Literary Analysis

Chapter 1
A. In this chapter Paul gets his first full meal in a long while. This meal was originally meant for 150 men, but there are only 80 men left in the company. Ginger, the cook, didn’t want to give the soldiers extra food, but he eventually caved in. Paul later visits his friend Kemmerich in the hospital and his leg had been amputated.
B. At the beginning of this chapter Paul is content, if not happy that for once in a long while, he has a full stomach and some time to rest. When he visits Kemmerich at the hospital, he is sad that his friend is suffering such a cruel fate. Paul is also thinking of what it will be like when he writes home to his friend’s mother, which he is not looking forward to doing.
C.
Brothels:
Sentence- “…Leer, who wears a full beard and has a preference for the girls from officers brothels" (Remarque 3).
Def- A house of prostitution
Disconcerted:
Sentence- “The cook was quite disconcerted as the facts dawned on him" (Remarque 4).
Def- having self-possession upset; thrown into confusion
D.
Governments are hypocritical in that the try to make other countries act justly, yet they don’t act honorably themselves. In this cartoon you see "Public Sentiment," who is suppose to stand for public emotion and peace treaties, use physical force to crush the offenders. This action contradicts everything they stand for because crushing the opponents isn’t sentimental and this causes the “Public Sentiment” to be deceitful. Also in this cartoon, "36 Fall Amendments" is lying beaten on the ground. This shows the league is going against their own side as well as fighting the rebellion in that they are breaking past laws. Even though the government is has good intentions for fighting, they are also corrupt in that they are going against their own side to benefit themselves.

E. In this chapter I began to understand the realities of war. Such as, not having enough food and little time to sleep. Also, how seeing injured friends and visiting hospitals becomes a routine in one’s lifestyle. Seeing friends die becomes the norm during war and the families left without children or another relative are left to cope with the destruction.

Chapter 2
A. In this chapter Paul becomes aware that everything that was once his life and was important to him, no longer seemed as relevant or important to his new life. He goes on to think about how his generation. They will be dealing with war for a long time and have only that to look forward to. The older soldiers fighting in the war have experienced life, some more than others, but all have more than Paul’s generation. His generation just being coming out of school, will only know death. Just like his friend Kemmerich, who dies in this chapter. Paul comes to see that if everyone became upset over every injury or death nothing would get accomplished. The doctors must be distanced from their emotions to help others.
B. As Paul wonders what will become of his future, he begins to wonder what he has to look forward to. He was once passionate about poetry and other things, but these passions were no longer his reality. The thought of being so distant angers Paul and it doesn’t help that the doctors treated Kemmerich like just another patient. He understands his friend couldn’t have special treatment, but is so upset over losing a friend that he has to take out his emotions on somebody.
C.
Renunciation:
Sentence- “With our young, awakened eyes we saw that the classical conception of the Fatherland held by our teachers resolved itself here into a renunciation of personality…"(Remarque 22).
Def- an act or instance of relinquishing, abandoning, repudiating, or sacrificing something, as a right, title, person, or ambition
Discomfiture:
Sentence- “…he understood Himmelstoss, and apparently was not displeased at his discomfiture" (Remarque 24).
Def- disconcertion; confusion; embarrassment
D.
Rich people get unfair advantages over others because money equals power. In this cartoon you see rich men crawling through a "loophole" and pointing a middle class man to a turnstile to pay taxes. This shows that in our society, if you have enough money, you can pay your way out of just about anything. The poor man, who is considerably smaller than the rich men, is sent to the turnstile to pay his taxes because he cannot reach the loophole. This action shows the wickedness in our community and the dishonest actions bestowed upon people who are not rich. Instead of rich people using their money to help others, they only use it to benefit themselves and get higher statures in society.

E. This chapter made me realize how quickly and easily life can change. Things that were once important can become distant and friends you grew up with can leave in an instant. I also learned that when you are constantly exposed to something, even something as traumatic as death, you become used to it and it no longer affects you as it once did. If one’s life changes, such as Paul’s, it will affect their friendships and family.

