1. Title and Author
• All Quiet in the Western Front is a novel written by Erich Maria Remarque
Date of Publication
• January 29, 1929
Type of Work
• All Quiet in the Western Front is a novel
Period in Literary Tradition
• Modern
2. Central Idea
• The horrors of World War I had many effects on the expendable soldiers and left them feeling traumatized, alienated, desensitized, and physically damaged. 3. Historical, Political, or Social Context (as it relates to the central idea)
Historical
• World War I Lasted from July 28, 1914 to November 11 1918 (4 years)
• It was mainly between the Allies (France, Russia, UK) and the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy)
• Over 9 million were killed …show more content…
Main Characters (and relation to central idea)
• Paul Baumer, a young German soldier at age 19, is the protagonist, main character and narrator of the story o His close friend Kemmerich dies a slow death because of the pain in his foot, he barely is mentioned in the book showing how common death was or the expendability of soldiers o Paul is forced to stab an enemy soldier named Gerard Duval and then watch him die right next to him in a ditch during battle, the force of the stabbing shows animal like instinct (self preservation) o Feels uncomfortable, and alienated when visiting his mother and sister at home because of all he’s been through o Katczinsky died in his arms and Paul is not very effected by it witch shows how he is desensitized o Paul dies in October of 1918 of a calm death which shows how desensitized he is.
• Stanislaus Katsinsky is the older friend of Paul. (Age 40) o Has a family o Dies from a shot in the shin, and damage to the head from a shrapnel wound o When Katsinsky dies in Pauls arms, paul shows little emotion and this shows the desensitizing effects of the