November 11 is the birthday of聽Kurt Vonnegut, a writer who was also a veteran. He was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1922. Vonnegut聽is the author of 14 novels, including the聽New York Times best-seller Slaughterhouse-Five (1969), Breakfast of Champions (1973), and Timequake (1997). He also wrote seven short story collections, including聽Welcome to the Monkey House (1968), and seven plays.
Vonnegut entered the army at age 20 and was later captured by Germans in the Battle of the Bulge, whereupon he was sent to Dresden as a POW, an experience that would come to influence his work tremendously. For his service, he received a Purple Heart and a Prisoner of War Medal.聽Vonnegut taught at Harvard University, City College of New York, and the University of Iowa Writers鈥� Workshop. Widely considered a humanist, Vonnegut served as the honorary president of the American Humanist Association for many years. Kurt Vonnegut died in 2007. The following resources show how the work of Kurt Vonnegut can be used with students.
As a for Slaughterhouse-Five, students make a compilation playlist that reflects their analysis, understanding, and reaction to the ideas in the novel Slaughterhouse-Five.
In , students work in groups to answer the question, “Are people equal?,” analyzing all sides of the response, forming a consensus, and presenting it to the class. Students then read “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut and use supporting details to complete a Discussion Web that looks at whether people are equal in the story. Groups form a consensus, present their position to the class, and engage in class discussion.
, a聽collection of lessons and commentaries鈥攆rom established teachers, teacher educators, scholars, and authors鈥攁nd its companion website provide numerous resources that support teachers in developing students鈥� contemporary literacies through sports. 颈苍肠濒耻诲别蝉听Kurt Vonnegut鈥檚 “Shapes of Stories” lecture.
It’s great to hear from the author himself. Here,聽 in the Coolidge Auditorium, Feb. 1, 1971.聽In the course of his lecture, Mr. Vonnegut read excerpts from Breakfast of Champions, which was unpublished at the time of reading.
What ideas do you have for using Kurt Vonnegut’s work?
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