The exposition of the novel begins in Chapter One, in which the author addresses the audience directly. Vonnegut describes his own experiences in World War II, especially the firebombing of Dresden, Germany near the end of the war, This sets up the story of Billy Pilgrim, who gets lost in that time. Billy goes back and forth between modern times and his service in the army and time as prisoner of war in Dresden. The exposition continues into the second chapter when we learn about Billy's birth and subsequent draft into the army. The rising action begins in Chapter Two when Billy first experiences being "unstuck" in time. At that point the reader knows this is not a typical chronological story.