All+Quiet+on+the+Western+Front

=**Title of the Work**= __**All Quiet on the Western Front**__ =Author= Erich Maria Remarque =Nationality/Ethnic Background= German = = =Genre and Sub-genres= Historical Fiction, War novel =Pertinent Biographical Information= Erich Maria Remarque was born Erich Paul Remark on June 22, 1898 in Osnabruck, Germany. In Remarque's early life he was intrested in the piano and at one point he wanted to pursue a career as a musisian. He attended the Teachers Training College and the University of Munster. While only sixteen when War World One broke out, Remarque was drafted in 1916 at the age of eighteen into the German Army. Remarque completed his basic training in Luneburg Heath before he was sent to Western Front. While serving he was wounded several times; his most serious injury, being hit in the wrist with shrapnel, ended his dream of becoming a music profession, specifically a pianist. The War brought more than a shattered music career, his mother tragically died of cancer, and his friend, Fritz Horstemeier, also died while Remarque was being treated in the hospital after being wounded while serving his country. Profoundly changed by the war, Remarque returned to college after the war ended in 1918, but like many returning soldiers, civilian life proved to be difficult. Before choosing the career of a writer, Remarque tried a series of jobs such as a teacher, stone cutter, a test-car driver, and sports journalist. Before becoming a novelist, Remarque did not find any of these occupations appealing. =Literary Historical Period/Movement and Pertinent Background= The book takes place in the trenches during War World One which was triggered by the assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand. Germany continually grows more desperate as they try to battle the French and win the western front. In Paul Baumer's hometown, he, along with classmates, were encouraged to enlist in the German Army by their teacher Kantorek. Kantorek led the young men to believe that the students should enlist to show their devotion to their country. The main enemy on the German western front was the French. A new style of fighting was introduced in this war, trench warfare. This style of fighting involves both armies digging long trenches across from each other and periodically charging the enemies trench. The death toll was high as the armies had to run through what came to be known as "no man's land." While charging the opponents trench, there was no cover and many men died due to the heavy machine guns that were used more in this war. This is a miserable type of fighting that Baumer and his comrades find unbearable. Conditions are horrible and death is all around. The constant battles create worse conditions leading to psychological and physical impairment of those who survived. =Major Characters, Their Relationships, Their Conflicts=
 * Paul Baumer**- The protagonist of the story, he is a young German soldier fighting on the German/French front in War World One. The central character struggles with what he was passionate about before the war, and how the war is altering him. No longer can he enjoy being a civilian, the war has changed him too much. In order to survive the war, Paul is forced to detach himself from his emotions.
 * Kantorek**- The teacher who filled his students’ heads with thoughts of war and how it was their "patriotic duty" to serve their country. This character serves as a rival viewpoint to what Remarque feels about war and uses Kantorek to show the viewpoint that many individuals held.
 * Corporal Himmelstoss**- An unthreatening postman before the war, he evolves into the “terror of Klosterberg,” the most feared disciplinarian in the training camps. He is the man who trains Paul and his friends before the young men were shipped out to the war. All of Paul's friends despise Himmelstoss because he was such a hard trainer and had no respect for any of them.
 * Albert Kropp**- Known as the clearest thinker of the group, he was wounded at the end of the novel along with Paul and they were shipped to a Roman Catholic Hospital. Albert is devastated after he figures out that he has had a leg amputated. So devastated by his loss of limb, Albert threatens to commit suicide. Due to the strength in military comaderie with Paul, Albert's attempeted suicide is postponed.
 * Haie Westhus**- The taller and stronger of the group, also has a good sense of humor but while in combat, Westhus is fatally injured in the back resulting in a wound large enough for Paul to see Haie's breathing lung.
 * Muller**- One of Paul's classmates, Muller would be characterized as the nerdy type. He is constantly reminding himself how important it is to obtain an education. Even during combat he mutters to himself the propositions of physics. He is later killed as he was shot point-blank in the stomach by a flare gun.
 * Stanislaus Katczinsky**- Has the most positive influence on Paul. According to Paul, Kat posseses a sixth sense, he has the ability to scavenge any item needed. Unfortunately Kat was struck in the shin by shrapnel, forcing Paul to carry him back to camp. Even more devastating was to find out that a stray splinter hit Kat in the back of the head while Paul was carrying him, killing Kat. Kat's death eventually makes Paul careless whether or not he survives the war.
 * Tjaden**- A friend of Paul that he met in the army. Paul often remarks on what a big eater Tjaden is and wonders how he stays so thin despite his eating habits. Tjaden holds a major grudge over Corporal Himmelstoss for the "discipline actions" that Tjaden was forced to endure by the Corporal in training. He holds this grudge because he was a bed wetter and Himmelstoss forced him to sleep in a bunk bed with another bed wetter. Each night they would trade places and the one on the bottom would get drenched by the man on the top bunk.
 * Detering**- A farmer before the war, Detering often longs to return to his home. He is angered when he sees that animals, specifically horses, are used for war. After his longing for home becomes unbearable, Detering deserts his comrades in an attempt to return to his farm. This attempt is futile as he is captured by military police and tried as a deserter.
 * Kemmerich**- Paul's best friend who enlists with Paul and their fellow classmates. Kemmerich is shot in the leg very early in the novel and has his leg amputated. While recovering in the hospital his watch is stolen, distressing him greatly. He dies very shortly after that. Paul is upset to lose one so close to him.

