Night 1

While reading the book i came up with a few questions that I just couldn't figure out the answer. The first is why do the Jews let the German soldiers stay in their home and not be bothered by it. If i had men suddenly come into my town and live in my house i wouldn't have that. The Jews in the book aren't really bothered by the Germans entering there home at all and almost like having the company. In the book one of the lines was "the fascists were already in power, the verdict was already out, and the Jews of Sighet were still smiling." How were these people still smiling when the Germans are taking over there town and shipping them out of there town.

My second question was while the Jews were in camp why didn't they seem angry with the way they are living. If i was put in the situation where I am forced to leave my town, be shipped to a labor camp and get a bowl of soup and bread each day to live in a cell i would not be happy. The Jews don't seem happy but they are not revolting or acting out or even trying to get a better life style. They seem content with their new life and have accepted it.

All Quiet on the Western Front Conclusion

  This is such a great book. No wonder it says " The Greatest War Novel of All Time" right on the front cover. One of the reasons this book is so good is the way Remarque describes the events and the action that happen. In scenes such as the part where the horses are dying really makes you feel like you are there. In the book Remarque describes this by saying "It's unendurable. It is the moaning of the world " while the horses were crying out in pain on page 62.
  I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to read a great book of hardships and history. This is also a great book because it gives you a perspective of what it was truly like during the war. The disillusionment that the government put in your head is the total opposite of what the war is like.The book is called All Quiet On The Western Front because when Paul dies at the end it is not a big deal because death happens every day. It was all quiet on the western front the day he dies.

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/allquiet/
Link: This is a link to spark notes which is a website that you can use if you don't fully understand a part in the story or just want to make sure you understood the book correctly. It is a great website  to use while reading a more challenging book.

RATS!

Many times throughout the story rats have taken the soldiers food. During these times food was scarce and soldiers had to scrounge around for food. When the rats started coming more it became a game of life and death of who could get the food first. The one thing i was confused about is how in the book it describes the rats as"particularly repulsive, they are so fat, they seem to be mighty hungry" on page 102. How are the rats fat when they are mighty hungry for food and even kill a dog for food? If they are all over the trenches and are always eating the soldiers hidden food from under them why are they so fat? Another thing about the rats is where do they come from. I realize they hop from trench to trench but where do they come from before that. They all of the sudden appeared by the hundreds and attacked the soldiers.

Photo: The photo i included is of German Soldiers who captured rats and are i think planning to eat them. If i was in the war I wouldn't eat those rats that probably have diseases on them.

Chapter 5

   In chapter 5 Himmelstoss really starts to become the rude, immature man he really is. In the beginning of the chapter he approaches the soldiers who ignore him and tells Tjaden to stand up. Since Tjaden truly hates Himmelstoss why would he stand up for him, instead he moons him and quickly runs away. Himmelstoss is now fed up with the way he has been acting and will soon punish him. Later when Himmelstoss returns to punish Tjaden he is gone and no one says where he has gone. Soon after Himmelstoss takes the men to court but he doesnt really win the battle. Himmelstoss is given a big lecture on how to treat soldiers and that war is a time to be tattletaling for every little thing that goes on.Tjaden is given a 3 day open arrest which really isnt an arrest at all and Kropp gets one day open arrest. You could not even consider it an arrest because their fellow soldiers came over and played cards and ate with them.

  After the trial Paul and Kat go to a shed where they had seen geese. They figured that these geese would make a good dinner for them. Paul hops over the fence and finds he is facing 2 geese. They are too much for him and soon start to cackle and squawk when he tries to kill them. Slowly Paul gets the hold of the geese and throws them over to Kat. Together they roast the goose and find themselves getting close. You could describe the mood at the time of the goose roasting as calm and peaceful because the two boys are sitting there making a meal and no one is yelling there is no violence is is just peace. In the book it it says "the hour is like the room: flecked over with the lights and shadows of our feelings cast by a quiet fire". This means the dont know how each other feel. They are both at peace with one another.


Photo: This photo is of the rations that were issued to soldiers during WW1. If i had to eat this food during the war I to would probably kill a goose for food because this is not enough to feed a soldier.

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Chapter 4

Chapter 4 has alot of imagery language. I thought the part where the men pass the dieing horses showed the most imagery. In the book, Remarque wrote the sentence "We sit down and hold out ears, But this appalling noise, these groans and screams penetrate, they penetrate everywhere." This sentence gives you the image of the horses crying out in pain. If he had just said that the horses were just dying then it wouldn't create as vivid as an image. This sensory language is what "paints the picture in our head". Also in chapter 4 the men are bombarded while passing a graveyard. This was a big event for the recruits cause they got there first taste of war and what it was like. During the raid one recruit curled under Pauls arm while they were hiding in a coffin. He was terrified of what was happening. After his hip was severly hurt Paul decided whether or not to kill the boy becuase the pain would soon become unbarrable. This just shows how bad the war is, when young men are joined in and they really arent ready to take on this much.


Video: I found this video of a man who was in WW1 and he talks about how he saved a German soldier who thought he was going to die. Pretty cool to hear stories like this.

Chapter 3

In the end of Chapter 3 Haie, Paul, Kropp, and Tjaden attack Himmelstoss when he was on his way home. This created the mood of anger and hatred because they really do not like this man because of the way he treats the soldiers. Tjaden didnt like him because of the way he was educated in camp. Tjaden was a bed wetter and Himmelstoss made him sleep in a bunk with another bed wetter until he learned to sleep normally. In the darkness of the night the soldiers beat him up to show how much they trully dislike him. this action shows that this character could have to do with a major event in the future.


The picture is of a young German soldier terrified during the war. I included this picture because in chapter 3 young recruits joined in the war and many were terrified of their surroundings.

Chapter 1 and 2

In Chapter one, the crew are given double rations. This is a big deal among the soldiers because food is scarce during the war and these soldiers were lucky enough to get double. In the book the cook says "where are the others" and the men replied "They wont be feed by you today. They're either in the dressing station or pushing up daisies". Although this is a harsh statement is is true because none wants to miss out on food. I think that if i were in the war i would be extremely happy to here double rations.

In chapter 2 the book talks about Kemmerich's death. You could tell that he had money when he lived back home because he had boots that many soldiers would kill for and a watch that was expensive. If i were put in the position of having to join the war i wouldnt want to wear a ice watch because it would get stolen. Which is exactly what happened to kemmerich. His watch getting stolen and the boots being wanted by many before his death shows how bad times were during WW1. In the story it says " Even if he should get better, he would only be able to use one, they are no use to him". This statement is saying that Muller (the speaker of this statement) is saying that he should get them cause they are no use to a man with 1 leg. This shows how bad times just were during the war in the trenches.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d7B4cBt_Qg