Chapter Ten: Fin

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Our narrator places himself back into the story again with an account of the deaths he has recently encountered. What is significant about the wording?

Why would aliens be so interested in Darwin? Why would they be interested in golf?

How had O'Hare and the narrator become so "extremely well-to-do"? Why does the narrator repeat Billy's phrase about Wild Bob?

What do you make of the comments the narrator and O'Hare have after they read the population data?

Now we have the narrator, O'Hare, and Billy all together in Dresden...does this solidify Billy's story?

Why is Dresden described as being the moon? Do you suppose it's a fitting description?
If so, how?

What does the position and condition of the first set of bodies found in Dresden suggest?

I like this ending...but it might not strike you the same. Take a look at the last 3-4 paragraphs...do you think this was a good way for Vonnegut to end the novel? Did the narrator keep his promise to Mary O'Hare?

Chapter 9

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What a bizarre way for Valencia to go. Since we know that writers can dispose of characters in any way they wish, why do you think Vonnegut chose this circuitous route to Valencia's demise?

Love the Roosevelt quote...

Why is Rumfoord brought into the story? What does he do to move the plot along?

Why doesn't Rumfoord believe Billy was in Dresden initially?

Billy and the Americans were looting Dresden...does this change your opinion of Billy?

What does it say about Billy that the only thing he cries about during the entire war is the condition of the horses?

Why does the Rumfoord section end after Billy mentions the Tralfamadorians?

Billy realizes that he has read The Big Board before. This novel kind of mirrors his own experiences on Tralfamador. What does this fact suggest?

What is significant about the Jesus story?

Why does Vonnegut choose to put Billy in an adult bookstore? What do we learn about Billy based on his reactions there?

So we see the serenity prayer again, this time on Montana's necklace...what does this suggest about the earlier encounter with the prayer?

Chapter Eight

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Although Howard W. Campbell, Jr., is a fictional character, "The Free American Corps" was very real. Look it up.

What do you make of Derby's stance against Campbell? What do you make of the fact that he's the only one to make that stand?

Why does Billy's daughter want to kill Kilgore Trout?

Kilgore Trout created the idea of burning jellied gasoline. What is this substance referred to as today? Where was it used extensively? Why is it important that robots created and used it in the book?

Another great description: "She was a dull person, but a sensational invitation to make babies." Made me chuckle.

Why do you think Billy reacts so adversely to the "old gang of mine" song?

Has anyone ever tried the mirror/dog trick? I wonder if it works...

Odd thing to say about one's son: "Billy liked him, but didn't know him very well." How do you think this came to be?

Odd that after the bombing of Dresden, one of Billy's strongest memories is that the guards reminded him of a barbershop quartet...

Bombing of Dresden: 2/13/45. Why does this date sound familiar?

So Billy fathered a child with Montana Wildhack. He also goes through the entire pregnancy with her while in the Tralfamadorian zoo. As far as characterization goes, what does this tell us about Billy?

What a bizarre scene...Billy and the Americans come out of the slaughterhouse to see Dresden utterly destroyed...they make their way through the destruction, and just outside of town they see an inn open for business. Why do you think Vonnegut included this seemingly unlikely scene?

Chapter Seven

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How can you know the plane is going to crash and not say something -- allow people the opportunity to make their peace with God, for instance?

How does the nature of the Polish songs characterize Lionel Merble?

Billy was in a mental institution, and now we find out he had a massive head injury in the plane crash...could this explain the fact that his narration is questionable at best? Later it states that -- while unconcious from surgery -- billy "dreamed millions of things, some of them true. The true things were time travel." True according to whom?

Why do you think Vonnegut includes the scene with the women showering?

Interesting to see how Vonnegut described the spooning of vitamins. It was as if his body was thanking him...Have you ever craved some type of nourishment and had your body thank you?

Chapter 6: Dresden

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Again, Vonnegut starts with, "Billy Pilgrim says..." Does this mean Billy is an unreliable narrator to our narrator?

Vonnegut keeps describing Edgar Derby as the "high school teacher who would eventually be shot." Why does he keep reminding us of that fact?

How could the lumps in the jacket work miracles for him if he didn't question their nature?

"Golgotha sounds" -- anybody have a comment on the source of this allusion? Great phrase...

Isn't it odd to have dartboards and pool tables in a war? Are they included simply as touches of realism or for some other reason?

What are your thoughts on Lazzaro's canine revenge? What about his planned revenge on the Blue Fairy Godmother? What do these things reveal about his character? Should Billy be nervous, or is Lazzaro just a big talker?

Billy dies on 2/13/76, the day before Valentine's Day...is there any other historical significance to that date?

The state of the United States has changed. There are "20 petty nations" instead of one that is united. Chicago has been hit by a hydrogen bomb that was dropped by "angry Chinamen." These things have not actually taken place in history. What is the idea behind these facts? Why does Vonnegut choose this fate for the United States?

What is geodesic? Why is that important?

The flag described is a Hereford bull in a field of green. Anybody read
Animal Farm? Seems to be a similarity between the flags. What is the significance of that?

Death is said to be nothing but violet light and a hum...no one else is there...not even Billy Pilgrim. Kind of depressing and empty.

What does the line drawn in the dirt by the Englishman mean?

What do you make of the fact that the Cinderella boots fit Billy perfectly? Is there any of the Cinderella story in Billy's story?

On page 146 in my book, the Englishman states that nothing in Dresden is worth bombing. If all of the reasons he gives are true, then why was Dresden obliterated by bombs?

Our narrator shows up in Dresden...behind Billy in the boxcar. What significance might there be in his comparing Dresden to Oz?

Since Billy knows that Dresden will be destroyed in the bombing, he takes in the beauty of the city with new eyes. Why is it that people generally don't take in beauty like this until it's too late?

What was the purpose of hiding a denture in the lining of the muff?

Chapter 5

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What is the significance of the Tralfamadorians having only one book and the fact that the one book they have is Valley of the Dolls?

Billy seems to be full of fear at age 12...fear of the Grand Canyon, fear of falling in, fear of having his mother push him in, the Carlsbad Cavern's roof falling in on him, a glow-in-the-dark watch...what's with all the fear?

I wonder what the American said to make the guard angry enough to knock him down...

The Englishmen had saved all that food...why not take care of the clerical error so that the troops on the front would have enough food?

New word alert: rodomontades

The British are shown to treat war as something stylish, reasonable, and fun. Why?

"The banquet hall was illuminated by candlelight." The candlelight was provided by candles made of human fat. grotesque image in an otherwise celebratory, welcoming environment...

Where else would one be able to take in a showing of Cinderella during WWII?

Why is it significant that Derby is reading The Red Badge of Courage?

So Billy was in a mental ward after the war...Does this make his story more or less plausible?

"So they were trying to re-invent themselves and their universe. Science fiction was a big help." How so?

Derby refers to the war as the "Children's Crusade." Where have we heard that before? Why is that significant?

Why do you suppose Billy is so averse to seeing his mother? Is the explanation of feeling guilty sufficient, or is there more to it?

Valencia sounds like a prize...

What do you make of the re-write of the New Testament?

Funny that the Tralfamadorian crowd goes crazy when Billy goes to the bathroom -- just like crowds at the zoo react when apes or monkeys go to the bathroom. What's up with that reaction?

Why can't humans follow the advice of the Tralfamadorians and just ignore the bad and celebrate the good?

What are your thoughts on the gravestone drawing?

What are your thoughts on Howard W. Campbell, Jr.'s thoughts on Americans and war?

Is Billy cheating on Valencia when he is sleeping with Montana, or is he absolved by the fact that it happens on a different planet?