Question about Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughter House-Five

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the narrative structure of Kurt Vonnegut's "Slaughterhouse-Five," specifically whether the narrator is a representation of Vonnegut himself. Participants confirm that Vonnegut, a World War II veteran, interjects personal experiences into the narrative, particularly in the semi-autobiographical elements of the story. The phrase "This is mostly real" serves as a disclaimer, indicating a blend of fact and fiction. The narrator's direct acknowledgment, "That was me. That was I. That was the author of this book," further emphasizes this connection.

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  • Familiarity with narrative techniques in literature
  • Understanding of semi-autobiographical writing
  • Knowledge of Kurt Vonnegut's biography and military background
  • Awareness of literary devices such as authorial intrusion
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  • Explore the concept of authorial intrusion in literature
  • Research the historical context of World War II and its influence on literature
  • Analyze other semi-autobiographical works by Kurt Vonnegut
  • Study the impact of science fiction elements in "Slaughterhouse-Five"
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Literature students, educators, and fans of Kurt Vonnegut seeking to deepen their understanding of narrative techniques and the interplay between autobiography and fiction in "Slaughterhouse-Five."

wasteofo2
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I just started reading the book, and I can't figure out if the narrator of the story is supposed to be Kurt Vonnegut or not. I mean, there are a lot of times authors will narrate their own books and interject into the stories (like saying "but I digress", or "I'll tell you about him some other time), and I can't figure out if Vonnegut was actually in WWII and talking about his actual experiences, or the little "This is mostly real" disclaimer in the beginning of the book is supposed to be the fictional protagonist conversing with the reader.

Thanks,
Jacob
 
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There is a point in that book where the narrator is telling the anecdote of one soldier who had the runs while sitting on the latrine. He quotes the soldier (something like) "I think I'm going to s*** my brains out." and then later, "There they go!" and then the book says:

"That was me. That was I. That was the author of this book."

A lot of people point out that this was KV jumping into the book, pointing out that the narrator was someone else who was telling the story about a group of soldiers, one of whom was KV.
 
Yep slaughterhouse five is semi-autobiographical (only the parts about aliens tho').
 

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