Thesis

Thesis Statement: The anti-war novel, Slaughterhouse Five, is used to show the devastating effects of war.

The first point I found, that can be useful for my analytic essay, is: Kurt Vonnegut tries to reveal the foolishness of the human mind through the anti-war novel, Slaughterhouse Five. He depicts the war with so many worthless killings; such as, "one guy i knew really was shot in Dresden for taking a teapot." (1)

The second point I found that also supports my thesis statement is: Acting foolishly, Billy is used as an example of the humans who are also against the war. He believes that the world will be destroyed by the war, "And I have lit my way in a prison at night with candles from the fat of human beings who were butchered by the brothers and fathers of those school girls who were boiled. Earthlings must be the terrors of the Universe." (116)

My Chapter 6

Within this chapter, I see how Slaughterhouse-Five uses irony and hyperbole in a humerous way. Previously in the book, I took everything too literally. The book seemed melancholy and not very interesting. In my english class, my teacher, Mr. Tangen, suggested taking the book not so literally, but with a light and humorous mind. When I did my reading that night, I tried to apply what Mr. Tngen had suggested and I saw all the hidden jokes Kurt Vonnegut put into the novel. I read certain parts twice so that I could be sure not to miss the literal meaning and the humorous meaning. "The Englishman with Lazzaro's feet was colonel who had given Billy his knockout shot. The Blue Fairy Godmother was embarrassed, and angry too. 'If i'd known i would have ... " (page 127) This quote shows how hyperbole is used to add humor to the novel. Vonnegut uses the common and well known image of a fairy godmother, a soft and very sweet character, in a violent and revengeful way. He makes the image and the version from the novel an oxymoron. "..." In this quote, Lazzaro tells them of how envious he is that they are going to Dresden. He tells them of how safe it is and how great it would be for them to go over there. Ironically, when they get there, they are bombed just as Lazarro had told them would not happen.

Vonnegut Chapter 5

Within this chapter, Billy travels back to various times in his past. Vonnegut reveals certain information so that the reader understands Billy and his actions better. Billy goes back to a time where the tramalfadorians teach him of the seven diffrent sexes. This confuses Billy, but he does not question the subject any further.

"There isn't any particular relationship between the messages except that the author has chosen them carefully, so that, when seen all at once, they produce an image of life that is beautiful and surprising and deep. There is no beginning, no middle, no end, no suspense, no moral, no causes, no effects. What we love in our books are the depths of many marvelous moments seen all at one time." At this point, Billy has the Tralfamadorian novel explained to him. Vonnegut uses this as a model for the story. The irony of Vonnegut using this strategy, is that he, like Billy, also does not completely understand the ability to pick up and choose his moments.

Vonnegut later explains the reasons as to why he travels back in time. He shows certain passages of his life so that we understand the reasons why he does what he does.