"This was when Billy first came unstuck in time. His attention began to swing grandly through the full arc of his life, passing into death, which was violet light. There wasn't anybody else there, or any thing. There was just violet light- and a hum. And then Billy sung into life again, going backwards until he was in pre-birth, which was red light and bubbling sounds. And then he swung into life again and stopped. He was a little boy taking a shower with his hairy father at Ilium Y.M.C.A." pg. 43
This could be called a flashback, even though it includes a flashforward (?). I guess that's what I'd call it. Vonnegut bases much of his storyline through the use of twisted flashbacks. It's not the standard flashbacks used by authors, but rather one that stems from Billy's alleged coming unstuck in time. It is an incredible way for Vonnegut to show many different periods of Billy's life. It helps him show how Billy connected events in his life, and how he changed from situation to situation. It initially causes the reader confusion, but it clears up as the reader gathers more of the story. It helps give Billy's background in light of his actions done during and after the war. The reader can see where Billy gets his ideas, and why he thinks the way he does.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Slaughterhouse-Five - Kurt Vonnegut - Paragraph Structure
"Frames are where the money is." pg. 24 "This can be useful in rocketry." pg. 80
The paragraph lengths Vonnegut uses vary from a few sentences to short, one-sentence paragraphs. I don't fully understand why he chooses to use choppy paragraphs, but I do know that it sets a certain tone over the whole book. Not much detail is given to any particular subject. This causes his descriptions to seem very matter-of-fact. He says what happened, and there are no questions asked. This adds to the anti-war sentiment of the book. Events like Billy speaking of crazy interactions with aliens are said so that it seems like it did happen. It shows that Billy is convinced he truly met these aliens. This helps Vonnegut portray the mental issues that follow the time spent at war.
The paragraph lengths Vonnegut uses vary from a few sentences to short, one-sentence paragraphs. I don't fully understand why he chooses to use choppy paragraphs, but I do know that it sets a certain tone over the whole book. Not much detail is given to any particular subject. This causes his descriptions to seem very matter-of-fact. He says what happened, and there are no questions asked. This adds to the anti-war sentiment of the book. Events like Billy speaking of crazy interactions with aliens are said so that it seems like it did happen. It shows that Billy is convinced he truly met these aliens. This helps Vonnegut portray the mental issues that follow the time spent at war.
Slaughterhouse-Five - Kurt Vonnegut - Most effective literary technique in the book
"So it goes." pg. 32, 35, 36, 37, 38, 41, 45, etc.
Now, some people may question the obssesive repitition of this phrase. However, this phrase is the author's purpose of writing the book. The book is an anti-war book. It's point is to show people the horrors of war and how terrible it is. Using the phrase "So it goes" after every death in the book shows the attitude that people acquire after going through war. They lose sensibility to death. However, the average person does not know that this happens to soldiers. So, he conveys the attitude the soldiers feel, due to no fault of their own. We recognize that this is a terrible attitude, and it opens our eyes to recognize how much war messes up people's minds.
Now, some people may question the obssesive repitition of this phrase. However, this phrase is the author's purpose of writing the book. The book is an anti-war book. It's point is to show people the horrors of war and how terrible it is. Using the phrase "So it goes" after every death in the book shows the attitude that people acquire after going through war. They lose sensibility to death. However, the average person does not know that this happens to soldiers. So, he conveys the attitude the soldiers feel, due to no fault of their own. We recognize that this is a terrible attitude, and it opens our eyes to recognize how much war messes up people's minds.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Frankenstein - Mary Shelley - CREATUUUURE!
"the fiend..." pg. 139
CAN WE PLEASE GIVE THE CREATURE A NAME?! I think at the very least he deserves the dignity of a name. Creature, monster, and fiend do not qualify as names. I think the creature deserves some respect. If I were the creature, I'd give myself a name. That way using the terms creature, monster, and fiend would be like the use of "He-who-must-not-be named." That would at least give the creature the respect of fear. I understand that he was created, but he is so important and intelligent that I think he deserves a name. However, no name I give will suffice, it must come from the creator - Mary Shelley. I'm disappointed in her not naming the creature.
