Pg.1-2

The point of view is in the first person and the Narrator is Paul sees what goes on in the war first hand. We only know what he the narrator is thinking, seeing and feeling.

 

The Irony: Paul is happy and almost ecstatic that he is receiving so much food and so much tobacco. The company has 150 men at the front and on the day before they come back they receive heavy fire and half the company comes back, only 80 men. He is happy since half the men have died, he will now receive 2 times the food and tobacco.

 

Pg. 10-12

Characterization

Kantorek is a man of long lectures. He is a school master a short man, ruff, sly and decisive, persuaaive, and carries feelings ready in his waist pocket.

Kat- doesn’t think before speaking, opinionated and stubborn.

 

Pg. 12-13

 The theme of the lost generation: Paul makes fun of the people that are staying behind not going to war while he realizes that he was wrong about war and that it is all bloodshed with no fun.

 

Pg. 19-20

 

Characterization of Paul and the theme of the lost generation: The lost generation has a few things tying them to the real world. Some things like enthusiasm a few hobbies and school while the older people have wives children and jobs, which the war cannot obliterate.

 

Characterization of Paul: Paul believes that the war has swept us away. He feels that he cannot connect with the old war. He was cut off the moment that he entered the war.

 

Pg. 22-26

 

Himmelstoss was a postman before the war and during the war he became power-hungry and a disciplinarian. He is proud, small and undersized. He doesn’t like Paul.

 

Theme: The corrupting effect of Paul’s shared Humanity: Paul is forced to remake Himeltoss’s bed 14 times. He cleans Himeltoss’s boots for twenty hours, and cleaned the mess hall with a toothbrush. This is showing how power corrupts people.

 

Literature Elements of Humor : Paul shows his humor in moving so slowly to follow the commands that have become frustrated.

 

Symbolism: Boots; Pauls boots are symbolic in that they bring him places, they are bad and gross.

 

 

Pg. 28-29

 

Characterization: Kemmerich: used to wear brown coat, belt and shiny sleeves.  He was a very white skin, feminine, looks like a child, 191/2 when he dies.

 

Theme: The Destructiveness of war.: destroys little soldiers, bomb shells don’t care who they kill, and have no remorse.  Paul doesn’t want Kemmerich to die, but he knows he will.