Slaughterhouse Five Unit Objectives:
Directions: By working with teams and discussing the novel, you will understand the following:
1. Make connections between Slaughterhouse-Five and important social, philosophic, and scientific
issues in the 20th Century, especially:
a. World War II and the Dresden bombing,
b. The Vietnam Conflict, the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert Kennedy,
c. Einstein’s theory of relativity, existentialism,
d. Postwar suburban living,
e. Philosophy: Death instincts vs. Life Instincts/ Drive towards destruction vs. survival etc.
2. Identify and explain the use of black humor, satire, parody, dramatic irony, structural irony and
verbal irony, anti-hero, ambiguity in theme, science fiction, episodic plot structure, flat, and static
characterization.
3. Identify and explain Vonnegut’s use of first-person and third-person points of view.
4. Identify and explain Vonnegut’s use of simple, short sentences, and clipped dialogue.
5. Identify and explain Vonnegut’s use of both “high” and “low” literature in the novel.
6. In satire, the reader can’t take characters and events at face value, but must reach his or
7. her own conclusions about deeper meanings. Often, the writer intends the reader to judge
8. harshly. The unusual wrinkle in this novel is that Vonnegut himself appears in the book and
expresses a similar outlook to that of the characters. Should we take Vonnegut at face value?
9. How should we judge, for instance, his “So it goes,” indifference to death and war?
10. What is your judgment of Billy Pilgrim and what he represents? Does he deserve your
sympathy? Your blame?
11. Compare Tralfamadorians and the Nazis. How are they similar? Where in the novel does the
author make such links? Does Billy—the Everyman—share any of the same characteristics as
these two groups? What is Vonnegut suggesting with these comparisons?
Your Participation: Now it is time to take everything you have learned about studying literature in the
past four years of high school and apply your knowledge to understand and examine Kurt Vonnegut’s,
Slaughterhouse Five.
You will have questions (in this order) – Look them up or go to my webpage and look on my screen
cast, ask me 
You will be confused – Go back reread, ask others, research, ask me 
You will have to think! - You could spend hours analyzing one page of Slaughterhouse Five, we don’t
have that time, and let’s face it, we have other things to do! But, because there is so much to work with
and analyze, I am going to challenge you to CRITICALLY thank and analyze the themes, motifs, point of
view, style, and other literary elements in the novel.
You will have to take responsibility and manage your time: Since the reading may require you to do
some research, if you are having trouble following the book, it will take you longer to complete the
readings. I will offer screen casts on some of the ideas that are difficult to understand so please refer to
my webpage when you are in doubt. But, manage your time accordingly.
You will be held accountable for your preparation for group work: In the effort to make sure you are
reading, there will be daily quizzes on the readings you are assigned. They will count as quiz grades.
Slaughterhouse Five – Teamwork
* These descriptions are the minimum work, you may need to research some of the examples in
the book to gain a better understanding.
* When in doubt, look over your unit objectives to see if your group is headed in the right
directions.
The Leader:
The leader is NOT responsible for all the work. You will work to facilitate an equal, in depth,
collaborative discussion on your team’s goals, objectives, and understandings. You will be responsible for
taking group attendance, tracking the quality of participation for each group member, and refocusing the
team if they should fall off task. You will also take notes on the what the group discussed and the
progress you made in examining the ideas. These can be bulleted points.
Theme Examiner:
You will read to address the themes introduced in this novel. You will come in with, specific quotes and
examples that speak to the theme and share them with your group. You will also make sure the group
writes down the information you share.
Social Examiner: (Your goal in examining these issues: What is Vonnegut trying to express about the
given issue through each of these specific examples in the text)
You will identify anything in the text that can speak to social issues that you think the author is trying to
address. Use the following format to help organize your notes:
Philosophic/Religious Examiner: The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and
existence.
(Your goal in examining these issues: What is Vonnegut trying to express about the given issue through
each of these specific examples in the text)
You will identify anything in the text that can speak to philosophical issues that you think the author is
trying to address. Use the following format to help organize your notes:
Scientific Examiner:
(Your goal in examining these issues: What is Vonnegut trying to express about the given issue through
each of these specific examples in the text)
You will identify anything in the text that can speak to scientific issues that you think the author is trying
to address. Use the following format to help organize your notes:
The End Product: What are we working towards?
What are you working towards?
1. After each team meeting, you will come away with your groups’ understanding/analysis for each
focus point.
2. Towards the end of the novel, you will determine which focal point: Themes, social, scientific, or
philosophical, you want to analyze and present to the class.
3. You will work to create an engaging, thoughtful, and organized presentation on your analysis of
the focal point of your choice. (Requirements will follow)
Overarching Questions:
1. After reading the novel, which issues from the text do you wish to address?
2. What do you think Vonnegut’s view is on this issue?
a. Choose Three specific examples from the text in which your team can analyze and
present to the class
b. Research: Each example should reflect careful RESEARCH and attention to analysis
and connect back to the point/statement Vonnegut is trying to make
c. Your conclusion of Vonnegut’s Point: Do you agree/disagree? Why?
d. Use videos, pictures, website links. Etc to enhance the audiences understanding of your
presentation
Grading and Assessment:
1. Quiz/Reading Checks – 10 multiple choice questions focused on the basic concepts in the text and
information that I provide on screencasts.
2. Team Participation: Based on teacher observation and leader feedback
a. A – Excellent – Comes in with thorough notes on their role and contributes with quality
ideas and information
b. B – Good – Comes in with decent/sparse notes but contributes quality ideas and
information
c. C – Fair – Comes in with sparse notes and contributes
d. D- Poor/minimal contribution
3. Presentation (Rubric to follow) Worth 200 points and graded based on teacher and peer
evaluation
Participation Form
Contribution Scale: A – Thoughtful and Consistent B – Consistent C – Minimal
Name
Present?
Notes (Yes, No,
eh?)
D. Poor/unprepared
Contribution – Write 1 Quality idea
they contributed
Discussion
1.
E. None
List at least understandings your group reached today?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
2. What was the most interesting understanding your group came to today?
3. List at least 2 questions your group raised?
4. What were your responses to these questions?
Extra Notes:
Note-Taking Guide
What is my focus point: ________________________________________________
Example:
Page
#
Analysis/Explanation of how this applies to
your focal point
Did I find any research on any of the examples above? (Attach)
Questions to raise
regarding this
example?
Themes
The relativity (subjectivity) of truth
Human reinvention
Negative effects of war
Desire to return to innocence
Inability of man to cope with horror
Man’s acceptance of fate
Dehumanization of man at the hands of society
Illusion of institutional religion