Why Does Kurt Vonnegut Use Of Structure
Sophie Arregoces
English IV
Mr. Coon
27 Aug 2015
Title
Most novels are composed of an unbroken and continuous sequence of events starting at the beginning, traveling through the middle, and concluding at the end. However, Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five experiments with the structure of events, thus creating a compelling piece of writing. There is much debate as to why Vonnegut decided to formulate his novel in such manner. Nevertheless, the structure provides a multitude of advantages. Vonnegut’s non-linear arrangement has the ability to powerfully convey various themes and messages that would otherwise be weakened if the novel followed a traditional format. Slaughterhouse-Five is an anti-war novel that details the life of Billy Pilgrim who experiences great horror and suffering of his involvement in World War II and as a prisoner of war during the bombing of Dresden. Billy’s story, however, is not told chronologically; it has no pattern or order. The disorganization of Billy’s stories and experiences represents the immense war trauma he suffers from. The …show more content…
The sporadic recollection of events and time travel is the only way Billy can cope with his trauma and make sense out of what has happened to him. It is inevitable that Billy will think about his time in the war and the horrors that went along with in. However, it is the way Billy relives those moments that allow him to tolerate them. Case in point, the nonchalant telling of Billy’s story adds a level of lightness to what he experiences. (Example of satire in book). The ability to temporarily live in and then disconnect from one moment and transition to the next prevents Billy from facing the full extent of his emotions and the severity and realism of his trauma. It is for this reason that the erratic chronology of the novel allows Billy to cope with him
English IV
Mr. Coon
27 Aug 2015
Title
Most novels are composed of an unbroken and continuous sequence of events starting at the beginning, traveling through the middle, and concluding at the end. However, Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five experiments with the structure of events, thus creating a compelling piece of writing. There is much debate as to why Vonnegut decided to formulate his novel in such manner. Nevertheless, the structure provides a multitude of advantages. Vonnegut’s non-linear arrangement has the ability to powerfully convey various themes and messages that would otherwise be weakened if the novel followed a traditional format. Slaughterhouse-Five is an anti-war novel that details the life of Billy Pilgrim who experiences great horror and suffering of his involvement in World War II and as a prisoner of war during the bombing of Dresden. Billy’s story, however, is not told chronologically; it has no pattern or order. The disorganization of Billy’s stories and experiences represents the immense war trauma he suffers from. The …show more content…
The sporadic recollection of events and time travel is the only way Billy can cope with his trauma and make sense out of what has happened to him. It is inevitable that Billy will think about his time in the war and the horrors that went along with in. However, it is the way Billy relives those moments that allow him to tolerate them. Case in point, the nonchalant telling of Billy’s story adds a level of lightness to what he experiences. (Example of satire in book). The ability to temporarily live in and then disconnect from one moment and transition to the next prevents Billy from facing the full extent of his emotions and the severity and realism of his trauma. It is for this reason that the erratic chronology of the novel allows Billy to cope with him