Aliens, Time Travel, and Dresden - Slaughterhouse-Five Part 1: Crash Course Literature 212
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- čas přidán 14. 05. 2014
- In which John Green teaches you about Kurt Vonnegut's most famous novel, Slaughterhouse-Five. Vonnegut wrote the book in the Vietnam era, and it closely mirrors his personal experiences in World War II, as long as you throw out the time travel and aliens and porn stars and stuff. Slaughterhouse-Five tells the story of Billy Pilgrim, a World War II veteran who was a prisoner of war, survived the Battle of the Bulge and the fire-bombing of Dresden, goes home after the war, and has trouble adapting to civilian life (this is the part that's like Vonnegut's own experience). Billy Pilgrim has flashbacks to the war that he interprets as being "unstuck in time." He believes he's been abducted by aliens, and pretty much loses it. You'll learn a little about Vonnegut's life, quite a bit about Dresden, and probably more than you'd like about barbershop quartets as a metaphor for post-traumatic stress.
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"Well, I can smoke or I can leave" is the writer I hope to one day be wow
I love the part in which Billy cries for the first time, after seeing the horses with their wounded mouths. I think that this is a very accurate description of sadness, of being unable to notice the evil we cause to others.
"It is so short and jumbled and jangled, Sam, because there is nothing intelligent to say about a massacre. Everybody is supposed to be dead, to never say anything or want anything ever again. Everything is supposed to be very quiet after a massacre, and it always is, except for the birds.
And what do the birds say? All there is to say about a massacre, things like "Poo-tee-weet?"
“Everybody on the planet wanted to see the Earthlings mate. Montana was naked, and so was Billy, of course. He had a tremendous wang, incidentally. You never know who will get one.” God I love this book. It’s so wonderfully weird
Humberto Avila It’s meaninglessness. Massacre is meaningless. There’s nothing to say about it that can properly convey its impact due to how horrific it is and how mundane it becomes once it happens. It’s equivalent to phoneticized bird-speech-of a bird basically going “Huh?” It’s indescribable and empty and life keeps moving anyway.
HugoAgility one of my favorite parts is, “Billy looked inside the latrine. The wailing was coming from in there. The place was crammed with Americans who had taken their pants down. The welcome feast had made them as sick as volcanoes. The buckets were full or had been kicked over.
An American near Billy wailed that he had excreted everything but his brains. Moments later he said, 'There they go, there they go.' He meant his brains.
That was I. That was me. That was the author of this book.”
God, he was awesome
@@UltimateKyuubiFox It's not meaningless. Basically it means that Billy was unsatisfied with the way he was in reality. On Tralfamador, whether it is Montana, or his wang, he had an idealized version of himself. Tralfamador is where Billy goes when he's too overwhelmed with traumatic experiences.
One of my favorite books. I'm glad you covered this. A must read for any human.
WHAT. You make Pilgrim sound insane. Pilgrim isn't insane. HE HAS become unstuck in time!
Well, I think what makes the novel so interesting is that it's never really addressed if it's all real or not. Try googling Slaughterhouse-Five PTSD. You'll find that there so many heavy implications throughout the whole story that Billy is delusional. But the good thing is that it's still up to interpretation.
I think it’s really both
Nerdimus Prime Billy becomes unstuck in time because he is stuck in his situation. He believes he has no free will because he is just a “baby” compared to the large war, a passive actor who decides to be ambivalent to everything to cope with the grief (even if that grief spills out in his sleep and when he is alone)
Impossible
In a way PTSD is being unstuck in time in real life
Just finished reading this book while on standby at my construction job in Utah. I'm 19, and Vonnegut has now become my favorite author. Thank you Crash Course for becoming an instrumental part in my young adult life and for reminding me of the freedoms associated with education.
You cannot say for certain that, within the world of the novel, the Tralfamadorians don't exist. Both scenarios - PTSD flashbacks, and real alien intervention, are given equal plausibility within the novel. Saying it is all fantasy, for sure, lessens the impact of the novel's examination on alternate histories and the power of narrative.
