I. Author Kurt Vonnegut's background has had an endless influence on his writing. In his early years, Vonnegut was a private in the 106th Infantry Division during the World War II. He and five scouts were caught behind enemy lines and then captured. They were prisoners of war and were beaten on various occasions. In 1945 they witnessed the fire bombing of Dresden, Germany. this is part of the inspiration for Slaughterhouse-five. After being released from the slaughterhouse, Vonnegut called Dresden "total destruction" and "unfathomable carnage". that nothing good can come from war and massacre. This theme is expressed in the story when Billy Pilgrim says “The birds were talking. A bird said to Billy Pilgrim 'Poo-tee-weet?'” After the bombing, the prisoners. of war they had to collect the bodies for a mass grave and then all the remains were set on fire. Vonnegut and the other prisoners remained there for only a few months, until they were rescued. The lasting effect that this terrible war caused on Vonnegut had a significant effect on his writing; upon returning to the United States he was awarded a Purple Heart.II. Book-Setting (Time) Analysis: This story begins with Vonnegut writing in the first person and is set in 1968. The rest of the plot is confusing as Billy gets "caught in time." They range from meticulous descriptions of his war experiences in 1944-1945, to jumping across his entire life, from childhood in the 1920s to his death in 1976. Setting (location): Billy spends much of 1944-1945 in Germany during the war. It was in the Battle of the Bulge, in Belgium, in the forest. He was then transported in a freight car to a war camp in Luxembourg... middle of paper..." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 03 January 2010. "Engl 4300: Kurt Vonnegut. "PiratePanel. Web. January 3, 2010. ."Slaughterhouse-Five Book Notes Summary by Kurt Vonnegut: Book Notes Summary of Major Characters." BookRags.com: Book Summaries, Study Guides. Bookrags Inc., 2000. Web. 06 January 2010. 2010. SOURCES OF CRITICISM "Slaughterhouse-Five -." Wikipedia, the free Web encyclopedia 05 January 2010. "Vonnegut, Kurt, Jr. 1922 Criticism: Critical Essay by Joyce Carol Oates on Kurt Vonnegut BookRags." Book Summaries, Study Guides Thompson Corporation Web. January 05. 2010. .