The bombing of Dresden was one of the most fatal and controversial bombings during WWII. Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five is a science fiction novel that revolves around his experience at Dresden. Vonnegut’s novel is a valuable read that is worthy of implementation into the junior American Literature curriculum. The historical aspect that comes from Vonnegut’s anecdotal novel regarding not only Dresden and World War II, but also the views during the 1960s, when the novel was published, is beneficial for any junior. In addition, the various thematic elements throughout the book are powerful and very valuable to a young reader. Slaughterhouse-Five also has stylistic and literary elements that are perfect for an in class discussion and analysis of their purpose and meaning. Learning about the
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Vonnegut uses the Tralfamadorians, a race of aliens who could see in four dimensions, to bring across the idea that “All moments, past, present, and future, always have existed, always will exist” (Vonnegut #). This belief is very much fatalistic, saying that everyone’s life and everything has already been mapped out and is not subject to change. The Tralfamadorians are also used to mock humans for not accepting fate when they themselves have already accepted the fate of everything. The idea relates to how people think they can affect their lives, but when, in reality, no matter what someone does, their life will not be altered. The phrase “So it goes” (Vonnegut) is used by the author throughout the novel after someone or something dies. The phrase represents the inevitability of death and how it is impossible to have any control over such a thing, thinking so is simply an illusion. The theme of fate and free will is all throughout the text and provides an excellent point of discussion and debate that can be very beneficial to the education of
Vonnegut uses the Tralfamadorians, a race of aliens who could see in four dimensions, to bring across the idea that “All moments, past, present, and future, always have existed, always will exist” (Vonnegut #). This belief is very much fatalistic, saying that everyone’s life and everything has already been mapped out and is not subject to change. The Tralfamadorians are also used to mock humans for not accepting fate when they themselves have already accepted the fate of everything. The idea relates to how people think they can affect their lives, but when, in reality, no matter what someone does, their life will not be altered. The phrase “So it goes” (Vonnegut) is used by the author throughout the novel after someone or something dies. The phrase represents the inevitability of death and how it is impossible to have any control over such a thing, thinking so is simply an illusion. The theme of fate and free will is all throughout the text and provides an excellent point of discussion and debate that can be very beneficial to the education of