Chandler Hood
Period 1, 3
Slaughterhouse Five Socratic Seminar Pre-Writing
After reading Slaughterhouse Five I am still somewhat unclear as to whether it is
an anti-war novel or not. When you hear Kurt Vonnegut talking in the first chapter of the
book I assumed that he was against war because he talked about how he did not want his
kids to participate in any form of a massacre, be delighted by a massacre or even work for
a company that produces items used for massacres (page 24). In addition to this, he also
says that there is nothing smart to say about a massacre. When Billy Pilgrim is in the zoo
on Tralfamadore he learns that although the Tralfamadorians can see when moments will
happen in what we have labeled time, they don’t try and avoid war or anything else that is
supposed to happen because it will always happen. A war is war, just another moment
that will always exist in what we call time. I’m not sure if Kurt Vonnegut is trying to
show this ideal the Tralfamadorians in a ridiculous light so that it seems absurd. The fire
bombing of Dresden was not widely seen as a horrid human tragedy, almost swept under
the rug, serves as an example that war just occurs and that whether people take notice or
not does not change the fact. Both sides are very persuasive but I don’t feel confident
taking a side.
I believe that this book teaches
5 most important passages in the book
1. Page 29, paragraphs 1 and 2
2. Page 97, paragraphs 2-5
3. Page 108 paragraph 4 – Page 109 paragraphs 1-3
4. Page 111 paragraph 5 – Page 112 paragraph 1
5.