=Brief Plot Summary= Paul Baumer, a ninteen year old boy, fights in the German Army on the French Front during World War I. Growing up in Germany, the propaganda Paul faced in his adolescent years was overwhelming, prompting young men everywhere to enlist in the army and fight for Germany. Paul and several of his friends enlist in the military after hearing numerous patriotic speeches supporting Germany. However, after ten weeks of brutal training and fighting on the front, Paul and his friends realize that the patriotic speeches were merely cliches without any meaning. After seeing the war for what it is, Paul realizes war is terrifying due to the constant terror inculcated in soldiers. After being out on the front, Paul realizes that war does not bring out any good. The carnage and gore that is present in war emotionally scar soldiers while killing others. For instance when the group finally gets a reprieve from fighting only eighty men are left from their original 150 men campaign. When one of Paul's friends Kemmerich gets his legs amputated, Muller asks to keep Kemmerich's boots. Paul sees that this is not insensitivity but that pragmatically, Kemmerich no longer needs his boots so it is logical for Muller to take them. After months war and carnage Paul receives seventeen days of leave. While at home he feels out of place since civilians do not fully understand the extent of the war. Civilians know that they have boys fighting for them, but do not comprehend the brutality of war and how it harms human life. Paul gets assigned to guard a prisoner of war camp where Russian enemies are held. He learns that they are people just like him, defending their country and are now prisoners because of it. These Russians are merely victims of war. Paul reaffirms this belief after he is re-stationed at the front. He kills a French man and realizes that he is not the "bad guy" but just a man who got mixed up in the war. Paul's friends slowly die off one by one as the war continues until at last Paul is finally the only one left. After his best friend, Kat, gets killed by shrapnel Paul fully understands the monstrosity of war and how it destroys people and countries. He realizes that in peacetime he will be ruined due to the war. Soon rumors of German surrender surface and soldier discuss their return home. In a day with little fighting Paul gets killed before getting the chance to go home. The face on him after death was relieved that the end had finally come. =Motifs (Recurring Images, Ideas, Figures of Speech, Symbols, Colors) & Their Thematic Significance=

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Carnage and Gore- More than anything, carnage and gore is what prompts Paul and his comrades to question their patriotism. When pressured to enlist, no one ever told the young men about the brutality of war. The novel is unrelenting in showing how much violence is in war and how war can hurt a soldier emotionally if not physically.=====

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The Pressure of Patriotic Idealism- A trait the encourages men to enlist, but fails to show Paul and his schoolmates the horror of the war, which traps the men in a constant state of panic and despair. The character who enacts this pressure is Kantorek, Paul's teacher who encourages his students to enlist in the army because it is their "patriotic duty"=====

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Animal Instinct- Remarque indicates throughout the novel that the only way for a soldier to survive battle is to turn off his mind and operate solely on instinct, becoming less like a human being and more like an animal. This is most prevelent when Paul and his comrades have to fight raids from the French or when the Germans attack the French front. This animalistic motif is also shown when Paul and his comrades have to hide underground like animals.===== =Other Significant Thematic Elements (Significant Character's Names, Significant Quotations, Significant Actions/Events)= " This book is to be neither an accusation nor a confession, and least of all an adventure, for death is not an adventure to those who stand face to face with it. It will try simply to tell of a generation of men who, even though they may have escaped shells, were destroyed by the war." Paul is killed on the front after he is the only original member left of his classmates. The only report that the German army had that day was "All Quiet on the Western Front." As Paul dies his face is calm, almost like he is glad the end has reached him. =Major Themes= War is a horrible event that has debilitating effects on all soldiers involved. War is physically and mentally detrimental to soldiers. War causes a rise in nationalism in order to gain support for their campaign. Only later do soldiers realize the cost of nationalism. During combat, soldiers are forced to abandon their ethics in an attempt to survive.