Chapter 3
A. Paul’s company receives new recruits in this chapter. Paul and his other comrades are surprised when they see how young the men are which makes them feel superior to them because they already have experience the front line. He then tells the story of how he and his friends took revenge on there corrupt commander Himmelstoss one night as he was walking home from a pub. They covered him in a bed sheet as each of the soldiers took a turn beating him until they felt justice had been served. This of course embarrassed Himmelstoss, but he never found out who the culprits were.
B. Paul feels eminent as he sees the new recruits to the front line, yet at the same time he is frustrated that recruits are so young and are being drafted into the war. However, he becomes happy and jovial as he reminisces his revenge on Himmelstoss with his friends.
C.
Indefatigable:
Sentence- "...towering over them like a woodcutter the indefatigable Tjaden" (Remarque 49).
Def- incapable of being tired out; not yielding to fatigue; untiring
Buffer:
Sentence- "And an old buffer was pleased to describe us as young heroes" (Remarque 50).
Def- a person or thing that shields and protects against annoyance, harm, hostile forces, etc., or that lessens the impact of a shock or reversal
D.
When issues during war are left unattended, they will worsen with time and become harder to control. In this cartoon opposing sides of WWI and issues involved are written on logs in the middle of a fire. This is symbolizing how quickly tempers flare and grow out of control. On the side of the cartoon, there is a hose that has the word “Peace” on it. The hose is just sitting of to the side because everyone is so entangled in the war, they are so concerned with winning that they do not think of putting it to an end.


E. In this chapter I learned that experience of war makes one feel superior to others despite being close to the same age. This causes people to show off and try to act tough. I also learned that there are few happy moments in life during war time, so something like taking revenge on a commander can bring happiness. Friends are important during war because they are all one has and they are the only ones who can truly understand what you are going through. Family is still important, but they are not there during the hard times so friends gain even more importance.

Chapter 4
A. In this chapter, Paul and his company are sent out on wiring fatigue. While they are on the front they undergo a bombardment. There is one recruit, who lacks experience, that becomes so afraid of the situation that he buries his face in Paul's side. When the bombardment is over, the young boy discovers that he has fouled himself. Paul responds in a nurturing way and tells him to just go behind a bush and take of his underpants. Later he finds the same young boy dieing from a grave wound.
B. Paul is empathetic towards the young boy in the beginning of the chapter since he was once new to the war experience. Although, when he finds the same boy later dieing, he is saddened and once again angered that an innocent life is being taken away due to the war.
C.
Aspirants:
Sentence- "Kat, I hear some aspirants for the frying-pan over there "(Remarque 52).
Def- Seeking recognition, distinction, or advancement
Annihilation:
Sentence- "In the spasm of terror, under the hailing of annihilation..."(Remarque 55).
Def- destruction by annihilating something
D.
Since people only think of benefiting themselves, they become stubborn and do not learn from their mistakes. In this cartoon, Hitler's father is reading a newspaper that says “Great War Ends” and he is saying that he hopes it is the last. The irony is that a generation later, Hitler is the one who starts World War II. To the side, Hitler is shown unresponsive wearing a uniform. This shows that he does not care about the mistakes of war and that he plans on doing whatever it takes to further himself. Attitudes of self-seeking people cause immoral mistakes such as war because they do not listen to the advice of others.


E. This chapter made me realize that in battle you either step up to the plate or stay back and behave like a child. War creates bonds between people who mightn’t have been friends if they hadn’t been put in that particular situation. In life if one is having trouble, whether they are a friend or a stranger, you feel empathetic towards the person and inclined to help them. Although some people might not feel this inclination depending on their family upbringing.