I quite like the idea that, within the world of the novel, the Tralfamodorians are real, because no one believes Pilgrim and he can never find the right words to make them believe much like how Vonnegut cannot find the words to describe the bombing
Yeah I was pretty surprised that John came out with such a strong reading of Pilgrim as insane when the ambiguity is so important to the novel. Maybe that was just for the introduction and next episode we'll get a more balanced reading.
+Ivan Navarro, why are you putting the Kurt off your read shelf?
It's all pilgrims imagination. The adult bookstore perfectly describes everything that had built that world for him.
99 I add 1=100
When I was seven, I went to my great grandmothers funeral. I vividly remember having an overwhelming urge to laugh. Then I had a recurring dream about her for months. I was ashamed of her funeral until I learned about hysteria.
I cannot express how happy I am that you guys at Crash Course decided to cover Slaughterhouse-Five, it is one of my all time favorite books. I am doing a research paper on it, (comparing some themes it has with Catcher in the Rye). One of my favorite passages from the novel is "I have lit my way in a prison at night with candles from the fat of human beings who were butchered by the brothers and fathers of those schoolgirls who were boiled." this quote just highlights so many different levels of cruelty and destruction from both countries of the war and I just love the way Vonnegut addresses the nonsensical nature of war and time and all of those horribly fascinating things.
I read this book for the first time last week (I know I'm quite late to the party) and I read it all in pretty much one sitting. After finishing it I didn't really think much about it and it left me kind of feeling nothing too overwhelming one way or the other about the novel. However, in this past week I've found myself thinking more and more about it and realizing just how brilliant it was as well as how important of a story it was to be told. This is definitely a novel I think everyone should read at least once and it makes me a little disappointed that it was never a part of my required reading in High School.
Trout Pilgrim Campbell Hoover Constant
Elliot Rosewater unstuck in TIME
Because of you, I’ll go read it.
One of my absolute favorite books, every time I read it I seem to get a different message in the end.
"Well, I can smoke or I can leave."
You met Kurt? Dude that's so awesome
Slaughterhouse Five is my favourite book. It is an incredible piece of literature.
In which John Green teaches you about Kurt Vonnegut's most famous novel, Slaughterhouse-Five. Aliens, Time Travel, and Dresden -Slaughterhouse-Five Part I: Crash Course Literature 212
Hey John, maybe someday you can do Cat's Cradle? I dunno. I liked it.
+CrashCourse +John Green thank you John Green for making English, a subjected I hated, into something interesting and informative
I didn't thought of the time travel nor the aliens as hallucinations
Dearest John,
When the Ernest Hemingway will you start making CC Literature videos again?
Best wishes,
Lit. Nerdfighters
CC Lit is actually coming soon.
Literature is really a combination of everything. History, psychology, the past, the future...
it's quite interesting to see how everything played out.
I was waiting this entire video series to get to this book. Kurt poured so much of himself into most of his works, and his writing style is so conversational, that it's very easy to make a personal connection with the narrator/author. In Breakfast of Champions he even put the author literally into the storyline. Slaughterhouse Five is the kind of work that benefits from multiple readings, like a youtube video with little easter egg references that you only notice the second time through.
That was extremely insightful. I always appreciate delving into the minds of writers, because it's just so fascinating the way their brains must function when writing. The part in the video where you mention how Vonnegut uses metaphors and analogies to block out the reality of Dresden's devastation was powerful and evoked goosebumps from me. I read his book over the summer, but the thought of that part of his writing never occurred to me. It really just goes to show how much thought is put into the language, structure, form, and just everything within a novel.
I just started reading this one, and I just wanted to thank Crash Course Literature for making me want to read it! I’ve already read the first chapter, and I think I’m already beginning to enjoy Kurt Vonnegut’s writing style. (Especially since the last book I just finished reading was the ridiculously long War and Peace, which probably deserves an episode or two of its own.)
This is an ode to all of the people
put into harm's way,
to the people that bravely keep
this world from disarray.
This is an ode to the hidden ones,
warring on Hell's raft,
raging on through bullet rain,
fighting the devil's laugh.
