Creative Writing: All Quiet On The Western Front

Copious bullets, like that of torrential downpour, reign over the battlefield; a setting in which man created through dispute, engulfs each and every individual caught within it. Some are immediately spun into a downward spiral, while with others, it hits them in the midst -- even if they have built an immunity to war’s ways. Two fictional characters, both sharing a similar atmosphere, experience the true affects to war in their own ways. Although war never changes, the individuals do, no matter the situation. This is exemplified through the fictional tales, told by Liam O’Flaherty’s “The Sniper,” as well as Tim O’Brien’s “Where Have You Gone Charming Billy,” and as the main characters are to each their own story, they bear contradistinction to one another in the aspect of war, personality, and the emotional reactions to war.

“The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner” by Randall Jarrell is able to accomplish so many thing with so little lines-mainly through the use of metaphor and diction. It explains the terrors of wars in gruesome detail and explains the ways in which wars, in a sense “breed” and “birth” death. To some, this poem is seen as the ultimate poem of war, and rightly

In this book, Tim O’brien reveals all his experiences in detail about the war; as well as stories about his fellow soldiers, and makes a true, but over the top about them. He explains how he feels through stories that are difficult to clearly identify as “true.” This book has a lot of themes, death and violence is one of the major themes.

Right now I’m in these trenches writing a heart-filled letter for y’all. But these unbearable conditions have been unsettling to me. Everytime I want to get away from the gruesome war, I think about you. The shots of the machine guns, getting exposed to mustard gas, and having to see my fellow soldiers having to deal with trench foot, all makes me feel hopeless of me staying alive. All day and night, we had to be on the lookout. Planes from the sky makes us vulnerable for air attacks. All aside from all of those problems, the one main goal is to one day find my horse Joey. Maybe both of us will somehow meet me once again during or after the war. I’m very sorry to you guys if I don’t make it home alive, but I’m going to make a big promise, never in a day or night, will I forget about you guys.

The narrative examines a vast variety of topics that address the human condition. Nonetheless, the aspects of war, destiny, and humanity are the nucleus of the message transmitted. Foremost, the book in itself is an exploration of the tragedy that comes with war. The prospect of a “fairy tale” ending violently eradicated as warfare increases exponentially around the characters during the finalizing chapters. After being captured by the Allied army, Werner deliriously wonders

When soldiers arrive in his hometown, Arn is just a normal little boy. But after the soldiers march the entire population into the countryside, his life is changed

My heart skips a beat. All I can think of is Ben when he crumpled on the ground, his arm sliced by the soldier’s sword. I rush over, pushing Perta, and the others out of the way, my breath caught in my throat in relief to see that Melok’s fine. He sits up, his face red, but his breathing fine. He even takes Perta's hand and stands up to talk.

The author of this excerpt describes the daily struggles he faces off the battlefield. For example, throughout the story, the author provides suggestions on how his family and friends can alter their living conditions in order to get a gist of what he experiences daily. Through the use of rhetorical strategies, the author is able to convey his hatred towards his unenjoyable experience, but the acceptance of the war.

Sun Tzu once said “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” In Tim O’Brien’s short story, Ambush, he explores one of the moments of war that he most vividly remembers. He explains his guilt, his remorse, and the true ambush of war to his daughter, Kathleen. Not only is this story vivid, but it brings out the reality of war, and what soldiers have to go through on a daily basis even after they leave. There are three important messages that O’Brien sends through his story, Ambush.

There was a Giraffe named Harambe and it had a little bit of gorilla in it but he did not know that yet so Harambe was living a normal life of a Giraffe just like all of them. So one-day Harambe was walking through the thick forest it was as green as money and harambe were looking for some good leaves to eat. he was not paying attention and wandered into gorilla territory and they went wild then this gorilla came out of nowhere and she looked familiar but she ran away Harambe decided to follow her when he caught up with her she was super shy and Harambe said: “You look familiar.” “Do I know you.” surprisingly she said “Yes.” I do not know where from but she knew me and out of nowhere she said: “I am your mother.” I was so shocked I ran all

In the fall of 1942, a young boy of fourteen sat by Mottville’s only waterfall and watched the clear, blue waters flow over the rocky edge. Roy Faraday appeared to be studying the stream, but he could only see the memories of the past dreadful months. The Alabama farm boy remembered the dreadful day it all started to go downhill; the day his father left for the big war in Europe. He could recall his father’s smile as he walked toward the cruiser that would take him away to a foreign land with a small possibility of return. Lieutenant Peter Faraday never wanted his service to separate his family, but he had no choice in this matter. So the brunette now stayed on his grandparents’ old farm, working until his father returned. In the meantime, he took a personal day to clear his mind of the worrying thoughts about his father. War, to Roy’s understanding of it anyway, accomplished nothing but agony and sorrow. It took his father away from him, it took other fathers away from their friends and family. Why does everyone want to fight with physical weapons instead of harmless words?

(opens the journal and starts to write) I remember it like it was yesterday, it was December 24, 1914. We had an unofficial truce. The spirit of Christmas was in the air, and it was The most irregular zone to be! It was in a region of World War I on the battlefield as I sat in the rock and bullet shells with my allies by my side. My allies and I were talking. “I wonder if the general will find out.” One of them questioned, “HA! Right like they will ever find out.”replied another. They did, though, but it’s ok. The German, British, and of course our troops laid down their guns and bombs and celebrated

The castle was alive with music and laughter. A steady stream of diplomats had been arriving for two days, culminating in a feast. Allies, true and false, danced and drank together; the noise permeated the castle.

Today is a glorious day for the Macedonians. We have conquered the Greeks beneath us and the Macedonian Empire has been expanded. The battle was quite interesting, But ultimately, the Hellenes fell to Macedonian rule. During the battle at Chaeronea, I was in charge of the cavalry. Finally, I job worth my command. I broke through their army lines first and began my attack with my father following behind. He was leading the army. We have conquered the Greeks today, but we will continue to forge onward.

“ A juniper log exploded, and the two men jumped,” (Pg 136) One simple everyday thing fire the crackling of wood, this can show that war takes simple things and makes them worse. A gunshot something that they here a couple of times a week wouldn't scare them, but a simple crack from the fireplace can scare them shows how much tole war takes on a brain. A simple man who works to feed his family taken to fight for his country come back changed or not come back at all but changed completely because of the horrors that he has seen.