CHAPTER TEN - MOOD

One thing that is very noticable is is the mood set by Vonnegut in this chapter. The way he just jumps around stating random facts about death and other events creates a quite blunt atmosphere. "Robert Kennedy, whose summer home is eight miles from the home I live in all year round, was shot two nights ago. He died last night. So it goes. Martin Luther King was shot a month ago. He died, too. So it goes." (p 210). This is not the typical beginning to a chapter. This statement of influential leaders dying is blunt and said with no meaning. Vonnegut's mood in this chapter is solemn and depressing. He, Billy, and Bernard are shoveling through rubble to find dead Dresden citizens. Many die of the aweful odor coming from the rotting bodies. This is depressing and messed up.

CHAPTER NINE - MR. DEEDS

This chapter brought up a connection to many movies where average people are thrown into very dramatic situations. Bertram Copeland Rumfoord was an average man with a job at Harvard. He was extraordinarily smart, but still very average. After an unfortunate injury, is thrown into a hospital room with Billy Pilgrim. Billy has the most bizarre life ever. He is unstuck time and going from one life experience to another. Bertram is freaked out by Billy's constant talk about Dresden and the bombing and WWII. Another man who was thrown into another lifestyle was Adam Sandler in Mr. Deeds. He plays as Longfellow Deeds, an average man who runs a pizza shop in a small city. His grandfather dies, leaving him a ton of money in inheritance. Quickly, he becomes one of the richest men in the country living in a huge penthouse in downtown New York City. This huge change of scenery freaks him out at first. However, he gets used to it and lives the life of luxury. This is what Bertram could not do. He could not get past the constant talk of WWII with Billy.

CHAPTER NINE - INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION

Bertram Copeland Rumfoord is introduced this chapter. He is a 70 year old professor at Harvard University who is married to a 23 year old go go dancer. After an unfortunate ski accident involving a broken leg, he finds himself in the hospital. The relevance to this and the story is that he is placed in the same room as Billy Pilgrim after his miraculous escape from death in the plane crash. The indirect characterization comes in through the words and actions of Rumfoord. He is constantly annoyed by Billy's consistent tossign around in bed and uttering things about WWII. Bertram is indirectly characterized when he says things about America based on his conclusions from Billy's personality and actions. Bertram Copeland Rumfoord has always been a huge supporter of America and had high hopes of it. However, when he sees Billy's cowardice groaning of WWII, he loses hope for Billy. "Professor Rumfoord said frightful things about Billy within Billy's hearing, confident that Billy no longer had any brain at all. 'Why don't they just let him die?' he asked Lily... 'That's not a human being anymore. Doctors are for human beings. They should turn him over to a veterinarian or a tree surgeon." (p 190)

CHAPTER EIGHT - AMERICA

This chapter reminded me a lot of a few songs I have heard in support of America. All of these prisoners of war are starving and malnurished. They are being offered a deal from the Germans to fight with them against America and the Russians. In return, they are fed and kept in decent condition throughout the war. However, each of the men turn down the offer in rude fashion. They keep strong to their American roots and will do anything to support their country. Even when they stare death in hte face, they continue to rally against the Nazi's in hope for the success of their homeland.

CHAPTER EIGHT - EXTERNAL CONFLICT

Throughout this chapter, all of the American prisoners of war are experiencing external conflict. Billy Pilgrim and the rest of the Americans are in conflict with all of German/Nazi soldiers. Each of them are approached by Howard Campbell, an American soldier turned Nazi propagandist. While all of them are starving and being forced to march, he gives them the opportunity to fight against the Russians, American allies, as Nazi soldiers. Each of them proceed to completely insult the idea and mock him. Each of the prisoners of war follow their beliefs and morals. They are Americans and will forever fight as such.

CHAPTER SEVEN - ANCHORMAN'S METAHPORS

When I first saw the metaphor used for Lionel by the Tralfamadorians, I was instantly reminded of a metaphor from one of my favorite movies of all time, Anchorman. Brick Tamland (Steve Carell), a fellow newscaster beside Ron Burngundy (Will Ferrell), is eating with the guys at a cafe. They are all enjoying their food while Brick is eating a "Falafel Hot Dog".  He understands it is really a used coffee filter with cigarette buds in it, but he insists on calling it a "falafel hot dog". This is a metaphor. Falafel is a word used to describe a patty of mysterious meat, usually fava beans or chickpea. Brick continues to consume this garbage from the "food basket" at the end of the lunch line, which is really the trash can. Brick is full of metaphors in this funny scene of one of the best movies ever.

CHAPTER SEVEN- METAPHORS

In Chapter seven, Billy Pilgrim is boarding the plane that ends up killing his father in law. He knows all that is going to happen before he even boards the plane. He plans on heading to an optometrist convention in Montreal. While Pilgrim is boarding the plane, Vonnegut mentions Billy's wife is eating a candy bar. This is a common thread throughout the book. Kurt Vonnegut wants to make the message clear that his wife is very large and eats quite badly. Everytime she is mentioned, she is eating. Now her father comes into the story, Lionel Merble. One word used to describe him is "machine". This is the metaphor. Lionel is described as a machine because he is large. Valencia took a eating habit like his. They are both very large and referred to as machines by the Tralfamadorians. In their eyes, the humans are huge. In previous chapters, the Tralfamadorians are described as small, green creatures. When they view most humans, they are much larger. All the creatures in the Universe were bigger than the Tralfamadorians. Therefore, they are all machines. "Tralfamadorians, of course, say that every creature and plant in the Universe is a machine. It amuses them that so many Earthlings are offended by the idea of being machines" (p 154).