This goes out to all those souls,
holding back their fears
keeping others safe and sound
by keeping darkness from coming near.
This is an ode to all the people,
the old, and the terribly young,
just know that we will always hear
the songs that you have sung.
Congrats on 5+ million subscribers, Crash Course Team! So proud and happy for you guys.
I love this series. I get so much science in my normal course work that its nice to take a break and hear you discuss literature.
Great summation and analysis. Vonnegut is my favourite author and you do him justice. I look forward to part 2. And so it goes.
As with other Vonnegut novels, Slaughterhouse-Five was a book that gave me more of a feeling than a precise memory of the plot. In fact, I read it 2 years ago and only remembered the description of women picking through the Dresden rubble. This was a great reminder of what Vonnegut was saying with this novel, but I also think it is cool that his writing can make the plot seem irrelevant, but still pull you in and make you think about the things he wanted you to think about.
Also surprised you didn't bring up the short segment about the horse, that was the part that struck me as the most powerful and detailed about the aftermath of the bombing and kind of goes against the idea of vague descriptions
The name Slaughterhouse Five sounds more like a cheap slasher movie.
Thanks John Green for introducing me to Kurt Vonnegut. It really changed my life
The phrase "so it goes" can be found in John Green's introduction to This Star Won't Go Out. Also, pertaining to the truth of fiction especially in "war stories" The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien goes nicely with Slaughterhouse Five.
John Green probably said "So it goes" as a reference.
Whoa, so someone else already saw the similarities in those two books. Nice.
Joe Seph iirc he explicitly continually references the novel in Katherines. I think it's probably up there with DFW in terms of influential-on-John-Green-things
Scott Ferrell The Things They Carried is a work of fiction. Amazing, though it be.
So it goes. One of my favorite books of all time, thank you for doing this!
Mr.Green. I hope you can talk about the book "1984" in crash course literature, that book is just so amazing...
I was very worried about Crash Course's work on this book, seeing as how it is my favorite. I am glad how it came out. Vonnegut is my favorite author and I believe this video did the book justice, I look forward to the next video.
I had no idea that you were the author behind "The Fault in our stars" i loved your book, you are absolutely fantastic. I can't wait tho see the film and i love what you do! Thankyou for living you life for others!!!!!!!
One of my favorite novels, and authors, of all time. Learning that John got a chance to meet Kurt, which I never did, is just another reason thrown on the towering pile of reasons to be jealous of John Green. Vonnegut was one of my greatest heroes.
Now with crash corse, I not only learn something but I actually keep stuff I learned at school in my brain over summer. Thank you!
the thoughtbubble animation in this one is particularly fantastic
Dear John Green,
I can relate my art style to certain passages in this novel, if not my writing style (I'm not the most talented writer). I like to evoke emotions that others would generally prefer not to have aroused such as discomfort or confusion using surrealist and absurd artwork and, well, my comedy too. I've been doing this for years with my paintings and drawings, but I never really understood why I did it. That was until you so perfectly described the scene with the guards and it really opened my eyes to why I do what I do. Thank you so much making a subject I used to despise into something I enjoy doing for fun.
Best Wishes,
Griffin Durning
I'm really loving Crash Course Literature, even though I haven't read many of the books. This is definitely one I'll add to my 'to read' list.
I love you, John Green. I subscribed to CrashCourse a few weeks ago and already love the content. I've also read your book, The Fault In Our Stars recently. Fell in love with it. :) Thank you (x1,000)
Glad I was assigned this book in high school. Vonnegut is a great writer for young people to attempt wrapping their heads around.
You could do an entire crash course series on Kurt Vonnegut and it still wouldn't be enough. His books are incredible.
Also you should do an episode on Catch-22.
I read this book in my AP English class in high school, and I enjoyed it so much I have gone and read a lot of the other Kurt Vonnegut books and I loved how much crossover there is in his books. The Tralfamadorians are amazing creatures, and I just really, really, really, liked this book.
I really want to read this book now. Thanks Crash Course!
This was my favorite book from AP Langauge and I'm so glad you're going over this!
