Slaughterhouse-Five

Birth of Billy Pilgrim

Jul 4, 1922

Billy Pilgrim is born in Illium, New York.

Billy Vacations in Carlsbad Caverns with His Parents

Jun 5, 1934

He is amazed at its darkness.

Billy's Father Dies

Jun 1, 1944

Billy Pilgrim's father dies in a hunting accident while Billy is attending military training.

Billy Pilgrim is Drafted

Jun 5, 1944

Billy Pilgrim, while studying optometry, is drafted into the U.S. Army to fight in World War II.

The Bombing of Dresden

Feb 14, 1945

Allied Air Force units bombed the German city of Dresden over a period of three days with firebombs.

Billy is Discharged

Apr 17, 1945

Billy Pilgrim is discharged from the military.

End of the War in Europe

Apr 27, 1945

Germany surrenders, and World War II in Europe ends. Billy Pilgrim is sent home from his war prisoner camp.

Billy Commits Himself to a Mental Ward

Apr 21, 1948

As a result of his constant time-travel, Billy voluntarily enters a non-violent mental ward, where he meets Eliot Rosewater

Billy Meets Kilgore Trout

Jun 5, 1966

Billy Pilgrim meets his idolized author, Kilgore Trout. Trout is described peculiarily similar to Vonnegut himself.

Billy Begins to Lose Track of Time

Jun 5, 1967

Billy's constant movement back and forth in time cause him confusion in his present existance.

Billy the Only Survivor of a Plane Crash

Apr 2, 1968

He is flying with a group of optometrists to a convention, and the plane crashes.

Billy's Wife Valencia Dies

Apr 2, 1968

She dies as result of a car accident while speeding to the hospital where Billy is held.

Billy Pilgrim Dies

Jun 5, 1976

Billy is shot while speaking on the nature of time. He knows of the event, and realized that it always has happened, is happening, and always will happen.