ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

 

Comprehension Questions – Chapters 3 & 4

 

  1. How do Kat Paul and the others treat the reinforcements?   Do you think it is typical of how newer recruits are treated by more seasoned soldiers today?

 

  1. How do the soldiers demonstrate camaraderie?  

 

  1. What does Kat mean by his rhyme, “Give ‘em all the same grub and all the same pay/ And the war would all be over and done in a day?  (pg. 41)   Do you agree?    Is Kat unpatriotic?

 

 

  1. What does Kropp mean when he says that “As sure as [men like Himmelstoss] get a stripe or a gold star they become different men, just as though they’d swallowed concrete?”   Do you think that this is true in the U.S. military today?   In any other occupations?

 

 

  1. Why does Tjaden have a special grudge against Himmelstoss?  What could have Tjaden done when Himmelstoss treated him this way?

 

 

  1. In what tone of voice do you imagine Paul saying, “Himmelstoss ought to have been pleased…We had become successful students of his method” (pg. 49)?   Do you think that Paul and the others reduce themselves to Himmelstoss’ level by beating him?  Aren’t they bullies now?

 

 

  1. What is meant by the comparison between the camouflaged gin emplacements and “ a kind of military Feast of the Tabernacles” (pg. 52)?

 

 

  1. How does Paul feel as he reaches the front?  How do he and the others “become on the instant human animals” (pg. 56)?

 

  1. How does Paul respond when he sees that the young recruit is terrified?  What thought cross his mind?  What does this show you about Paul?  

 

  1. What happens to the young recruit in the end? 

 

  1. What do you think of Paul’s agreeing with Kat to “put him out of his misery?  Why don’t they go ahead and do it?

 

  1. Why does the screaming of the horses bother Dertering so much?  Are you surprised that he is so upset by the suffering of the animals – when people are dying all around him?

 

  1.  Does Paul owe Kat his life?  What do you think would have happened if Kay hadn’t warned him about the gas?   How is warfare similar today to what Paul experienced?  How is it different?

 

  1. What happens in the cemetery? 

 

  1. How do Kat and the others use the coffins?  Do you see any irony here?

 

  1. What is a theme about the earth Remarque is trying to get across?