Well someone in detroit need to make a band called Slaughterhouse-Five
We had the MC-5, which comes pretty close, if you know their music. They were the progenitors of punk music, if you don't.
Did I see your comment on EarthBound Did you know gaming part 2?
The Dave Clark Slaughterhouse 5
Slaughterhouse featuring the Dave Clark Five
ahh this is like my favorite book, well done John and the Crashcourse team
I wish I hadn't seen this until next week. Now I'll spend a whole week wondering why "So It Goes" still hits me way too deep.
"NO SINGING ME FROM THE PAST!"
said every person who grew up, ever
Kurt Vonnegut is unrivaled in his writing style, so unique
Finally we get to SH5! This brings me back to my highschool days.
JOHN, I've been waiting for you to do Slaughterhouse 5 cos its just so weird but still beautiful. Thanks
Seeing the intros on previous eps of Crashcourse Literature I realized Slaughterhouse-Five was a book my buddy once read aloud, but I didn't get its name. Picked it up at the library a couple days ago and finished it in time for this episode, what a great show :)
One of my favourite authors discussing another one of my favourites. Love it!
This was one of the first books I read when I was a kid back in the '70s. I still remember it. Vonnegut, Phillip Roth and Hunter Thompson influence my writing style in my novels.
Every time I see a night vale shirt in one of these, my day is made a thousand times better.
I'm ironically writing a paper for my American study's class about this book. I say it's ironic because I had no idea it was a book. I was given the topic and told to wright what I know, which was nothing so it became a creative writing peace. So thank you again Mr. Green, for helping me with my study's.
This may be my favorite episode so far.
This really makes me want to see a CC-Lit video on some of PKD's works. Valis is the most obvious one to relate to the discussions in this video, but really, I think any of them would be a great 10-minute dive.
Great book, great author, great Crash Course. I wish I had more to add :)
I just showed these videos to my English teacher. I hope he plans to use them!
Can you do a crash course on Markus Zusak's book, "The Book Thief."
That plant in the background continuously reminds me of the Simpson's Sideshow Bob. I saw it and can no longer unsee it.
If you ever decide to get Slaughterhouse Five on audiobook, get the one narrated by James Franco. His voice adds greatly to the experience.
So I just finished reading Toni Morrison's "The Bluest Eyes" and I think it would make an excellent addition to the crash course lit series. Thanks for another great episode
Not sure about "The Bluest Eyes" but they are covering "Beloved" by Toni Morrison soon.
I fudging love Vonnegut! For years, this has been my favorite book!
Uggghhhh if only this was uploaded before my literature exam!! It would have helped a ton!
I listen to crash course all the time, crash course is interesting while giving the viewer entertainment , thanks guys!!!
So glad you are finally talking about this book. Also, good job Thought Bubble/Café, nice Metal Gear Solid reference.
As always thank you for doing this amazing book. And even though I will probably never meet you, John Green you are my Kurt Vonnegut. Except for the incredibly terrible life of course
Never really got what was so great about this book, pretty standard. Nothing spectacular.
So it goes.
I was more into the concepts put forward during the sci-fi parts of the book. The idea that time is nonlinear, and that humans can not perceive the full truth of time. The philosopher in me was over excited by the idea of death being of no consequence simply for the fact that death isn't forever, because everything before it is.
I feel like you weren't paying attention. To be jaded is a personal problem that is one part ignorance and entirely self-indulgent.
ChickenSpy You should read The Sirens of Titan by Vonnegut if you liked that part of the story. Also read the Watchmen graphic novel if you haven't already. They both explore those concepts.
i am really liking crash course literature, keep it up John
That little Rick and Morty reference (1:28) was great
Finally I have been waiting for this. My favorite author ever.
Great insight into a book I have yet to read, but really should. Also: the Thought Bubble this week was amazing and kinda beautiful!
John Green, thank you for the wonderful video. It inspired me to read the novel again. My father was a WWII veteran. As a boy, I never thought of my father and Kurt Vonnegut as contemporaries, since Vonnegut struck me as more of a hippy. However, they were both more similar than I imagined as a boy. Today we describe Post Traumatic Stress Disease, but I believe both men suffered the same way. To witness death and destruction on that level was truly horrible. To hear my father talk about battlefields of dead and to see Munich as city so leveled by bombs, he could see from one end of the city to the other.
