this little poem came. It was funny despite its serious theme and serious message. That is what this entire book was. At times I felt guilty laughing at the situations, but I couldn't help it! At other times, I felt terrible for Billy and for the people in war in general. I thought it was a masterpiece that took control of me as I read. I haven't read a book so fast all four years of high school english. It easily is my favorite book I've ever been forced to read. I love it!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Slaughterhouse-Five - Kurt Vonnegut - Imaaaaaagination
"Trout, incidentally, had written a book about a money tree. It had twenty-dollar bills for leaves. Its flowers were government bonds. Its fruit was diamonds. It attracted human beings who killed each other around the roots and made very good fertilizer. So it goes." - pg. 167
I just love the nature of this book. I love how it talks about this man named Kilgore Trout. I think I might have been interested in the crazy ideas of this writer. He seems to be very creative, though weak at writing. I just laugh at some of his story lines like the one above. I appreciate the humor despite his odd character. This is one of the reasons I loved the book. I just couldn't handle the awesome creativity it held! I'm jealous!
I just love the nature of this book. I love how it talks about this man named Kilgore Trout. I think I might have been interested in the crazy ideas of this writer. He seems to be very creative, though weak at writing. I just laugh at some of his story lines like the one above. I appreciate the humor despite his odd character. This is one of the reasons I loved the book. I just couldn't handle the awesome creativity it held! I'm jealous!
Slaughterhouse-Five - Kurt Vonnegut - Personification/Onomatopoeia
"Birds were talking. One bird said to Billy Pilgrim, 'Poo-tee-weet?'" - pg. 215
First, I was surprised that the bird talked. Second, I was surprised by odd choice of words to form the bird sound. I'm saying it to myself, and I don't sound like a bird. And finally, I realized it was a question. WHY IS IT A QUESTION?! How did Vonnegut decide that it was a question? This blog post is analyzing the confusion. Analyze! I've got nothing significant. But, I'm very creative, so I'll give it a shot. The birds might be asking the audience "Savvy?" It could be Vonnegut's way of discreetly asking the reader if he/she understands. Or the bird could be asking why humans make war? The bird is in a setting of complete destruction of its habitat. It could be asking Billy, "Why?" This would be another way for Vonnegut to pound home his point.
First, I was surprised that the bird talked. Second, I was surprised by odd choice of words to form the bird sound. I'm saying it to myself, and I don't sound like a bird. And finally, I realized it was a question. WHY IS IT A QUESTION?! How did Vonnegut decide that it was a question? This blog post is analyzing the confusion. Analyze! I've got nothing significant. But, I'm very creative, so I'll give it a shot. The birds might be asking the audience "Savvy?" It could be Vonnegut's way of discreetly asking the reader if he/she understands. Or the bird could be asking why humans make war? The bird is in a setting of complete destruction of its habitat. It could be asking Billy, "Why?" This would be another way for Vonnegut to pound home his point.
Slaughterhouse-Five - Kurt Vonnegut - 1st person
"Somebody behind him in the boxcar said, 'Oz.' That was I. That was me. The only other city I'd ever seen was Indianapolis, Indiana." - pg. 148
Suddenly, the perspective from which the book is told changes. Why would the author interrupt the story that he has been telling since the beginning of chapter two and go back to the style of chapter one? It serves as a reminder to the reader that the story that is ongoing may be fiction, but it is rooted in fact. Most lies have some truth at the heart of them. That is the way I see this story. Vonnegut has no intentions of trying to convince us that Billy Pilgrim's story actually happened, and he directly states that. However, he does base the story in fact. His little clips fromt he war reflect how it actually was. He just uses a fictional character to portray what goes on.
Suddenly, the perspective from which the book is told changes. Why would the author interrupt the story that he has been telling since the beginning of chapter two and go back to the style of chapter one? It serves as a reminder to the reader that the story that is ongoing may be fiction, but it is rooted in fact. Most lies have some truth at the heart of them. That is the way I see this story. Vonnegut has no intentions of trying to convince us that Billy Pilgrim's story actually happened, and he directly states that. However, he does base the story in fact. His little clips fromt he war reflect how it actually was. He just uses a fictional character to portray what goes on.
Slaughterhouse-Five - Kurt Vonnegut - Anecdote
"He looked so peculiar that several people commented on it solicitously when the song was done. They thought he might have been having a heart attack, and Billy seemed to confirm this by going to a chair and sitting down haggardly." - pg. 173
This book is riddled with anecdotes. In fact, the anecdotes are very different and varied and come in no logical order. What can be the purpose of these stories? For one, they fit the style of the book perfectly, since Billy Pilgrim jumps around in time. Secondly, they help to portray the attitude towards war that Vonnegut wants them to feel. The anecdotes single out events in Billy's life that directly relate to how he became so messed up later in life. They are the quintessential way to move the story along and impact the readers. It helps make the book more conversational and easy to follow, despite the illogical order.