CAN WE PLEASE GIVE THE CREATURE A NAME?! I think at the very least he deserves the dignity of a name. Creature, monster, and fiend do not qualify as names. I think the creature deserves some respect. If I were the creature, I'd give myself a name. That way using the terms creature, monster, and fiend would be like the use of "He-who-must-not-be named." That would at least give the creature the respect of fear. I understand that he was created, but he is so important and intelligent that I think he deserves a name. However, no name I give will suffice, it must come from the creator - Mary Shelley. I'm disappointed in her not naming the creature.
Frankenstein - Mary Shelley - Depravity
"'Man,' I cried, 'how ignorant art thou in they pride of wisdom! Cease; you know not what it is you say.'" - pg. 149
This novel is filled with sin. From the beginning through the end. It all stems from the deadliest sin of all - that which is stated above...pride. The evil of pride drove Victor to create the terrible monster which sinned and murdered numerous people. The sin simply built upon itself, and it's a terrible cycle which is very hard to get out of. The monster actually showed earlier signs than Victor in getting out of it. But, his peers forced him into the terrible cycle again. The pride continues with Walton and is leading to his downfall. Thanks to the example of Victor, he is able to salvage his sorry state of sin. This novel speaks much to the terrible cycle of sinning and how it builds upon itself.
This novel is filled with sin. From the beginning through the end. It all stems from the deadliest sin of all - that which is stated above...pride. The evil of pride drove Victor to create the terrible monster which sinned and murdered numerous people. The sin simply built upon itself, and it's a terrible cycle which is very hard to get out of. The monster actually showed earlier signs than Victor in getting out of it. But, his peers forced him into the terrible cycle again. The pride continues with Walton and is leading to his downfall. Thanks to the example of Victor, he is able to salvage his sorry state of sin. This novel speaks much to the terrible cycle of sinning and how it builds upon itself.
Frankenstein - Mary Shelley - Repetition
"I will be with you on your wedding-night." - pg. 123 among others
This phrase is one of the most repeated throughout the novel as it is very important. The repitition foreshadows an important happening on the wedding-night. What could happen is open to interpretation, and Victor had the wrong interpretation. He didn't realize until too late that the creature was going to attack him indirectly. He wasn't looking where he needed to and Elizabeth lost her life. This shows the intelligence of the creature. He is able to deceive and essentially defeat his creator, though he feels sorry for it later. The repititon is a telling clue that the creature knows what he is doing and is essentially unstopable. This gives the reader a sense of helplessness. The creature has the power to do whatever he wills.
This phrase is one of the most repeated throughout the novel as it is very important. The repitition foreshadows an important happening on the wedding-night. What could happen is open to interpretation, and Victor had the wrong interpretation. He didn't realize until too late that the creature was going to attack him indirectly. He wasn't looking where he needed to and Elizabeth lost her life. This shows the intelligence of the creature. He is able to deceive and essentially defeat his creator, though he feels sorry for it later. The repititon is a telling clue that the creature knows what he is doing and is essentially unstopable. This gives the reader a sense of helplessness. The creature has the power to do whatever he wills.
Frankenstein - Mary Shelley - Theme
"'But soon,' he cried, with sad and solemn enthusiasm, 'I shall die and what I now feel be no longer felt. Soon these burning miseries will be extinct.'" - pg. 166
William dies; Henry dies; Elizabeth dies; Victor's father dies; Victor dies; and eventually the creature will die. Death, death, death. It is prevalent throughout the work of the novel. But death itself is not the theme. The theme is the effects that come from death. The results are sadness, depression, and more death. The death of William puts Victor into depression. The death of Elizabeth leads to Victor's father's death. The death of Victor leaves Walton sad and alone. This novel is teaching us that death is an evil that should be avoided at all costs; however, death is unavoidable, and we are bound to suffer through other's deaths. While I don't agree with this theme, that is what the author is teaching us. Clearly the rain is making her depressed; unfortunately, she can't enjoy good weather on her vacation.
William dies; Henry dies; Elizabeth dies; Victor's father dies; Victor dies; and eventually the creature will die. Death, death, death. It is prevalent throughout the work of the novel. But death itself is not the theme. The theme is the effects that come from death. The results are sadness, depression, and more death. The death of William puts Victor into depression. The death of Elizabeth leads to Victor's father's death. The death of Victor leaves Walton sad and alone. This novel is teaching us that death is an evil that should be avoided at all costs; however, death is unavoidable, and we are bound to suffer through other's deaths. While I don't agree with this theme, that is what the author is teaching us. Clearly the rain is making her depressed; unfortunately, she can't enjoy good weather on her vacation.
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