All Quiet – Comprehension Questions

                                                                       Chapters 11 -12

1.     What does Paul mean, It is as though formerly we were coins of different provinces; and now we are melted down, and all bear the same stamp” (pg. 272)?

2.     Why does Detering desert?  Why does the cherry tree have such an impact on him?  What do you suppose happens to him?

3.     How can you tell the Germans are losing the war?  How does Paul feel about that?

4.     How do the soldiers comfort themselves, keep themselves from going crazy?

5.     Why does Paul tell about how Berger gets injured?  What does this show about the morale of the troops?

6.     Why do you think Paul describes the death of his friend so succinctly, so matter-of-factly? (pg. 279)  /What does this show about his emotions?   How does he seem to feel now, compared with his attitude at the beginning of the book?

7.     What has happened to Kemmerich’s boots?   How can you tell has admitted to himself that he may die?

8.     Where so you see again in this section the ironic contrast between those who profit from war and those who fight it?

9.     Where so you see Remarque’s dislike of military doctors coming up again in this chapter?   Explain Kat’s joke about the staff surgeon (pg. 281)

10. How does Paul contrast his observations of Nature and the war in the Summer of 1918?   What is his state of mind?

11. What happens at the end of chapter 11 how was Paul involved?

12. How does Paul feel now that the war is ending?   What does he mean, “ All that meets me… are but feelings… but no aims” (pg. 294)

13.  What happens to Paul in the end?   Why do you think the author ends the book this way?/How does the end lend meaning to the title of the book?

14.  The boots as a symbolic tool:  Where do you see the boots mentioned in the story?  What might they symbolize?