Chapter 1 is one of the most important paragraphs in the story. It introduces the characters, setting, and the background. The setting is on the Western Front in Germany during the summer of 1916, World War 1. The characters introduced in chapter one are Tjaden, Müller, Paul, Katczinsky, Kropp, Leer, Westhus, Ginger, Kemmerich, Himmelstoss, Detering, Kantorek, and Behm. Tjaden, Müller, Leer, and Paul are all 19 years old and they all volunteered for the war. Tjaden is a skinny locksmith, but although he is skinny he eats the most. Albert Kropp was labeled the “clearest thinker”, he is a lance-corporal, and he eats the most (along with Tjaden). Müller is one of Paul’s friends and was most likely a nerd in school; he dreams of exams and …show more content…
When Kemmerich is in the doctor’s office, he needed to be seen by a doctor. Due to amputating five legs during that day, the doctor refused to see Kemmerich. This is important because it demonstrates that even doctors must “turn off” their feelings to deal with the hardships of war. Kemmerich has a pair of boots that are greatly coveted by Müller, and Müller ends up receiving the boots one Kemmerich is dead. During World War 1 on the western front, trench warfare was the most common war strategy. Trench warfare includes digging deep trenches in the ground to serve as protection from the opposing army. In these trenches, there were poor conditions such as mud, rats, and disease spread quickly. Due to the poor conditions of the trenches, Müller most likely wanted the boots to protect his feet. This may be an important symbol throughout the story.
Chapter 4 is full of imagery and personification. In this chapter, we learn that the Earth means more to a soldier than an average human. There is a repetition of the words she and her, and the Earth is referred to as a brother, friend, and a mother. Throughout this story there is lots of death because of the war, so it could be assumed that there would be talk of a higher power, but there is none. In this chapter, the Earth is spoken of so highly that the soldiers may be referring to the Earth as their higher power. The description of the Earth is also quite sexual. During this description, a battle is occurring and some
1. In the Neolithic era, about 8000 B.C., a new civilization and culture developed. The reason for this development was the change to hunting and gathering to cultivation of agriculture that permitted man to settle down permanently ending nomadic existence.
Chapter 2 sums up the war in a different fashion, showing the contrast between the uselessness of past knowledge and the “raw and emotional skills necessary” in the trenches (20). The duties imposed on the camp by Corporal Himmelstoss symbolize the hours of work and duties done before enlistment that mean nothing during the war. Being “put through every conceivable refinement of parade ground soldiering” shows how schoolbook tasks were diligently performed only for fear of how society would perceive the boys if they were to do otherwise (26). Himmelstoss himself is the embodiment of previous responsibilities that only make the men “howl with rage” at present (26). The death of Kemmerich goes hand in hand with the death of innocence, Kemmerich’s shiny boots being the small glimpse of hope that keeps the men going. Baumer receives saveloy, hot tea, and rum from Muller for salvaging the boots. In return for giving Muller a sense of hope, Baumer receives a more needed sense of comfort and satisfaction. His hunger, one “greater than comes from the belly alone” (33), is thus satisfied. Chapter 7 directly reinforces this transition from an old life into a new one. Baumer “feels an attraction” to the
When a soldier begins his first training camp or when he kills his first man, his boots are there warming his feet. Soldiers might not realize it but their boots are with them through their change of heart. In All Quiet boots resemble ageing, façade, and change in heart. In the beginning of the book Paul and Muller are bedside with their dieing
These questions are meant to serve as guide to help you pick out the most important information. Answer these questions to the best of your ability. Bulleted lists are acceptable as long as they consist of more than a few words. These concepts should be well thought out.
