Chapter 1:
1. In this Chapter Paul introduces all of the people that have been or are still a part of his life. Paul is forced to witness a lot of deaths and sicknesses that take place around him, as the war is dangerous and the medical skills are not great.
2. Paul seems like a content and happy person, however, when his friend Kemmerich is sick and on his death bed, he hurts to know that there is nothing he can do other than to just be his friend. Although Paul seems like a strong willed person, he must feel unsure of what is to happen next and afraid that something will happen to him or once again to one of his friends.
3. Vocabulary!
Billets- Lodging for troops.
“The notes of an accordion float across from the billets” (Remarque, 9)
Ostracized- to exclude, by general consent, from society, friendship, conversation, privileges
“But he did allow himself to be persuaded, otherwise he would have been ostracized” (Remarque 11)
Tactless- Lacking or exhibiting a lack of tact; bluntly inconsiderate or indiscreet.
“Muller is rather crude and tactless, otherwise he would hold his tongue, for anybody can see that Kemmerich will never come out of this place again” (Remarque 14).
4.
Propaganda is the information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, or nation. In this political cartoon propaganda is spread by the Germans as to why you should side with them.
5. From this chapter I learned that war was something that people were either persuaded into going into or it was something that they felt the were destined for. War changed peoples life’s dramatically, as the deaths and sicknesses that surrounded them every day, changed peoples perspectives they had towards life and some people went crazy because of it. Friendship is the most important in this chapter as for the most part, the boys stuck together and made the best of their situation.
Chapter 2:
1. In this chapter Paul experiences the loss of his best friend. Paul watches someone who he grew up with die right before his eyes because of the lack of medical care. There was no one to care properly for the wounded soldiers and the technology was simply not enough.
2. Paul is hurt because of the loss of his best friend and begins to question whether or not the War is the place he wants be. Paul no longer knows exactly what he is there for.
3. Vocabulary!
Obliterate- to remove or destroy all traces of; do away with; destroy completely.
“They have wives, children, occupations, and interests, they have a background which s so strong that the war cannot obliterate it” (Remarque 20)
Embittered- To arouse bitter feelings
“At first astonished, then embittered, and finally indifferent, we recognized that what matters is not the mind but the boot brush, not intelligence but the system, not freedom but drill” (Remarque 21-22)
4. The public was fed up with the League of Nations trying to bring peace. They were not longer going to accept it.
5. In this chapter I learned that war is an event that has different effects on different people. When Paul begins to question why he is at war, he is showing that the deaths, sicknesses, and long hours fighting are getting to him. I also learned that it is true that one can only take so much and when they reach that point, they must make a decision, keep moving on strong or give up. Friendship, once again plays a huge role in this chapter, as Paul sits with his friend until his last breaths. Friends must stick together during hard times because whether or not we know it now, we are only as good as the people next to us and we need them no matter what.
Chapter 3
1. In this chapter Paul introduces the new soldiers that have been brought into the camp, where they go to a new camp site in the middle of no where. Here is where Kat proves that he is smart, especially in the time of need. As Paul explain this he shows how he admires Kat's intelligence. Also, Himmelstoss comes to join the boys at the camp and they use this as a chance to get revenge because of the hell that he put them through during training.
2. At this point Paul seems content with his current situation and seems to understand what he must do in order to survive and succeed at war.
3. Vocabulary!
convulsed- to jerk or shake violently and uncontrollably, or make a muscle or body part go into a repetitive spasm
indefatigable- never showing any sign of getting tired or of relaxing an effort
"Haie bending over him with a fiendish grin and his mouth open with blood lust, Himmelstoss's head on his knees; then the convulsed striped drawers, the knock knees, executing at every blow most original movements in the lowered breeches, and towering over them like a woodcutter the indefatigable Tjaden" (Remarque 49).
4. As a member of the league of nations, the hands were tied on making what were thought to be the right decisions.
5. Friendship is a very important thing to have, especially during the time of war. It is important that you cherish your friends and always keep them around. I also learned that during the time of war you had to be smart and think ahead in order to survive.
Chapter 4
1. In this chapter Paul and Kat, along with the other soldiers, are preparing for a bombardment that Kat senses. There are men either dying because they are not skilled/ fast enough to dodge the flying gun shells, yet other men throw themselves into the ground and miss the shots by just seconds. The soldiers set out to complete tasks and hope for sleep when they are finished; these men are transformed from soldiers to “human animals”. The new soldiers are not as experienced and they depend on Paul’s help and others cannot stand the sounds of shrieking wounded horses and dread their job of killing them. Lastly Paul and Kat find a wounded soldier and know that he would be better off if they shot him, rather than be left there to die in agony, but their fellow soldiers approach before that can be done.