Chapter 5
A. Paul and his company suffer from lice in this chapter. They found out the best way to kill them was to throw them into a hot frying-pan. While they sit there picking off each individual insect, they talk about what their lives will be like and what they plan on doing when the war ends. Himmelstoss then arrives at the front unexpectedly where Kropp and Tjaden antagonize him. Then they must go to C.B. for three days. In the meantime, Paul and Kat go to a nearby farm where Paul jumps the fence and steals a goose. They cook the goose and divide it up between themselves along with Kropp and Tjaden.
B. In this chapter Paul is pretty content with everything going on. He continues to be at ease when he shares the goose with his friends.
C.
Laconically:
Sentence- "How does the cow-shit come on the roof? retorts Muller laconically, and turns to Haie Westhus again" (Remarque 78).
Def- using few words; expressing much in few words; concise
Evade:
Sentence- He tries to evade the question, but in the end had to confess, for Kropp tells the same story" (Remarque 90).
Def- to escape from by trickery or cleverness
D.
One can only be bothered so much before they reach a breaking point and begin to retaliate. In this cartoon a U.S. chip is sinking because they had been hit by a submarine. The submarine, being superior to the ship, tried to sink them so they could remain dominant. The words “U.S. Patience” are written on the side of the sinking ship. The sinking of this ship symbolizes the end of the U.S. government’s patience and the beginning of their retaliation. If someone is pushed to their final breaking point, they are going to retaliate which will cause even further conflict.

E. This chapter reinforced my thoughts of how unhygienic conditions are during war. Having to deal with lice and other unpleasant conditions becomes a daily routine and just another factor of war life. Also, it is reinforced that friends are very important in times of war because they are going through the same situations you are and it is good to have company you can relate to. One becomes so close to their friends they are like family.

Chapter 6
A. In this chapter Paul notices the rats are becoming more abundant since the trenches are being blown to pieces. This causes them to be forced to hide out in a deep concrete bunker. The bunker is so deep that it shields them from the gas and the bombs. Although, not all of the soldiers are as lucky because their bunkers are more shallow. Paul witnesses some of the younger recruits, who have had less experience, go crazy in the bunkers. Some of these soldiers go crazy from the amount of time spent in the bunkers and leave run through heavy fire. Although, they don't make it very far. It is cramped and the men don't have very much to eat in the bunkers. Then they counterattack and drive the enemies back to their line. When the battle is finally over, only 32 soldiers remain in Paul’s company.
B. Paul feels confined to the bunkers knowing that if he leaves he will get shot at. He is also deprived of and adequate meal which causes him to be hungry. Paul is concerned for the recruits since they are having such a hard time becoming accustomed to the living conditions they have been forced into.
C.
Parapet:
Sentence- "Every man is aware of the heavy shells tearing down the parapet..." (Remarque 106).
Def- a defensive wall or elevation, as of earth or stone, in a fortification
Automatons:
Sentence- "The brown earth, the torn, blasted earth, with a greasy shine under the sun's rays; the earth is the background of this restless, gloomy world of automatons..." (Remarque 115).
Def- a mechanical figure or contrivance constructed to act as if by its own motive power
D.
When countries are war with one another, they fight to gain power of their opponents using any means possible. In this cartoon a hand with the word “Germany” written on it is coming up from the depths of the ocean. This is a reference to submarines, which the Germans used throughout the war to their advantage because other countries did not yet have the technology. Beneath the cartoon is a caption that says “Germany under all.” This is because Germany underhandedly ruled the seas and took down many opposing ships with their advanced technology. When fighting against other countries, some tend to be more thick-skinned than others and use their advancements to an unfair advantage which causes them to obtain dominance.

E. This chapter made me feel sympathetic for the soldiers. War causes people to suffer from horrible living conditions, but many do become accustomed to the lifestyle. Being refined to a bunker made many question their reasons to live, which caused many to run out into the heavy fire. It is times like that when a friend should step in and talk a person out of committing suicide and remind them of all the reasons they have to live. Although, at one time or another all soldiers go through depression since they can no longer remember how good their lives were before the war. It also depends on one’s upbringing on whether or not they will be strong or smart enough to stick it out through the tough times of war.

