enduring over time as Kurt Vonnegut ’s Slaughterhouse-Five. Slaughterhouse-Five is a personal novel which draws upon Vonnegut ’s experience ’s as a scout in World War Two‚ his capture and becoming a prisoner of war‚ and his witnessing of the fire bombing of Dresden in February of 1945 (the greatest man-caused massacre in history). The novel is about the life and times of a World War Two veteran named Billy Pilgrim. In Slaughterhouse-Five‚ Kurt Vonnegut uses structure and point of view to portray the theme
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Nagasaki killed around 45‚000. These are very large numbers considering only two bombs were used‚ but are about average compared to other raids made during World War 2. Around 50‚000 were killed and 37‚000 wounded in the bombing of Hamburg‚ 25‚000 were killed in the bombing of Dresden‚ and 225‚000 were killed with 1‚000‚000 injured in B-29 raids made on Tokyo. The destruction caused by the atom bombs aren’t as large as they seemed when put into
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Japan‚ and three days later‚ a second atomic bomb destroyed the city of Nagasaki” (Hiroshima and Nagasaki). Many people argue whether or not these bombings were ethical and legal. The U.S. killed innocent people in order to “break the morale” of the Japanese population. The U.S. also broke many of the statements in the “Just War” doctrine. Theses bombings caused many people to face harmful amounts of radiation and die. I believe that President Harry S. Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bombs was
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For instance‚ although the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki caused many casualties‚ it offered the best choice for a quick and easy defeat of Japan. In his official announcement of the bombing‚ US president Harry S. Truman stated: “It was to spare the Japanese people from utter destruction that the ultimatum of July 26 was issued at Potsdam.” It appears he
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author. Vonnegut’s experiments in literature served as a method to clear his head “of all the junk in there‚” as he stated himself. Many of Vonnegut’s works were about or included war and were heavily influenced by the time that Vonnegut had spent in Dresden. Writing seemed to be Vonnegut’s only way of expressing certain of his feelings towards the events the occurred throughout his life‚ especially during World War
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Ryan Bown September 4‚ 2009 Biff G Slaughterhouse-Five In the novel Slaughterhouse-Five‚ Billy Pilgrim discovers that the Tralfamadorian idea of time is that every moment is sealed by destiny and structured in a way that is unchangeable. Even though the Tralfamadorians and Billy can see their future‚ they know it is impossible to change it. Also‚ since their philosophy of time is fixed by fate and cannot be altered‚ it negates the concept of free will derived from Earth. In the beginning
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A very important part of his life was when he served in WWII where he was taken as a prisoner of war. Vonnegut was captured by the Germans on December 14‚ 1944 in the Battle of the Bulge (Biography). He was kept in Dresden with other POWs to work in a syrup factory. When Dresden was bombed on February 13‚ 1945‚ he survived while hiding in a cellar of a slaughterhouse where the POWs were living. Vonnegut was finally able to come home in May of 1945. He discusses his struggle to write about his
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Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2005) Jonathan Safran Foer Jonathan Safran Foer‚ born in Washington DC in 1977‚ faced a challenge when writing ‘Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close’; he had to equal his acclaimed debut ‘Everything Is Illuminated’ (2002). He definitely succeeded; his second novel does not just live up to‚ but exceeds expectations. For the second time Foer has managed to create a work of genius. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close tells the story of Oskar Schell‚ a highly intelligent
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had transformed his syndicate into an international cartel" (Heller 264). The exchange between Yossarian and Doc Daneeka is an example of the humorous repetitive structure used by Heller. "Yossarian tries to get out of going on any more dangerous bombing missions by getting the doctor to ground him as unfit for flying" (Muir 970). Yossarian ’s circular conversation with Doc Daneeka concerning his craziness for flying missions is humorous and absurd. As Yossarian learns by trying to get the airbase
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as he experienced several events in the war and ultimately the bombing of Dresden. Through several characters‚ dialogue and events we are presented within the novel‚ we get the use of several themes and motifs to further Vonnegut’s purpose. Vonnegut wanted to write an anti-war novel‚ mainly because of its effect on his life and his promise to his friend’s wife‚ Mary O’ Hare‚ who once found out about his outline of the war in Dresden‚ told him to tell the story just as it is.
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