The novel is written in the perspective of Paul Baumer, who directly experiences the effects of authority figures. For example, the boys are convinced against their better judgement to enlist in war by their school teacher, Kantorek. Although the young boys hesitate to join, Kantorek's position of authority influences the men to volunteer. Ironically, one
There are many heroes in this novel, Stanislaus Katczinsky (Kat) is one of them. Kat is a normal forty years old soldier who helps others because of his kind nature and true leadership. He provides food for the soldiers when it’s most scarce. When the group of soldiers land on an unknown spot and there is no food, Kat takes in charge and goes look for some. “ We[Paul] are dozing off when the door opens and Kat appears. I think I must be dreaming; he has two loaves of bread under his arm and a blood-stained sand bag full of horse-flesh in his hand.” ( Page 39) In a situation of getting bombed and shot at, Kat tries to lighten up the mode. “ It’s good Kat is there. He[Kat] gazes thoughtfully at the front and says: ‘Mighty fine fireworks if they weren’t so dangerous.’ ”(Page 60) Kat lifts the soldier's spirits when they are down, his presence and words provides a little bit of comfort just when others need it. Kat’s nature of heroism is caring for and helping others, while being a true leader. Standing up to a bully is another kind of heroism. Therefore when Paul, Kropp, Tjaden, Haie, and Muller taught Himmelstoss a lesson by beating him up, they became heroes to all the soldiers affected by Himmelstoss’s cruel actions. This group of boys had the courage to make a change for the better by standing up to a bully. They were described to be the “young heroes”(Page 50). No one on the German side was humane towards the prisoners of war, though Paul was the only one who shows compassion towards them. Instead of being cruel towards the defenseless prisoners, Paul helps them by providing some comfort by giving them some cigarettes. Being put in situations like those shown in the novel, these men show the best of themselves through their heroic actions. Regardless of who the person is or what side they fight on, this novel shows the nature of heroism is about the soldiers helping each other out when
Dieter is a hard working, determined young man that was wound up to go off to fight in the war so he can come back home and be a hero. He thinks if he comes home a hero that he will get the woman of his dreams. Spencer is another young man in the book that works equally as hard for his age. They are both super young and determined to win the war.
The chapter begins with German soldiers at rest after fourteen days of fierce battle on the Western Front. A double ration of food has been prepared so the soldiers are eating their fill. Paul Baumer, the protagonist and narrator of the novel, watches in amazement as his friends, Tjaden and Muller, eat another helping; he wonders where Tjaden puts all the food, for he is as thin as a rail. Baumer is only nineteen years of age. He enlisted in the German infantry because Kantorek, his high school teacher, had glorified war and talked him into fighting for the fatherland. Kropp, Behm, and Leer, former classmates of Baumer, were also persuaded by Kantorek to join the infantry. They are all now fellow soldiers along with Tjaden,
Firstly, Kemmerichs boots symbolize death, and the cheapness of life. Kemmerichs boots are described as high and supple. As the story progresses, they are passed from soldier to soldier. The author writes, "Müller can make good use of them. Kemmerich will die; it is immaterial who gets them." This quotation perfectly shows how cheap life is in times of war. Their friend is dying, and all they can talk about are who gets his boots. The novel is suggesting that a pair of boots is more important than a human life. Therefore, through the use of Kemmerichs boots, it is seen that the author uses the boots as a tool to represent how cheap life really is. Moreover, After the death of their dear friend Kemmerich, Müller inherited his boots. Even though Kemmerich is dead, Müller is happier than he had
In both Battle Scars and All Quiet on the Western Front the soldiers haft to go through horrific physical wounds. One of these wounds are lost of limbs. When “Kemmerich” “lost his foot” none of his comrades dared to tell him
1. Coming out of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, different views of federalism were carried: (1) Alexander Hamilton believed that the national government was the superior and leading force in political affairs, since the people created it and its laws were the “supreme law of the land;” (2) Thomas Jefferson believed that “the people” were the ultimate sovereigns, and since the states was a result of agreement among the states, the states were supreme over the national gov’t.
The first chapter goes back in history and sets up the story and setting. It was the eighteenth century and the Americans were beginning to invade the lands west of the Mississippi River. This caused problems because even though Americans saw the lands as an unoccupied
The book begins with the death of Paul's friend. The men have, by this time, become almost desensitized to death. Kemmerich (the dying friend) owns a fine pair of English airman's boots. It is a forgone conclusion that Kemmerich will no longer require them. It is not petty greed, but pragmatism, which drives Muller's desire to have the boots. The troops’ own equipment is ragged and worn, making anything in serviceable condition an improvement on what they have. As we find out in the story, not only are the soldiers’ boots worn out, but the artillery of the German army is also worn out. This may symbolize that not only are the soldiers and equipment at the front worn out, but so is Germany as a whole. Germany was worn out and had no idea what was going to happen, just as the soldiers had no idea where the artillery shells would land.