Chapter 7
A. After Himmelstoss spends time with the soldiers in the trenches, the once cold man begins to warm up to the rest of the company. The soldiers then begin to accept him after he supplies them with food and cigars. Later, Paul and some of his friends meet some women when they go swimming. Afterward they meet the women again and Paul has sex for the first time. Shortly afterwards Paul gets leave and goes home to his family. However, when he reaches home, he feels uncomfortable and uneasy about the conditions he is now faced with. Although he feels awkward at home, he becomes irritated with the older men. Since they have not experienced what Paul has gone through during his time in battle, they still see war as a patriotic and noble thing.
B. In this chapter, Paul is delighted when he is invited to visit the women. However, he was left confused after having sex because it was first time. The experience of being home again makes him feel awkward and anxious, which upsets Paul. He is also angry because the men, who have not been through what had become Paul’s reality, are saying things about the war that they have no knowledge of. Since they remain to think the war is a good thing, it causes Paul to become exasperated.
C.
Billeted:
Sentence- "The houses in which we were billeted lie near the canal" (Remarque 143).
Def- to direct (a soldier) by ticket, note, or verbal order, where to lodge
Disquietude:
Sentence- "My disquietude grows" (Remarque 172).
Def- the state of disquiet; uneasiness
D.

Innocent people get thrown into situations they weren’t meant to handle in times of war. In this cartoon an ordinary man is looking at his shadow which reflects back to him as being a soldier. This shows how everyday, working class people are forced to deal with extraordinary situations that they are had not planned to deal with, and might not be capable of doing so. The man in the cartoon looks plain and simple, so it is clear that he is not rich nor does he have much influence in society. People such as the man in the cartoon, are not the type of people that would be shooting people on a battle field and this shows that the army would draft just about anybody. Many civilians are sent into battle that are not physically or mentally able to handle the stress and challenges of war.

E. People who have not experienced war should not assume they know what it is like. You cannot truly understand what it is like to have bombs going off everywhere or watching a best friend die, unless you have experienced it. You expect your family to listen and understand you, not to make assumptions and judgments about what you have been through. Experiencing war is a life changing event. The friendships formed during training and battles will last forever, since no one else can truly understand what they have been through. If you return to your previous life after experiencing something as traumatic as war, you cannot expect it to be the same. Your family will not be able to understand this since they were not there fighting with you.

Chapter 8
A. In this chapter, Paul enjoys the scenery he witnesses at the soldier's camp he goes to. While there, Paul gets put in charge of guarding the Russian prisoners. He realizes the prisoners are men just like him. He pities them because they, like him, are only trying to defend their country. Paul, empathizing with the prisoners, gives them some potato cakes and cigarettes before returning back to the front line.
B. Paul is at peace in the beginning of the chapter because of his peaceful surroundings. His realization of the fact the Russian prisoners are humans too, makes Paul feel piteous. He knows that it could be him in that situation and he knows what war life is like so he understands what the prisoners have been through.
C.
Furtively:
Sentence- "They have dysentery; furtively many of them display the blood-stained tails of their shirts" (Remarque 190).
Def-taken, done, used, etc., surreptitiously or by stealth; secret
Condemnation:
Sentence- "...then for some years together that very crimeon which formerly the world's condemnation and severest penalty fall, becomes our highest aim" (Remarque 194).
Def- an expression of strong disapproval; pronouncing as wrong or morally culpable
D.

Authority figures are frequently put in situations greater than themselves, which results in them acting cowardly and mistakes made. In this cartoon there are soldiers on a ship that is on the Allies side of WWI, and although they are superior to the Germans the captain still wants to call for help before they attack. This is an account of a time when someone has been given a leadership role, yet they do not have the qualifications to be in that position. The captain is looking out of his spyglass and wants to call for help before he even begins to confront the Germans. This leader isn’t strong enough to fight the Germans and doubts that they are strong enough to do so which discourages the others on board. Undeserving leaders can lead to chaos for their troops because if the leader does not have the courage or strength to fight, then they will begin to lose hope as well.

E. In this chapter I learned that even in the middle of war, it is possible to remain humane towards others even if they are enemies. There is a bond between everyone fighting in battle because they are all going through the same situations. Even though Paul is considered an enemy to the Russians, he is friendly to them and chares food and cigarettes. Circumstances such as this, also relate back to one’s family upbringing of whether or not they treat everyone equally and decently. Paul’s actions towards the prisoners show that he was brought up to treat people with compassion and that he is empathetic.

