What is Postmodernism? Some believe Postmodernism can be whatever the hell you want. Others believe it can be considered postmodern by not being in chronological order, have a sense of humor, and breaking rules. Slaughterhouse Five, by Kurt Vonnegut, can be considered postmodern because it goes back and forth in time, it mixes reality with science-fiction, and has irony.
Billy Pilgrim, the main character, is a time travel that moves back and forth in time. Kurt Vonnegut would be talking one moment about how Billy was a child, and the next he would be a prisoner in WWII. Kurt uses postmodernism in this novel by breaking the rules of time and not writing it in chronological order.
Another reason it is classified as a postmodern is because Kurt mixes reality with science-fiction. Billy would be a prisoner of war in Dresden, and then he would time travel to the planet Tralmafadore. Combining the two in Slaughterhouse Five makes these the perfect post modern elements of a story.
Lastly, it is postmodern because of Kurt Vonnegut's use of irony. After something terrible would happen, or someone died, Kurt would say, "So it goes." A phrase said with no expression of feelings. In reality is would be sad, but in Slaughterhouse five, they just moved on like nothing happened. So it goes.
All in all, Slaughterhouse Five is one of the best examples of a postmodern book because it's use of irony, lack of rules, and lack of chronological order.
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