Mr. Vonnegut Himself
What War and bombing does Kurt Vonnegut refer to throughout the book
Double points If you can name the month and date of the bombing.
WWII. Sep 1, 1939 – Sep 2, 1945
Bombing of Dresden Feb 13, 1945 – Feb 15, 1945
What planet was Billy taken to after being kidnapped by the Aliens?
Tralfamadorians
What does the phrase "so it goes" mean?
a resigned acceptance of what has happened, particularly death, with a sense of fatalistic indifference
What type of mechanism does the Tralfamadorians serve for Billy Pilgrim?
They serve as a coping mechanism for Billy Pilgrim psychological trauma
Characteristics of Post Modernism Fiction
-Multiple meanings and multiple worlds
-Multiple perspective/ narrators
-Nontraditional structures
-Comments upon itself "(meta)"
What is the significance of Chapter 1 in Slaughterhouse 5?
In this chapter the narrator, Kurt Vonnegut, discusses the difficulty he faces trying to write about the firebombing of Dresden during World War II, which he experienced as a prisoner of war
What phrase does Slaughter House Five close out with?
Double Point: Explain the meaning of this phrase and what it symbolize
the phrase "Poo-tee-weet?"
Bonus: symbolize the ineffable nature of war and massacre, emphasizing that there is nothing intelligent to say about such devastation.
How many dimensions are Tralfamadores aware of?
They are aware of four.
How does Billy Pilgrim Experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
-experiences flashbacks to his traumatic war memories.
-within his own brain, he creates Tralfamadorians. The Tralfamadorian principle represents Billy’s perception of time and life as a result of witnessing mass death and destruction. As a result of this trauma, Billy feel calmer and accepts death as something that is not negative as a way to cope with what he had witnessed
What is Beat poetry?
Rebellious and nonconformist
In direct conflict with “academic” poetry that is meant to be analyzed
Characterized by its rejection of traditional poetic and social conventions, often featuring free verse, surreallist themes, and influence from jazz music, Zen Buddhism, and Native American spirituality.
What was the writer-workshop that was able to land Vonnegut a contract to write three books of which Slaughterhouse-Five being the first.
Iowa Writer’s Workshop
Who is the fictional Author that Billy Pilgrims refer to throughout the novel?
Kilgore Trout
Who kills Billy Pilgrim and what City does he die in?
Paul Lazzaro kills Billy Pilgrim. City Billy dies in is Chicago.
What two mental health conditions is Billy most associated with when laughing uncontrollably to Cinderella?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Disassociation.
What is New Journalism?
Nonfiction takes on the artistry traditionally thought to be the scope of fiction
Journalists inject their POV into a story, sometimes even themselves
When Vonnegut goes back to Dresden in 1967, what does he say it looks like?
Dayton, Ohio but with more open spaces
What month, day, or year is Billy Pilgrim's death date
Feburary 13th, 1976
What is the name of two of Kilgore Trout novel within the story?
"The Big Board" and "The Gospel from Outer Space"
Why did Billy watch the WWII movie backwards?
What is Existentialism?
-The believe there is no divine intervention, fate or outside forces actively pushing you in a particular directions. Every decision you make is yours. You created your own purpose through actions.
-What is the meaning of life? What is my purpose. Why do I exist?
-Philosophical belief that we are each responsible for creating meaning and purpose on our own lives.
What was the bible that Vonnegut looked through while in his motel room, for tales of great destruction.
Gideon Bible
How does Billy's wife die?
dies from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning after a car accident on her way to visit him in the hospital. She had crashed her car and lost an exhaust pipe, leading to carbon monoxide poisoning.
What is the only event that makes Billy cry?
seeing the condition of the horses after the bombing of Dresden.
What mental health disorder is this quote associated with?
“ ‘There is no such planet as Tralfamadore.’ ‘It can’t be detected from Earth, if that’s what you mean,’ said Billy. ‘Earth can’t be detected from tralfamadore, as far as that goes. They’re both very small. They’re very far apart.’ “
Delusional Disorder
What is Absurdist Theatre?
Double Points: What was the name of either the book, series, or author from the passage from the Post Modernism Quiz we took in this class?
Express what happens when human existence lacks meaning or purpose
The features include anti-character, anti-language, anti-drama and anti-plot. of the Absurd regard their own personalities as a formal case.
Double: Possible Answer may include "The Bad beginning, Series of Unfortunate Events, Author Daniel Handler(pen name Lemony Snicket)