Chapter 9
A. Paul returns back to the front line and is glad to reunite with his friends. The Kaiser comes to evaluate them in this chapter. When he returns, he gives a medal to Himmelstoss. They then go to the front line and engage in another battle. During the attack Paul gets stuck in a shell hole. While there, a French prisoner falls into the hole with him. This leads Paul to stab the man where, in consequence, he then has to watch the man bleed to death.
B. At first, Paul is happy to return to the front line because there he is reunited with his friends and he feels back at home. He is not happy for long though because the bombardments start up again. Paul becomes remorseful when he stabs the French prisoner because he realizes he stabbed a soldier much like himself. He had never killed a man up close before, so this new experience rattled Paul. Kat cheers him up once he sees how disturbed Paul is over the death.
C.
Assents:
Sentence- "True, assents Tjaden, but no war at all would be better still" (Remarque 206).
Def- Agreement; concurrence
Extenuation:
Sentence- "That is the result of all this leave, I plead in extenuation" (Remarque 211).
Def- a partial excuse to mitigate censure; an attempt to represent an offense as less serious than it appears by showing mitigating circumstances
D.
While innocent people are putting their lives on the line, higher authority figures do not pay attention to what is really going on. In this cartoon, you see a soldier telling an officer that the captain needs to know a word that rhymes with orange. Clearly, the captain does not care about the soldiers because if he did, he would be helping his troops instead of wondering about rhyming. There are bombs going of in the background of the cartoon beyond the fence. However, the captain isn’t concerned about the people fighting because he is to busy with his own affairs. People of influence only care about themselves in times of crisis which puts others at risk.

E. In this chapter I learned that it is not good to stay wrapped up in your emotions for too long, especially in war. You have to continue living your life and sometimes friends are there to help you through your tough time. This is one of the times when a friend is almost like family because they are there for you when no one else is. This is another example of why friends are so important during war times.

Chapter 10
A. In this chapter, Paul and seven others go to an abandoned village which they must guard. Once in the village they decide to cook a feast. They had found vegetables, meat and other foods that they could use to create a bountiful meal, which is not common for them to have. Although it was hard for them to cook the feast since there were bombings on the city. This caused them to have to cook while bombs were falling on the village and eventually drove them back into a bunker where they ate their feast. While the soldiers were leaving the village, Paul and Albert get injured and are sent to a Catholic hospital. Paul's wound heals without any trouble, but Albert's wound leads to him losing a leg. The other injured soldiers in the ward become friends with Paul and Albert.
B. Throughout this chapter, Paul remains mostly in high spirits. When he receives a good meal, it makes him happy since it is such a rarity. Although he is in pain when he is injured, he is glad he is with his friend. It also makes him cheerful when he gets well fed and pampered at the hospital. Granted he does become sad when Albert deals with the loss of his leg.
C.
Fastidious:
Sentence- "Tjaden has become so fastidious that he only half smokes his cigars" (Remarque 238)
Def- excessively particular, critical, or demanding; hard to please
Surreptitiously:
Sentence- "Now I see that he is tormenting me, he is merely raking about the wound and looking at me surreptitiously" (Remarque 243)
Def- trying to avoid being noticed; done in a concealed or underhand way to escape notice, especially disapproval
D.
Criminals are cowards when they commit crimes but are to afraid to suffer the consequences after they are caught. The man in this cartoon is old and has been living on the deserted island for a long time, but when his rescuers arrive he first asks them if the culprit was ever caught. This is a giveaway that he is the murderer and he wants to make sure people believe they have found the killer before he goes with them. The caption of this cartoon is "Did they ever catch the guy who shot Archduke Ferdinand?" Archduke Ferdinand’s murder was the start of WWI and the man living on the island wanted to know if they had discovered the culprit, so he would be free of charges and not be blamed for causing the deaths of millions of soldiers. Criminals are willing to commit an offense, but when there is a possibility of getting punished, they go into hiding and insist they are innocent.

E. Even in the worst of conditions, one can remain happy if they are with their friends. This chapter shows that even though Paul and his friends are at war, they can still become joyful when they have a feast. Sometimes war can push friendships to the limit, but this chapter shows how friendships can grow even stronger. The family soldiers’ once had at home become replaced by the bonds made during war. Also, the simplicities of life they once knew, such as having enough food, become a difficult struggle. During war, the soldiers that surround you become your family.