Unlike my father, Vonnegut could talk about his experience nearly immediately after the war.
Hey! You do a lot of great novels, but I noticed you still have a lot more to do. Unless you've abandoned this series, I'd suggest you do more Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Dickens, and others. :)
3:50 I love you John Greene
hahahah, loved that little Rick and Morty you included during Pilgrim's 'time travel'
If only you did this earlier :P I did Slaughterhouse-5 for my high school final paper! It's one of my favourite books.
Really liked this video and the editing is awesome.
Its crazy how you can read a book and think one thing about it and then someone else reads the same book and gets something totally different from it. When i read slaughterhouse five i actually thought that billy pilgrim was a time traveler and that he had been taken by tralfamadorians. I love every bit of fiction and believed Pilgrim when he said he had seen the things he said. Now i want to reread the book from the perspective John presented. super cool stuff, this.
1984 would be a great one to do an analysis on.
You got your wish. Check again.
One of my favorite authors taking about one of my other favorite authors. This is perfect I love slaughter house 5 but I feel like cats cradle is he's under rated life changing novel
Ah John from the past, you haves wonderful taste in podcasts.
Miss'r Green! Miss'r Green! Have you considered an episode about Catch-22? It's another humorous anti-war novel that definitely merits compelling analysis, especially because it predates much of the 60s counterculture that has embraced Slaughterhouse-Five. Much could be learned from it!
Loved this book when I read it, very excited to finally understand it!
I was waiting for this one for a while. Great video and amazing book.
I got to meet Kurt Vonnegut at Kent State in the mid 1990s. He was an entertaining storyteller in person as you would expect.
You gotta hand it to Thought Bubble (and everyone at Crash Course) for the richness of references they put into each video.
I discovered this novel after my first deployment to Iraq in 06-07, it had a profound impact on my views about the war.
I'm glad to live in a world where wars of that magnitude don't happen anymore and we are moving toward world peace.
Thanks crash course, now I’ve got the Dave Clark Five stuck in my head
Couldn't we assume that Billy actually was unstuck in time, rather than having "flash backs and fantasies" as John suggested during the Thought Bubble? I've gone back and forth on whether or not the time travel and aliens are all in his head but the text does plainly say "Bill Pilgrim has come unstuck in time."
I don't think that it matters much whether or not he is actually stuck in time, what matters is that he truly believes that he is, (stuck in time) and this is a way that he copes with the destruction he has witnessed throughout his life.
I had always assumed that he was unstuck in time and never gave a thought that perhaps it was just in his head. It was interesting to hear it that way but I'm sticking with my original thought. It's interesting how each of us interprets a book differently.
LeftyGingerJap You are correct in saying that it doesn't matter whether or not he actually was unstuck in time as long as he himself believed it. I guess my only question is what hints are we actually given that he possibly wasn't? If the book was written in first-person from Billy's perspective, we could claim that he is an unreliable narrator. But the third-person narrator is omniscient.
But mind you, after reading the book a 3rd time (once in high school, once for fun a couple years ago, and once for C.C.--yeah.. I know...), even I started to think that it was all made up in his head.
Adding this to my bucket list for reading
Loved the MGS reference at 5:18
Thanks for covering my favorite author!
The comment you mad John, about testimony, reminded me of Elie Weisel's Noble Prize acceptance speech. He claimed that it was both a right and a responsibility to testify to the horror of the human condition, so we do not forget, and do not repeat the mistakes of the past
Haha Solid Snake at 5:14 :D
AWESOME!
I loved this book when I was younger, but I never studied it at school so kind of felt like I wasn't really understanding what was going on. I still like it though, I'll have to re-read it now I'm a bit older.
Rick and Morty at 1:28, sick reference.
sick reference bro.
you're out of control.
cgy2144 in the newer episode we see future r and m ruin current r and m’s christmas