Postmodernist Features in Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle

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Postmodernist Features in Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle

Cat's Cradle is a book, which enables many points for

literary discussions. One possible topic of them could be

the postmodernist features in this book. In this examination

Ihab Hassan's essay "Toward a Concept of Postmodernism" was

used as a source of secondary literature for defining of

postmodernist features. The most visible and prevalent

features are postmodernist metonymy, treatment of the

character, dynamic tension, anarchy and a postmodernist look

at religion as a whole.

To put Vonnegut's Cradle into a definite time span,

let me start with a bit of personal data about the author.

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. was born on November 11, 1922 in

Indianapolis, Indiana. Although from a wealthy family, the

Depression caused a rapid lost of their fortune. After

having no success with his study of science, Vonnegut found

pleasure in writing. Poor academic performance made him

leave the university and join the U.S. Army.

It is hard to state for sure, if his inspiration for

writing laid mostly in his genetically inherited poetical

cells or in his life experience. When we look at his

father's occupation, we find nothing striking that would

have something in common with writing. His father was an

architect. So let's have a look at his mother. She had

a long history of mental instability and consequently

committed a suicide. As well known, in each talented writer

is a piece of insanity. After taking into account

Vonnegut's science fiction themes, we can lead discussions

about this connection to his mother's sanity. Some inherited

features can be se...

... middle of paper ...

...nnegut. New York: Warner Books, 1972.

Vonnegut, Kurt. Cat's Cradle. London: Penguin Books, 1965.

Zelenka, Petr. Zelenka, Petr. Nové náboženství Kurta

Vonneguta. Jinoèany: H&H, 1992.

http://www.cs.uni.edu/%7Ewallingf/personal/bokonon.html

16.3.2002 (The Books of Bokonon)

http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/4953/kv_life.html

16.3.2002 ("A life worth living" essay by Nick McDowell)

www.duke.edu/~crh4/vonnegut/catscradle/cats_magill.html

16.3.2002 (Synopsis: Cat´s Cradle)

http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/4953/kv_religion.html

16.3.2002 ("Understanding Religion Through Cat's Cradle"

essay by Liana Price)

http://home.eduhi.at/user/tw/vonnegut/vnetlnk.htm

16.3.2002 (Vonnegut´s life)

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/catscradle

25.11.2001 (Vonnegut´s life)

"Když povídka byla králem." HN Víkend 2.November. 2001,

natl.ed.: 21.

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