Chapter 11
A. Once Paul’s leg has healed, he returns to the front line. In this chapter, it is clear that all of Paul’s friends are dieing. Detering gets caught by the soldier’s dogs when he tries to run home. As a result he gets placed in confinement. The summer of 1918 was the bloodiest of all. The Germans do not have as many men as the opposing side. They also lack resources which is why they are losing. Kat becomes injured and Paul attempts to carry his body to the dressing station, but realizes that his friend had already died.
B. Paul goes into a deep depression mode at this point in the book. His friends, some of which he had grown up with, are dieing. While others go crazy and try to make a run for it. When Paul realizes Kat, his best friend from the war, was killed by a piece of shrapnel, he goes into an even deeper depression.
C.
Evasively:
Sentence- "Surely I can pick a cherry blossom if I want to!, he replied evasively..."
(Remarque 276).
Def- Intentionally vague or ambiguous; equivocal
Aberration:
Sentence- "Anyone might have known that his flight was only homesickness and a momentary aberration" (Remarque 277)
Def- the act of departing from the right, normal, or usual course.
D.
Governments of smaller countries become allies with bigger countries to escape trouble from their enemies. In this cartoon, the British political figure John Bull is hiding behind the American flag to avoid confrontation. He knows that no country wants to be at war with America, therefore being allies with them is a benefit. After hearing this, the submarine does not proceed to attack the ship. The submarine does not attack because the man driving it knows that if he attacks the ship, be is attacking America and he knows that would be a tough fight to win. Governments of small countries know to ally with bigger countries, such as America, so they will not be in harm’s way when a war breaks out.

E. This chapter reminded me how much friends play a part in one’s life. If a friend becomes injured, you become saddened by their momentary grief. When a friend dies, you go into a deep depression that can take a long time to get out of. Losing a friend, just like being drafted into war, is an emotional ordeal. Family members cannot help you out of this depression, unless they have experienced a similar situation. I learned that war can forge friendships but it can also end them.

Chapter 12
A. In this chapter, readers learn that Paul is the sole survivor out of the original seven students form his school. He receives fourteen days leave for swallowing gas, but nothing really matters to Paul at this point. He has become hopeless. It seems as if he has lost his will to live and acts nonchalantly about his fate. Paul is killed on the front line on October 1918.
B. Throughout this chapter, Paul is wholly depressed. The moment where he loses all hope had been building up throughout the story and now he has none. After losing all of his friends, he had become so disheartened that he no longer cares whether he lives or dies. All was quiet when Paul was found dead and it was concluded that he had not suffered long throughout his death. His face was calm most likely because he had lost his will to live.
C.
Armistice:
Sentence- "The armistice is coming soon, I believe it now too" (Remarque 293)
Def- a temporary suspension of hostilities by agreement of the warring parties; truce
Melancholy:
Sentence- "But perhaps all this that I think is mere melancholy and dismay, which will fly away as the dust..."
Def- a gloomy state of mind, esp. when habitual or prolonged; depression
D.
During war times soldiers use means of deception to fool their rivals into thinking they want to call a truce. It is shown in this cartoon that a German soldier has taken a snake and has tried to make it look like a “Dove of Peace.” The Germans are trying to give their rivals a false sense of security and when they put their guards down, they plan to strike. The German soldier is saying “No matter how I fix it up the tail always sticks out;” the tail has comments on it like “German Trickery.” This shows that no matter how hard one tries, the true motives of their actions will be revealed. Soldiers go to lengths, such as trickery, to gain the upper hand of others involved during the war.

E. This chapter opened my eyes to how important friends are and how important it is to stay close to one’s family. The war had taken away Paul’s relationship with his family, therefore causing him to become distant with his previous life. Slowly over time, the war picked off all of his friends which caused Paul to lose his will to live because he was alone in the world. People cannot live unless they have others to talk to or be with. I learned that friends and family play a huge role in everyone’s lives. However, cruel things such as war can take them away which causes one to die emotionally and from there die physically.

http://www.authentichistory.com/ww1/cartoons/ww1politicalcartoonsLON01.html