Chapter 1: In this first chapter, Curt Vonnegut describes life after World War II as well as his motivation for writing this book. In these first few pages the author describes how he occasionally calls his old girlfriend late at night when he is drunk. As illustrated, the audience is able to see what effect the war has had on the writer's mental state, providing a greater understanding for Vonnegut spastic and dark writing style.
Chapter 2: This is a picture of Alex's interpretation of the Tralfmadorians. In chapter 2 of Slaughter House 5, the main character billy Pilgrim describes the aliens as slender shaped beings, 2 feet tall, have long flexible shafts that point skywards, and a green eye held by a hand attached to the shaft. The Tralfmadorians play a significant role in Billy's life and are responsible for his unique understanding for life, death, and time.
Chapter 3: After Billy is captured as a POW, he is forced onto a crowded train car where he spends several days fighting hunger and sleep. The image illustrates the terrible living conditions of the american POW's during the war. This event in addition to several other hardships provides an explanation for Billy's behavior and depression later in life.
Chapter 4: In chapter 4, the Tralfmadorians tell Billy that he is trapped in another blob of amber when asked his location. The Tralfmadorians say this in order to explain their interpretation of life and time, the picture, Billy is an adult in the fetal position in the blob of amber. this is meant to show that the past, present, and future occur at the same time.
Chapter 5: In this drawing, Billy is giving his wife the diamond that he found in Germany. This diamond was found in his jacket during the war, and it acts as a constant reminder of his pain and suffering surrounding the war. It is significant that the author describes how Billy gave the diamond to his wife when proposing to her. Here, he is showing that good things can result from even the most tragic of times, and how the war constantly affects Billy's life.
Chapter 6: Shortly after arriving in Dresden, Billy finds a large diamond and gold dentures sewn into the lining of his jacket. These two findings are small fortunes he acquires in the war and he later gives the diamond to his wife when he marries her. Billy's friend Rosenberg, comments on the ring, knowing that in war, everyone gets a little something to take home.
The prayer written on the locket reads "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom always to tell the difference." Billy liked to think that this quote helped him keep going and put up with life, although he did not care much about it at the time. Billy notes here that the past, present, and future are among the things he cannot change.
This image illustrates the terrible conditions that Billy and his fellow soldiers endured during the war. It is evidence that the war will have a lasting impact on the young men, infecting them with suffering and pain that they will experience for the rest of their lives.
Written on the tombstone is the quote "Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt". This image refers to the death of old Edgar Derby, the teacher and soldier. He had spoken out against the leader of the Free American Corps, and as a result, he was shot by a firing squad. The quote describes how he was drugged before he was killed, making everything seem beautiful and free of pain.