This book is riddled with anecdotes. In fact, the anecdotes are very different and varied and come in no logical order. What can be the purpose of these stories? For one, they fit the style of the book perfectly, since Billy Pilgrim jumps around in time. Secondly, they help to portray the attitude towards war that Vonnegut wants them to feel. The anecdotes single out events in Billy's life that directly relate to how he became so messed up later in life. They are the quintessential way to move the story along and impact the readers. It helps make the book more conversational and easy to follow, despite the illogical order.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Slaughterhouse-Five - Kurt Vonnegut - The Children's Crusade
"And war will look just wonderful, so we'll have a lot more of them. And they'll be fought by babies like the babies upstairs." - pg. 14
I agree with O'Hare's wifes' attitude towards war. It is glorified through the media when it is finished. Most of the time, during war, though, the horrors are present. But, people prefer to watch movies that show the "cool" side of war. It makes them feel like they will be important if they are able to kill and be a part of a war. War does tend to include younger people, like she says. It is fought by young adults, or even worse, children are sent to battle because they are unsuspecting and more challenging emotionally to kill. I understand at times in our history, war was necessary. But at this point, I don't see any sort of logical reason for war. Our world is becoming extremely interconnected, and it seems senseless attack another part when other means are more effective and less dangerous. I hope we are able to keep fascists out and keep world on fairly peaceful terms. We need more solidarity!
I agree with O'Hare's wifes' attitude towards war. It is glorified through the media when it is finished. Most of the time, during war, though, the horrors are present. But, people prefer to watch movies that show the "cool" side of war. It makes them feel like they will be important if they are able to kill and be a part of a war. War does tend to include younger people, like she says. It is fought by young adults, or even worse, children are sent to battle because they are unsuspecting and more challenging emotionally to kill. I understand at times in our history, war was necessary. But at this point, I don't see any sort of logical reason for war. Our world is becoming extremely interconnected, and it seems senseless attack another part when other means are more effective and less dangerous. I hope we are able to keep fascists out and keep world on fairly peaceful terms. We need more solidarity!
Slaughterhouse-Five - Kurt Vonnegut - Tralfamadore Paradox
"'If I hadn't spent so much time studying Earthlings,' said the Tralfamadorian, 'I wouldn't have any idea what was meant by 'free will.''" - pg. 86
This is the argument that many people use against Catholicism. How can God be all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-good and humans still have free will? How is it possible for God to allow free will but still have power over everything? St. Augustine teaches us, first of all, that God, like the Tralfamadorians, is not stuck in time. He is able not subject to time. This causes people to think that everything is pre-determined and we have no free choices in life. It's already set to end the way God set it to end. But this is not the case. It is impossible for our human minds to grasp the concept of God not being subject to time. So, no human can perfectly explain this seeming paradox. However, what we can understand is that God is not subject to time. He is simply "unstuck in time." We then must understand that God enters into time for us. He, like the Tralfamadorians, is able to enter into time to be with us. Jesus lived trapped in human time for 33 human years. We must also not forfeit our concept of free will. One of the oldest truths in the Bible is that God gave humans the freedomt to choose as they please. We do not have to listen to God. We can do whatever we want, although it does come with repurcussions later. We have the free choice to choose God and that is the essence of human nature.
This is the argument that many people use against Catholicism. How can God be all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-good and humans still have free will? How is it possible for God to allow free will but still have power over everything? St. Augustine teaches us, first of all, that God, like the Tralfamadorians, is not stuck in time. He is able not subject to time. This causes people to think that everything is pre-determined and we have no free choices in life. It's already set to end the way God set it to end. But this is not the case. It is impossible for our human minds to grasp the concept of God not being subject to time. So, no human can perfectly explain this seeming paradox. However, what we can understand is that God is not subject to time. He is simply "unstuck in time." We then must understand that God enters into time for us. He, like the Tralfamadorians, is able to enter into time to be with us. Jesus lived trapped in human time for 33 human years. We must also not forfeit our concept of free will. One of the oldest truths in the Bible is that God gave humans the freedomt to choose as they please. We do not have to listen to God. We can do whatever we want, although it does come with repurcussions later. We have the free choice to choose God and that is the essence of human nature.
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