1. Yes, I read my colleagues' work online. I would say I do it at least once a week, but it varies. Generally, the more open-ended an assignment is, the more likely I am to check other blogs. It's interesting seeing what other people think of the same topic, especially if it's a creative work like the Allegory of the Cave sonnets. There is a huge variety of styles, and it's a good way of seeing what a good approach to the assignment is. Reading peoples' literature analysis has helped me decide on what books I want to read myself. That said, I don't typically check my classmates' blogs before doing my own post, unless I am totally stumped on what to write. I like to get my ideas down as the occur "naturally". Working together is important, but so is individualism. The merit of collaboration comes from the summation of many individuals' own thoughts.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Literature Analysis: Slaughterhouse-Five
Unfortunately, my plot summary does not make much sense. Due to the book's extremely non-linear nature, a straightforward summary that encompasses the book's themes is difficult. I did my best to explain the gist of it, though.
GENERAL
1. The plot of Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut is centered around Billy Pilgrim's time-traveling escapades. The story, told from Billy's perspective (and sometimes Vonnegut, who has placed himself in the story), skips around between short anecdotal snippets from different points in Billy's life. These parts include his survival of the bombing of Dresden during World War II, his later years after a plane crash, and his abduction by aliens from the planet Tralfamadore. Billy's life in the war is the the focal point of the story, but certainly not the only significant part. Through Billy's time-bending journeys, Vonnegut shares his views on a variety of subjects (ranging from antiwar sentiments to what it means to have free will). Told linearly, Slaughterhouse-Five is about a young man who survives a war. He is abducted by aliens from Tralfamador, who place him in a zoo. Tralfamadorians can see the fourth dimension, which means that they view all of time at once--rather than a single instant at a time. When Billy returns to Earth, he tries to share the Tralfamadorian philosophy. He is killed by somebody who swore revenge on him during the war.
GENERAL
1. The plot of Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut is centered around Billy Pilgrim's time-traveling escapades. The story, told from Billy's perspective (and sometimes Vonnegut, who has placed himself in the story), skips around between short anecdotal snippets from different points in Billy's life. These parts include his survival of the bombing of Dresden during World War II, his later years after a plane crash, and his abduction by aliens from the planet Tralfamadore. Billy's life in the war is the the focal point of the story, but certainly not the only significant part. Through Billy's time-bending journeys, Vonnegut shares his views on a variety of subjects (ranging from antiwar sentiments to what it means to have free will). Told linearly, Slaughterhouse-Five is about a young man who survives a war. He is abducted by aliens from Tralfamador, who place him in a zoo. Tralfamadorians can see the fourth dimension, which means that they view all of time at once--rather than a single instant at a time. When Billy returns to Earth, he tries to share the Tralfamadorian philosophy. He is killed by somebody who swore revenge on him during the war.
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