“this book is to be neither an accusation nor a confession, and least of all an adventure, for...
TRANSCRIPT
“This book is to be neither an accusation nor a confession, and least of all an adventure, for death is not an adventure to those who stand
face to face with it. It will try simply to tell of a generation of men who, even though they may
have escaped shells, were destroyed by the war”
All Quiet on the Western Front
What are some words that come to mind when you think of:
“WAR”
“SOLDIERS”
Do-Now:
Born in Osnabruck, Germany in 1898
Fought for Germany during WWI at age 18
Was wounded 5 times & swallowed poison gas
Suffered lung injuries
Erich Maria Remarque’s Background
Loss of InnocencePatriotism Disillusionment Meaninglessness of deaths in war
The Horror of WarShared Humanity: (good guys <-> bad guys)
Themes/Motifs
If you were on the frontline, would you view your enemy as a person with feelings, or just an evil force staring you in the face?
Would you feel bad if something were to happen to your enemy?
Does the enemy deserve compassion too?
Critical Thinking:
Remarque’s novel shows German viewpoint during WWI
Does NOT glorify warRemarque shows war’s dark side and condemns it
Novel and film banned by Hitler in 1933
Novel gives Americans insight into German soldier’s mind
An Alternative Viewpoint
German Soldiers
Began in August 1914 with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Started with conflict between Austria-Hungary and Serbia
Germany sided with Austria-HungaryGermany Central Powers USA Allies (France, Russia, Britain,
Italy, Japan) Ended with Treaty of Versailles in
1919
World War I "The Great War" 1914-
1919
Gas Masks after an Attack
Consisted of battlefields & cruel new trench warfare tactics
Used mustard gas, grenades, tanks, air craft, and wireless communication
Germany lost 1.7 million menUS lost over 100,000 men
Western Front
1. Grenades
2. Bayonets 3. Machine Guns
4. Pistols 5. Poison Gas 6. Rifles 7. Trench- Mortars
1.
2.
3.
4.
6.
7.
WWI Weapons
German Propaganda Posters
American Propaganda
The 19 yr. old narrator of the storyFought for Germany Enlisted with school friends to support
the war effortTeacher Kantorek disillusioned young
men like Paul to join army for gloryPaul loses his innocence and idealism
during WWIBest Friend: Stanislaus Katczinsky
(Kat)
Protagonist: Paul Baumer
"Over There"- Patriotic Song
Work Cited
http://www.firstworldwar.com/poetsandprose/ww1lit.htm
Do-Now: Loss of Innocence
In what ways has Paul already changed from the innocent young
school boy to a grown man fighting in the war? Explain using examples from Ch. 1 of the novel.