2. Paul is still scared of what is to come, but he concentrates on acquiring food, clothing, and shelter. Paul also learns to cope with his constant fear and uncertainty that comes from the bombardment and violence.
3. Vocabulary!
Aerial-
"The gun- emplacements are camouflaged with bushes against aerial observation, and look like a kind of military feast of the Tabernacles" (Remarque 52)
Reverberation- A reechoed sound
Imperceptibly- Very slight, gradual, or subtle
"The Roar of the guns makes our lorry stagger, the reverberation rolls raging away to the rear, everything quake. Our faces change imperceptibly" (Remarque 53)
4. Waving the rules was an issue and this political cartoon was made as a response to Britain’s naval blockade of Germany. There are plays on words in which “Rules the Waves” and “Wave the Rules” are trying to define whether it was fair to blockade Germany for what it was doing before the war. The cartoon places homage to Britain’s naval strength.
5. Once again friendship is a very important thing to cherish. In this chapter Paul's friendship comes in handy to many soldiers, but one in particular. War is something that brings uncertainty to nearly everyone and Paul helps a soldier who is scared and unsure of how to deal with the violence, which taught me that with just ones persons help you can either be made or broken.
Chapter 5
1. In this chapter Paul describes the terrible living conditions of life at the front. Himmelstoss, was sent to the front as a result of tormenting his recruits excessively, and the men begin to talk about their personal lives and what they would do if the war ended suddenly. Himmelstoss is not treated with respect from the soldiers and they do not respect his presence. Because of the mens behavior towards Himmelstoss the lieutenant gives Tjaden and Kropp light punishments and lectures Himmelstoss about his behavior. Tjaden receives three days open arrest and Kropp receives one. Paul and Kat steal a goose and kill it so that they can roast it and have a dinner.
2. At this point Paul feels an intimate closeness with Kat, and although their living conditions are nearly unbearable, Paul begins to feel more comfortable with Kat’s support.
3. Vocabulary!
Contented- Desiring no more than what one has; satisfied.
"Kropp is contented now and more accommodating" (Remarque 84)
Regimental- of or pertaining to a regiment.
"The shed belongs to a regimental headquarters" (Remarque 91)
4. What’s lurking below, that everyone can’t see is the ever extending hand of Germany. This a political cartoon that parodies a national anthem, in this case it is the German imperial anthem Deutschland Uber Alles, literally translated as Germany Over all.
5. Chapter 5 really showed me that the soldier’s social relationships can never reach the intimacy or intensity of a soldier’s bonds with other soldiers. Although war is a very dangerous and fearful event it brings many people closer than they ever imagined possible.
Chapter 6
1. The men are disheartened as they pass the schoolhouse and know that the coffins lying beside it are made for them as well as the fact that their own shells are beginning to fall in their trenches—the barrels on the guns are worn out. The men detect that the enemy is bringing troops to the front and they sense that the English have strengthened their artillery. The men live in fear knowing that all they can do is wait. Kat is in bad spirits as the bombing continues and things only get worse when a bomb hits the dugout and the soldiers begin to loose composure. The French attackers suffer heavy losses from the German machine guns and grenades and the soldiers kill with a mindless fury. During an attack, Paul finds Himmelstoss in a dugout, pretending to be wounded and the old hands try to teach some of the new recruits combat tricks and wisdom during the hours of rest. When the Second Company is relieved, only thirty-two of the original 150 men remain.
2. Although there is constant bombing and people are dying everywhere the calm and quiet memories bring sorrow rather than desire to Paul. He is sure that his youth is lost and that he has become permanently numb and indifferent. Besides all of his memories Paul is beginning to feel unsure now that Kat is in bad spirits.
3. Vocabulary!
Unscathed- Not scathed; unharmed; uninjured
" In a bomb- proof- dug- out I may be smashed to atoms and in the open may survive ten hours' bombardment unscathed" (Remarque 101)
Annihilation-The state of being annihilated; extinction; destruction.
"We have become wild beasts. We do not fight, we defend ourselves against annihilation" (Remarque 113)
4. Since the Americans hadn’t joined that war yet, England was flying a neutral flag so as not to be fired on. They knew the Germans didn’t want us in the war.
5. In this chapter I learned that the soldiers are savagely killing, but not necessarily because they are defending themselves from the enemies but because that is the only way they know how to get rid of their anxiety and stress. This made me realize how important it is to stay positive no matter what your conditions are. It is very noticeable that because there are so many men dying, no one is truly getting the right training therefore it is nearly impossible for them to succeed. You need experience, friendship, and hope in order to succeed at war.
Chapter 7
1. Good food and rest are enough to make a soldier content, therefore after Himmelstoss realized truly how frightening it was to be on the front he did everything in his power to get on the men’s good sides. Paul, Leer, and Kropp meet three women while they are swimming, and although they are not supposed to cross the canal they do anyways. Paul is given 16 days leave and when he reaches his hometown; he finds that his mother is ill with cancer and that the civilian population is slowly starving. Paul’s mother becomes sadder as the end of Paul’s leave looms closer. Paul visits Kemmerich's mother to deliver the news of her son’s death. Paul wishes that he had never come home on leave because it only awakens pain for himself and his mother.
2. Paul is at a point of depression. Although he enjoyed his time with his friends and the women from across the canal he could not cope with his mothers illness and could think of nothing other than his identity as a soldier. Paul lied to Kemmerich's mother and felt bad in doing so.
3. Vocabulary!
Brothels- A house of prostitution
"How different this is from the conditions in the soldiers' brothels, to which we are allowed to go" (Remarque 150)
De-loused- Relocated
"Next morning, after I had been de-loused, I go the rail head" (Remarque 153)
4. During this time around March of 1915 the Germans referred to the British as sissies. The German cartoon is a bitter commentary on how they perceive the British Royal Navy.
5. In this chapter I realized that many soldiers have a hard time separating their life at war from their personal lives. Friendship and family is another factor that plays an important role in this chapter as Paul worries for his friends safety when he is away from home, and worries for his family while he is fighting for his country.
Chapter 8
1.Paul reports to the training camp and is puzzled by the starving soldiers and when he looks at them he can’t see how they are his enemies and why he should want to kill them. Paul pushes these thoughts away because they threaten his ability to maintain his composure. Paul breaks all of his cigarettes in half and gives them to the prisoners. Paul’s mother has been taken to the hospital to be treated for her cancer. Paul’s mother made him potato cakes to bring back with him and although he has no appetite and would rather give them to the starving Russian soldiers, he decides to keep them because of all the pain she put herself through just to make them for him.
2. In this chapter Paul is saddened by his mothers illness and even more so by the fact that he has to return to the front with her condition as bad as it is. Paul is also upset when he plays music with one of the Russian soldiers because the music sounds so lonely. 3. Vocabulary!
Dysentery-A gastrointestinal disease characterized by severe, often bloody diarrhea, usually caused by infection with bacteria or parasites.
Furtively-in a furtive manner; "the soldiers were furtively crawling through the night"
"They have dysentery; furtively many of them display their blood-stained tails of their shirts" (Remarque 190)
4.
As our patience grew thin the German Submarines (German U-Boats) were sinking innocent cruise ships. Wilson was running for election with the campaign slogan "He kept us out of war." He was re-elected but by April 1917 he was asking Congress to declare war on Germany.
5. In this chapter I learned that the powerful people who decide to wage war are the common soldier’s real enemies. I also realized that people think that others are supposed to be enemies simply because other people are more powerful than them.
Chapter 9
1. When Paul returns to the front, he finds Kat, Muller, Tjaden and Kropp still alive and uninjured. There is excitement among the ranks because the emperor of Germany is coming to see the army. At the end of his visit Paul and his friends came to the conclusion that he was not the remarkable of a man. Paul volunteers to crawl into No Man’s Land to gather information about the enemy’s strength. On his way back, he becomes lost. A bombardment begins, and he knows that an attack is coming. An enemy soldier jumps into the shell hole with him, and Paul quickly stabs him- the French soldier doesn’t die and Paul bandages his wounds and explains that he didn’t want to kill him. Paul copies his address and resolves to send money to his family anonymously, but not to long after does he realize that he will not fulfill his promise and realizes that he had no choice other than to kill him.
2. In this chapter Paul is forced to undergo a traumatic event. For the first time Paul fought in a hand- to hand combat, and was filled with guilt when the Soldier did not die right away. Paul is forced to understand the true cost of taking another human being’s life, which he does know how to cope with right away.
3. Vocabulary!
Peevish- Showing annoyance, irritation, or bad mood
"Everyone is peevish and touchy, we do not take kindly to all this polishing, much less to the full-dress parades" (Remarque 202)
Extenuation- Something that extenuates; a partial excuse
"That is the result of all this leave, I plead in extenuation" (Remarque 211).
4.
We thought we could keep peace in the world, but like a fire smolders, until it bursts into flames, we were unable to stay out of the war.
5. In this chapter I learned that soldiers on both sides have been sent to fight based on exactly the same ideals, which makes it nearly impossible for the soldiers to determine who is right and who is wrong. Another things that I learned from this chapter is how the men are upset because millions of lives have been sacrificed by a decision made by fewer than thirty men.
Chapter 10
1. Paul, Tjaden, Muller, Kropp, Detering and Kat have to guard a supply dump in an abandoned village. They use a concrete shelter for a dugout and take advantage of the opportunity to eat and sleep as much as they can. The enemy sees the smoke rising from the chimney and bombs the house, but they managed to escape. While they are evacuating another village, Kropp and Paul are wounded by a falling shell. Paul’s leg is broken and his arm is wounded and Kropp was wounded very close to his knee. Kropp develops a fever and must stop at the Catholic hospital nearby. Paul fakes an illness to go with him. Kropp’s fever does not improve, so his leg has to be amputated from the thigh. The plan for Lewandowski is carried off without a problem and Lewandowski’s wife shares the food that she brought for her husband with the other patients. Paul and Kropp both heal well but when Paul receives leave to go home parting from his mother is even harder than the last time. She is weaker than before.
2. In the beginning Paul and his friends are full of a certain bitter comedy, but by the end of the chapter, once again Paul is upset because he is injured and he must return home to see his mother who is sicker than before.
3. Vocabulary!
Fastidious-Excessively particular, critical, or demanding; hard to please
"Tjaden has become so fastidious that he only half smokes his cigars" (Remarque 238)
Surreptitiously- Acting in a stealthy way
"Now I see that he is tormenting me, he is merely raking about in the wound and looking up surreptitiously at me over his glasses" (Remarque 243)
4.
5. Something that I learned about war from this chapter is how terrible the hospital really is. With all of the injured men there is the true evidence of the human costs of war. True friendship is showed here when Kropp needs to be sent to a hospital and Paul fakes an illness to go with him so that he will feel comfortable. You need your friends to stay close during rough times.
Chapter 11
1. The German army continues to weaken, but the war rages on. Paul and his comrades stop counting the weeks they have been fighting. The men stay loyal to each other but Detering begins to think of his home and tries to escape but is caught and tried as a deserter. Muller is shot and killed- Paul receives Muller’s boots which once belonged to Kemmerich. The summer of 1918 is horrific. Though they are obviously losing, the Germans keep fighting. Kat is wounded and as his only friend Paul carries Kat all the way to the dressing station, only to find that on the way Kat had been hit in the head and killed.
2. In this chapter there is a lot taking place that puts Paul in a depressed state of mind. The only friend that Paul had left was killed as Paul was brining him to safety, and another friend was shot and killed suffering before his death. Paul is still upset over his mothers illness and now has other deaths to cope with.
3. Vocabulary!
Evasively- Elusive or evanescent.
"Surely I can pick cherry blossom is I want to1 he replied evasively" (Remarque 276)
Bequeathed- To pass (something) on to another; hand down
" Before he died he handed over his pocket-book to me, and bequeathed me his boots" (Remarque 279)
4.
Our government said that it would support our veterans during and after war, but it was seen as just offering taken help to the needy. There was no real fix to the health care system; it was just a way to stop the talk.
5. As more and more soldiers were beginning to die and the war became more violent Survival required the soldiers complete, unquestioning loyalty to one another. The soldiers unique friendships were the only thing keeping them sane.
Chapter 12
1. In the autumn of 1918 Paul is the only living member of his original group of classmates. The war continues to rage, but now that the United States has joined the Allies. After inhaling poison gas, Paul is given fourteen days of leave to recuperate. Paul wants to return home but he fears that his own life has been irrevocably destroyed. After years of fighting, Paul is finally killed in October of 1918. The army report that day contains only one phrase: “All quiet on the Western Front.” As Paul dies, his face is calm, “as though almost glad the end had come.”
2. In this last chapter, when Paul is sent home he is frightened because he has no goals; were he to return home, he wouldn’t know what to do with himself.
3. Vocabulary!
Superfluous- Being more than is sufficient or required; excessive
"We will be Superfluous even to ourselves, we will grow older, a few will adapt themselves" (Remarque 294)
Divinations-Methods of attempting to acquire information by alleged paranormal means
"The melodies from dreams and from books, the whispers and divinations of women" (Remarque 295)
4.
Prior to the defeat in Vietnam, most Americans had been content to think of themselves as honorable people, unerringly drawn to the side of what was true and noble and right, not the kind of people to push women and children away from the last helicopter out of town. If the war proved them wrong in this judgment, it was because the war was never honestly declared and because, at the end of it, nobody, certainly none of its official sponsors, could say why 58,000 American soldiers were dead and another 300,000 wounded. What could be said was that America had lost not only a war but also the belief in its virtue.”
5. In this chapter I realized that without your friends you begin to loose hope. When Paul no longer had anyone to turn to he began to get frightened and loose hopes of ever returning to his normal life. War had both positive and negative outcomes for Paul, but in the end he was ready to give in.
