How does Vonnegut achieve effects using stylistic devices and language? (Chapter 6)
(Stylistic devices include anything a writer uses - from narrative to irony to verbs to dialogue to figurative language to block letters to short sentences)
This extract is from the novel Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut, an American author who entered the Second World War as a private in the US Army. He was taken as a prisoner of war in Germany, and witnessed the destruction of Dresden by Allied bombers; hence this experience inspired him to write Slaughterhouse Five. As such, Slaughterhouse-Five's central topic is the horror of the Dresden bombing, which is clearly portrayed throughout the novel. Structurally speaking, this novel is written in a non-chronological order with many events detailed through flashbacks of the main character, Billy Pilgrim. It is written in the perspective of Billy who as a witness to the destruction like Vonnegut, seems to suffer from Post …show more content…
The ‘pea’ refers to the diamond that is later given to Valencia, while the ‘horseshoe’ symbolizes good luck. The use of ‘pea’ conveys the idea that Billy is destined to marry Valencia, thus being a prisoner to both time and his marriage.
Furthermore, Vonnegut symbolises ‘animal magnetism’ (Line 11) as a presumed intangible or mysterious force that influences human beings. In addition, ‘animal magnetism’may colloquially refer to a sex appeal. This may be part of his imagination, since it is highly plausible Billy’s trip to Trafalmodore and his relationship with Montana may just be a part of his imagination, and thus reaffirms the idea that he is using his imagination to fuel his sense of masculinity. Hence, all these symbols only serve to highlight the theme of time, fate and free will in reference to Billy’s
(Stylistic devices include anything a writer uses - from narrative to irony to verbs to dialogue to figurative language to block letters to short sentences)
This extract is from the novel Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut, an American author who entered the Second World War as a private in the US Army. He was taken as a prisoner of war in Germany, and witnessed the destruction of Dresden by Allied bombers; hence this experience inspired him to write Slaughterhouse Five. As such, Slaughterhouse-Five's central topic is the horror of the Dresden bombing, which is clearly portrayed throughout the novel. Structurally speaking, this novel is written in a non-chronological order with many events detailed through flashbacks of the main character, Billy Pilgrim. It is written in the perspective of Billy who as a witness to the destruction like Vonnegut, seems to suffer from Post …show more content…
The ‘pea’ refers to the diamond that is later given to Valencia, while the ‘horseshoe’ symbolizes good luck. The use of ‘pea’ conveys the idea that Billy is destined to marry Valencia, thus being a prisoner to both time and his marriage.
Furthermore, Vonnegut symbolises ‘animal magnetism’ (Line 11) as a presumed intangible or mysterious force that influences human beings. In addition, ‘animal magnetism’may colloquially refer to a sex appeal. This may be part of his imagination, since it is highly plausible Billy’s trip to Trafalmodore and his relationship with Montana may just be a part of his imagination, and thus reaffirms the idea that he is using his imagination to fuel his sense of masculinity. Hence, all these symbols only serve to highlight the theme of time, fate and free will in reference to Billy’s