... and substance that he questions. For him the apparently pointless firebombing of Dresden, with its destruction of beautiful art and architecture and the killing of thousands of innocents, symbolizes the illogical. Time and memory also express the author's desolation when he witnessed the massacre of Dresden in the second world war. The science fiction elements of the novel include time travel. Billy travels in time(" Billy has ... gone to sleep a senile widower and awakened on his wedding day. He has walked through a door in 1955 and come out another one in 1941-), experience his life's ...

• Word Count: 1047
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... who oppose the Handicapper General are arrested, thrown into mental institutions, or shot because they threaten the fabric of society. The effects of these governmental policies are appalling. Society is stagnant because those smart enough to develop new technology, medicine, and literature have been permanently handicapped, exiled, or killed. Television announcers have speech impediments, dancers cannot dance, musicians ... are tone deaf, and families lose all purpose, continuity, compassion, and love. A good example of this is Harrison Bergeron's story. Harrison escapes from an asylum ...

• Word Count: 1344
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... Vonnegut Cat's Cradle is a realistic fantasy that counters every aspect of our culture and satirizes it with many comedic, yet serious elements. It propounds a completely new outlook on life through the eyes of a very enticing and well-rounded character. At the onset of his adventure we learn that he makes a covenant with himself ... Vonnegut's ability to use a very risky plot and at the same time appeal and connect with the reader is what makes this piece of literature so effective. Unpredictable and suspenseful, every page has its own theme and exciting ideas that flow through the book...

• Word Count: 1273
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate