LITERARY ANALYSIS

Chapter One

a) In this chapter the narrator Paul, describes a few of his friends and fellow classmates, Leer, Muller, and Kropp. They decide to visit Kemmerich, one of their classmates who is in the hospital with a thigh wound. Paul figures out that Kemmerich's leg is amputated, but he is unaware. Muller begs Paul for Kemmerich's boots, saying that he didn't need them anymore, Paul tells him to shut up. Paul gives cigarettes to a doctor in agreement to give Kemmerich a dose of morphine to ease his agony.

b) Paul feels guilty for Kemmerich's wound, because he promised Kemmerich's mother that he would watch after him. He also is irritated at Muller because Kemmerich is dying and all he can think about is himself.

c) We stroll over to the meadow behind the billets. (Remarque 7)

• billets:lodging for a soldier, student, etc., as in a private home or nonmilitary public building.

After every misere ouvetre we have a round of nap. (Remarque 9)

• Misere ouvetre: open discussion of hardship
  

d) Countries can team up and control decisions that another country makes by disabling to their power to fight for what they think is right. In this political cartoon The League of Nations ties Uncle Sam's hands back. This shows that they are trying to control the Untied States decision to enter World War One. The author of this cartoon makes it seem since the League of Nations has Uncle Sam "tied down" they can control America.


e) In this chapter I began to put myself in Paul's shoes. I wondered how I would feel if my friend was dying and their was nothing I could do about it . From this point on I learned that Paul was going through a lot at such a young age.

Chapter Two

a) In this chapter Paul speaks about standing up to Himmelstoss, his authority. Paul sat next to Kemmerich and tries to comfort him, while he dies. Kemmerich cries and tells him to give Muller his boots. Paul seeks and doctor, who doesn't care about his condition. When he returns Kemmerich was dead. Paul gathers his boots to take to Muller.

b) Paul feels upset because his friend died, he also feels guilty because he thinks it's his fault. He wishes he could take Kemmerich's place. He also is angry at Kantorek because if he didn't pursue his class to go into the army then none of this would have happened.

c) We know only that in some strange and melancholy way have we become a waste land. (Remarque 20)

• Melancholy: feeling of thoughtful sadness

At first astonished, then embittered, and finally indifferent, we recognized that what matters is not the mind but the boot brush, not the intelligence but the system, not the freedom but the drill. (Remarque 22)

• embittered: to arouse bitter feelings

d) To recruit soldiers into the army "Uncle Sam" used a tool called Propaganda, which is information spread to support a common cause, in Sam's case being to peruse young innocent soldiers to fight in the War. This cartoon conveys America's greediness because they want young men to die for their countries own personal gain. This is shown through the political cartoon when it says "I need you in the Navy this very minute!" This reinforces that those in power don't experience pain and repercussion of the war, because the put themselves before their countries citizens. The Author of this cartoon is trying to portray the vulnerability of the youth who our being misled into joining the army by their superiors.

e) In this chapter I started to realize how scary war can be. Every page I read starting giving me chills because I couldn't imagine going through what Paul did. I began to look up to Paul as a role model because he is such a loyal friend and a good person.

Chapter Three

a) In this chapter a group of new recruits come, making Paul feel like he has been a soldier forever. He and his friends discuss Himmelstoss and wonder why he is such a bully. Paul recalls that Tjaden holds a grudge against Himmelstoss because during training he tried to break Tjaden out of wetting his bed. Himmelstoss thought bed wetting was pure laziness so he found another bed wetter and forced then to sleep on bunk beds. Paul tells the reader that Tjaden seeked revenge on Himmelstoss for the embarrassment he caused him to go through, so in the middle of the night they stripped him and beat him muffling his shouts with a pillow. Paul says that Himmelstoss never discovered who gave him the beating. b)Paul feels like the war is never going to end because new recruits come in, making him feel like a veteran. He also feels bad for Tjaden because he is so angry at Himmelstoss.

c) Patronizingly he gives the youngster a portion. (Remarque 36)

• Patronizingly: to treat in a condescending matter

Kropp asks am artilleryman who has been some time in this neighborhood: "is there a canteen anywhere about?"(Remarque 38)

• artilleryman: a soldier serving in an artillery unit of the army

d) Often during times of war many people are faced with the same choices, either work or join the army. In this political cartoon Uncle Sam is holding up two thing a shovel, meaning to work or a gun, meaning to fight. The choices for income during the war was very scarce and many people were "forced" to sign up for the army. They were "forced" because they were trapped in having no other way to support their family. In reality it would have been safer to work, but a lot of men were not even fortunate enough to be offered a steady job. In this cartoon the author exposes the war because it shows the entrapment of the American people.

e) In this chapter I learned that the army is based on power, but some people can take advantage of that power. It made me angry thinkin g that Himmelstoss could be so mean to the soldiers.

Chapter Four

a) In this chapter Paul tells the readers that he and his friends were assigned to lay barbed wire at the front. The new recruits are scared, one boy cowers under Paul's arm while they are being bombed, afterwards the recruit notices that he crapped his pants. Paul explains to him that many soldiers experience this problem during their first attack. He instructs the boy to throw his underwear away. Paul hears wrenching sounds of wounded horses. Being Bombed again they men get lead to a graveyard, Paul crawls under an uncovered c offin for protection.Paul notices the recruit he helped earlier lying on the ground with his hip a mess of flesh and bone splinters at the joint.

b) In this chapter Paul sympathizes with the new recruits because they were scared. He remembers what he felt like during his first bombing. He also is irritated at the sounds of the wounded horses.

c) "Kat, I hear some aspirantsfor the frying pan over there." (Remarque 52)

• Aspirants: One who aspires, as to advancement, honors, or a high position.

Only the young recruits are agitated. (Remarque 53)

• Agitated:to move or force into violent, irregular action

d) Many people believe and trust what they see in the local press, which can lead people to get taken advantage of. This cartoon shows a German recruit talking to a Mexican soldier whispering to him " If you join the army, you will get a piece of the US". This document was a trap for the Mexican people who needed to get out of their poor country in hope of having a better life. Germany used Libel, which is unwritten truths, to get an advantage into the war by recruiting Mexican men to fight for their country. This document called the "Zimmerman Note" reinforces that those in power take advantage of their status by writing untruths to receive a political advantage.

e) I admired Paul in this chapter because the reader really gets to see how heroic he can be. I love d how he welcome in the new recruits and helped them.

Chapter Five

a) In this chapter Paul describes the unsanitary conditions of life at the front. Himmelstoss has arrived in the camp, proving the rumor true. He was caught tormenting his recruits excessively and has been sent to the front as punishment. Himmelstoss returns with the sergeant-major to punish Tjaden. The sergeant-major solves the problem by declaring that Tjaden must report to the Orderly Room within ten minutes. Later that evening, Kropp and Tjaden are put on trial . Paul and the others tell the court about Himmelstoss’ cruelty toward Tjaden during training. After hearing their story, the presiding lieutenant gives Tjaden and Kropp light punishments and lectures Himmelstoss about his behavior. Tjaden receives three days open arrest and Kropp receives one. Paul visited them in the makeshift jail and play cards. Paul climbs over a fence and enters the shed to find two geese. He grabs both and slams their heads against the wall,the geese cackle and fight with him furiously before he manages to escape with one goose in hand. Kat kills and cooks it, they eat it quickly in fear of being discovered. Paul kept the feathers to make pillows.

b) Paul sympathizes for Tjaden and Kropp and worries about what their punishment will be. He is happy when he and Kat get to eat the geese.

c) Muller is insatiable and gives himself no peace. (Remarque 77)

• Insatiable:incapable of being satisfied or appeased

Muller laconically turns to Haie Westhus again. (Remarque 78)

• Laconically:using few words

d) People that have the same opinions often come together trying to get their opinions heard, but sometimes these people can gain unfair powers to control the community. In this political cartoon the public sentiment, which stands for the peace treaty is running through the streets. By this the author was trying to convey that the peace treaty was being forced among a lot of people. Also in the cartoon people in the back are holding arrows which state "those 36 amendments fail". This expresses that all the other amendments besides the peace treaty didn't get approved because they didn't have popular gain. Despite what the government desires the author of this cartoon wants you to believe in what you believe in and not follow the crowd.

e) I began to realize how scarce food was during the war. I sympathize for the soldiers because they are doing so much for their country and they can't even eat a good meal?

Chapter Six

a)In this chapter Paul and his friends return to the front. At the front, they listen to the enemy transports and guns; they find out that the enemy is bringing troops to the front. The men are fear because the barrels on the guns are worn out. Paul tells the readers that they have to fight the aggressive rats to protect their food. Days pass before the bombs begin to fall attempts to deliver food fail. Later, the dugout suffers a direct hit. Paul wittinesses recruit being bombed to bits. The attack has come, many recruits die due to their lack of training. Paul and the other soldiers listen to one man’s death throes for three days because they couldn't locate him. Paul finds Himmelstoss in a dugout, pretending to be wounded. Paul tries to force him out, but it didn't work until a nearby lieutenant orders both of them to proceed. They rush forward with the attack, and Haie receives a fatal wound. When they are relieved, only 32 of the original 150 men are alive.

b) In this chapter Paul feels disgusted because of all the deaths he has witnessed. He is angry at Himmelstoss for acting like he is wounded. He is upset that so many soldiers died during the attack.

c) Besides these they have brought up a number of those little French beats with instantaneous fuses. (Remarque 100)

• Instantaneous: occurring, done, or completed in an instant

We toss the bits of rat over the parapet and again lie and wait. (Remarque 103)

• Parapet: defensive wall or elevation

d) Often during time of the war many citizens are pressured into doing things they do not wish to do. This political cartoon shows a German being forced into putting his money into a "Liberty Day". This shows that the German's forced their citizens into paying American's money. Another example of the pressure the German authorities put on it's citizens is the "war bonds" which are also expressed through this cartoon. A war bond is money that goes towards paying the dues for the war. The Author of this cartoon wishes to expose the war by showing authorities abusing their powers and taking advantage of innocent people.

e) At this point I couldn't understand how Paul hasn't gone crazy. I can't believe he sees so many people die.

Chapter Seven

a) Paul and his friends are sent to a depot for reorganization. Himmelstoss acts nicer after experiencing the horror of the front. Paul, Leer, and Kropp meet three women while they went swimming. They call the soldiers “poor boys.” Paul is inexperienced, but he yields to desire. He hopes to recapture h is youth with a woman. Paul receives seventeen days of leave. Afterward he is to return to the front for six weeks. When Paul gets home he finds out his mother has cancer. His mother asks if it was “very bad out there.” Paul lies to her, and says otherwise. A major becomes angry that Paul does not salute him in the street. As a punishment, he forces Paul to do a march in the street and salute smartly. Paul wishes to avoid further such incidents, so he begins wearing civilian clothing. Paul’s father, unlike his mother, keeps asking him questions. He tries to reunite his childhood by drawing, but it just wasn't the same. Paul met up with Kantorek and told him the horrors of what has happened, and who died. 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. She demands to know how he died, Paul lied to her saying that he died quickly with little pain and suffering. Paul’s mother sits with the last night of his leave. He wishes that he could weep in her lap and die with her, and that he had never come home on leave because it only awakens his pain.

b) In this chapter Paul feels strange because his home no longer feels like his home. All he can think about is the war and how is friends are doing. He is upset when he learns his mother is sick with cancer, and sympathizes with her pain. He is irritated with his father for asking him so many questions about the war.

c) We look askance at one another. (Remarque 142)

• Askance: with suspicion, mistrust, or disapproval

"We could go and get deloused, anyway" Kropp suggests. (Remarque 142)

• Deloused:to free of lice; remove lice from

d) When a country's opponent has an allies it harder to stay on top. This political cartoon says that "Germany is Under All" . Which means that Germany has the underhand because they are loosing the war. In Germany's case the war isn't fair because they have allies, but yet their opponent France has the US. The waves crashing down on that hand reinforces that Germany is so far behind France that they cannot get back up again.

e) I begin to feel bad for Paul because he doesn't get to be a normal teenager and just have fu n, instead he is starving, cold, and witnessing deaths.

Chapter Eight

a) Paul reports to training camp, beside the camp they keep hostage Russian Soldiers. Paul doesn't understand how those men with such "honest faces" are the enemy. Many of the Russians are starving and miserable, Paul feels bad for their suffering. He hates the idea that he kills people he doesn't even know. Before Paul returns to the front, his sister and father visit him. The conversation is awkward because all they can talk about is his mother's illness. Before they leave, Paul’s father and sist

er give Paul some jam and potato cakes that his mother made for him. Depressed, Paul has no appetite for them, and ponders whether to give them to the hungry Russian prisoners. He decides that he will, but then he remembers that his mother must have been in pain when she made the cakes and that she meant them for him, so he he only gives the prisoners two of the cakes.

b) Paul feels depressed because he doesn't understand why he is fighting with the French. He sympathizes with the Russian prisoners and attempts to feed them. He worries about his mother's health.

c) Now the stems of the gleam purest white, and between them airy and silken, hang pastel green of the leaves; the next moment all changes to an opalescent blue, as the shivering breezes pass down from the heights and touch the green lightly away.(Remarque 188)

• Opalescent: exhibiting a play of colors like that of the opal.

They have dysentery; furtively many of them display the blood-stained tails of their shirts.(Remarque 190)

• Dysentery:Pathology. an infectious disease marked by inflammation and ulceration of the lower part of the bowels, with diarrhea that becomes mucous and hemorrhagic.
• Furtively:taken, done, used, etc., surreptitiously or by stealth; secret

d) During times of War countries often just look out for themselves. In this political cartoon England blocks Germany from exporting goods, meanwhile the US can export their goods. This Causes even more tension between the countries, and forces both of them to suffer. The author wishes to expose this situation so that the countries can realize that they are really working against each other rather than together. Which goes to show that selfishness doesn't give you an advantage it just weakens your strength to fight the battle.
d) This political cartoon exposes that war takes away things, other than the lives of the solders. Everyday the war was to continue, the American shipping ceased. This is shown in the cartoon by babies labeled "American shipping".
e) On top of all Paul's worries he finds out his mother has cancer! I learned to appreciate what I have, because even though my life isn't perfect it's 20 times better then Paul's.

Chapter Nine

a) In chapter nine Paul returns to the front, to find out all of his friends are still alive. Kaiser, the emperor of Germany came to visit the army. The soldiers were given new clothes, but when Kaiser left they got taken away. Paul volunteers to crawl into No Man's Land to find out what the enemy is planning, but on his way back he becomes lost. A attack begins and Paul pretends to be dead by crawling into a shell hole and waiting until the attack passes. Meanwhile, an enemy jumps into the shell whole with him, in order to stay alive Paul stabs him. It was to light outside for Paul to escape so he was forced to wait in the shell hole with him, he notices that the soldiers isn't dead. Not knowing what to do Paul gives him water and bandages his wounds. It took the soldier several hours to die. Paul tells the soldier that he didn't want to kill him. He finds a picture of the man's family, Paul decides he will send the family money anonymously, but later he decides against it. Kat reassure Paul that he had to do it he said "it's either kill or be killed".

b) Paul feels relieved that his friends are still alive. When he kills the solider he feels guilty and his soul experiences pure agony. He tries to get the situation out of his mind and persuade himself it was something he had to do.

c) I inquire after Kat and Albert. (Remarque 200)

• Inquire:to seek information by questioning

Such things exasperate a soldier more than the front line. (Remarque 202)

• Exasperate: to irritate or provoke to a high degree; annoy extremely

d) The president can use the loss of lives as a propaganda to persuade people in order to receive what he wants. In this political cartoon President Wilson tries to peruse the congress to declare war by making a false assumption. He uses the tool of American Boys lives to get to the hearts of the congress. When he really should of looked into the situation deeper to realize why those lives were lost. The author of this cartoon is revealing that the president took advantage of his power and tried to manipulate his peers for his personal advantage.

his cartoon is mocks President Wilson because he lost the American ships, with out warning, but they were in war so how couldn't it be expected to loose lives
e) I learned that war is a game, someone wins and someones looses. In the end everyone has to sacrifice their morals to stay "in the game".

Chapter Ten

a) Paul and his friends have to guard a supply dump in an abandoned village. They use the shelter to sleep and eat like never before, while cooking the enemy sees rising smokes and bomb the village. Luckily they attempted to save every piece of food, for three weeks they live the "charmed life". While the soldiers evacuate to another village, Kropp and Paul are injured by a falling shell. Kropp is wounded very close to his knee and Paul broke is leg and his arm is wounded. They begin to travel to the hospital, but Kropp develops a fever a must stop at a nearby Catholic hospital, Paul fakes sick to go with him. Sadly Kropp's heath doesn't improve so his leg had to be amputated. Paul wittinesses men dying all around him. Paul meets Lewandowski, a 40 year old soldier, who is healing from an abdominal wound. His wife and child are visiting and tells Paul that he wants to sleep with her since he has not done so in 2 years. Paul guards the door while the couple makes love. Paul and Kropp heal well and he is sent home to finish healing. This time it is harder to part with his mother, because she is sicker that ever before.

b) Paul is so happy that he gets to rest and feast with his friends instead of thinking about all the troubles on the front. He sympathizes with Kropp and worries about him committing suicide. He worries about his mother and is heart broken that he has to leave her again.

c) So we zealously set to work to create an idyll. (Remarque 232)

• Zealously: full of, characterized by, or due to zeal; ardently active, devoted, or diligent.

Punctually at half past six we begin supper. (Remarque 236)

• Punctually: strictly observant of an appointed or regular time; not late; prompt.

d) Often during times of War a country will use propaganda to retrieve a personal advantage. In this political cartoon America is trying to peruse mother's to buy government bonds because they say " it will help America's son's win the war". America is trying to manipulate the Mother's hearts for a way to receive money to help the government. This reinforces that those in power don't experience pain and repercussion of the war, because they're not fighting it. The Author of this cartoon is trying to expose the war because the US doesn't care about "AMERICA'S SONS" , but only for their gain of power.
d) This political cartoon is making fun of the American army because it isn't as big as the German army. It shows that the Germans thought
e) It's hard for me to remember that these soldiers are just boys! They're going through so much at such a young age, I really look up to Paul because he is a really strong person.

Chapter Eleven

a) Paul and his comrades notice that the German army continues to weaken everyday. Paul compares the war to a deadly disease. An emery shoot Muller in the abdomen, he dies a painful death. Muller's boots who one belonged to Kemmerich were given to Paul. Paul witnesses Leer bleed to death from a thigh wound. Kat is wounded while returning with food. Paul stays with him for he is the only friend he has left. Paul carries him to a stretcher and while doing so shells crash around him, he soon discovers that Kat has been hit in the head by the exploding shell.

b) Paul feels alone, he misses his friends and he looses all hope in this war. He feels like his whole world has crashed down on him. This is Paul's lowest point of the novel.

c) We have almost grown accustomed to it; war is the cause of death like cancer and Tuberculosis, like influenza and dysentery.(Remarque 271)

• Dysentery:Pathology. an infectious disease marked by inflammation and ulceration of the lower part of the bowels, with diarrhea that becomes mucous and hemorrhagic.

Here, on the borders of death, life follows an amazingly simple course, it is limited to what is most necessary, all else lies buried in gloomy sleep; in that besides our primitiveness and our survival. (Remarque 273)

• Primitiveness: being the first or earliest of the kind or in existence

d) The President has the power to "steer" America into the direction of his choice. This political cartoon exposes the President's decision to join World War One. The cartoon mocks him by saying "steering clear of the rocks", by the rocks the author means the war. Never less he didn't steer clear of the war, but only to join France by becoming an allie. Which caused America to get involved with a war they didn't need to be involved with. The author exposes the President because he took advantage of his political position causing the US soldiers to die in a war they didn't need to fight.

e) In this chapter I learn that the war is becoming a fight for survival. Paul is the only one out of his friends that is alive. I admire him so much in this chapter because he is going through the troubles of war all by himself.

Chapter Twelve

a) In the last chapter Paul doesn't think his life could get any worse. All of his friends have died and he is left to fight this war alone. The United States joins with France and he is sure Germany is done for. Paul inhales poison gas and is only given 14 days to go home and recuperate. He decides not to return home because he has no reason to. After years of fighting Paul is killed in October of 1918.

b) Paul feels like his life can't get any worse. He doesn't have anymore hope and he really doesn't value his life.

c) Everyone talks of peace and armistice.(Remarque 293)

• Armistice:temporary suspension of hostilities by agreement of the warring parties

We will be superfluous even to ourselves.(Remarque 294)

• Superfluous:being more than is sufficient or required

d) During the troubles and hardships of War it is hard for soldiers to communicate with their loved ones. In the political cartoon it shows a soldier attempting to write to his family while in a trench. This shows that the soldiers didn't have anytime for themselves. The war is being exposed through this cartoon because the soldiers do so much for our country, but authorities don't even allow them to write back home.

e) In this chapter I realized that the war can physically and mentally change someone, because of this novel I now honor our soldiers and understand the meaning of veterans day. I defiantly have an idea of what's been going on in Iraq and realize the sacrifices these men and women go through for our country.