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Questions and Answers
What do Paul Baümer and the other members of the Second Company do at the opening of Chapter 1?
What do Paul Baümer and the other members of the Second Company do at the opening of Chapter 1?
Resting
What age are Leer, Müller, Kropp, Haie Westhus, and Paul at the opening of the novel?
What age are Leer, Müller, Kropp, Haie Westhus, and Paul at the opening of the novel?
19
Who in the company is in the hospital with a thigh wound?
Who in the company is in the hospital with a thigh wound?
Kemmerich
What does Kantorek call his former pupils in his letter?
What does Kantorek call his former pupils in his letter?
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What do the men give a hospital orderly in return for more morphine for Kemmerich?
What do the men give a hospital orderly in return for more morphine for Kemmerich?
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What is something that Paul did as a young student?
What is something that Paul did as a young student?
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What does Paul think will happen to the younger men after the war?
What does Paul think will happen to the younger men after the war?
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What does Paul think the humiliation dealt out by Corporal Himmelstoss has allowed him to do?
What does Paul think the humiliation dealt out by Corporal Himmelstoss has allowed him to do?
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What job did the dying Kemmerich want to have after the war?
What job did the dying Kemmerich want to have after the war?
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What does Kemmerich tell Paul to do with his boots once he is dead?
What does Kemmerich tell Paul to do with his boots once he is dead?
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What does Kat give one of the new recruits of Second Company?
What does Kat give one of the new recruits of Second Company?
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What does Kat believe would happen if every soldier got the same food and the same pay?
What does Kat believe would happen if every soldier got the same food and the same pay?
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How do Paul and his friends remember the recruits' barracks?
How do Paul and his friends remember the recruits' barracks?
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What news does Tjaden excitedly report when he returns to the company?
What news does Tjaden excitedly report when he returns to the company?
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What did Haie, Paul, Kropp, and Tjaden do to Himmelstoss as he returned from his favourite pub?
What did Haie, Paul, Kropp, and Tjaden do to Himmelstoss as he returned from his favourite pub?
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What does Paul believe the roar of guns and whistling of shells has done to the men's senses?
What does Paul believe the roar of guns and whistling of shells has done to the men's senses?
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What, according to Paul, has taken on new significance for soldiers at the front?
What, according to Paul, has taken on new significance for soldiers at the front?
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What does Detering think of the use of horses in war?
What does Detering think of the use of horses in war?
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In the graveyard, what does Paul hide under to protect himself from the shelling?
In the graveyard, what does Paul hide under to protect himself from the shelling?
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What does Kat suggest they should do with the recruit who has been injured in the graveyard?
What does Kat suggest they should do with the recruit who has been injured in the graveyard?
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Why is Himmelstoss sent to the front?
Why is Himmelstoss sent to the front?
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What does Detering say he would do if the war ended immediately?
What does Detering say he would do if the war ended immediately?
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What does Tjaden do to Himmelstoss when ordered by Himmelstoss to stand?
What does Tjaden do to Himmelstoss when ordered by Himmelstoss to stand?
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Which two soldiers are put on trial for insubordination to Himmelstoss?
Which two soldiers are put on trial for insubordination to Himmelstoss?
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What do Kat and Paul do at the house where they earlier heard geese?
What do Kat and Paul do at the house where they earlier heard geese?
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What is outside of the shelled schoolhouse?
What is outside of the shelled schoolhouse?
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What or who do the soldiers have to fight to protect their food?
What or who do the soldiers have to fight to protect their food?
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What does Paul take as a bad sign when the soldiers are waiting at the front?
What does Paul take as a bad sign when the soldiers are waiting at the front?
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What do most soldiers in the trench do to try to distract themselves from their waiting?
What do most soldiers in the trench do to try to distract themselves from their waiting?
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What do memories of the past bring Paul?
What do memories of the past bring Paul?
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What do the French-speaking women throw to the soldiers of Second Company as the soldiers swim across the canal?
What do the French-speaking women throw to the soldiers of Second Company as the soldiers swim across the canal?
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How many days of leave does Paul receive in Chapter 7?
How many days of leave does Paul receive in Chapter 7?
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How is Paul's mother when Paul returns to her during his leave?
How is Paul's mother when Paul returns to her during his leave?
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While Paul is on leave, what noise startles him because it sounds like shells?
While Paul is on leave, what noise startles him because it sounds like shells?
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What does Paul learn from fellow classmate, Mittelstaedt, about their former schoolmaster Kantorek?
What does Paul learn from fellow classmate, Mittelstaedt, about their former schoolmaster Kantorek?
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What does Paul think of the Russian prisoners of war he sees picking through German soldiers' garbage?
What does Paul think of the Russian prisoners of war he sees picking through German soldiers' garbage?
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What instrument does one of the Russian prisoners play next to the fence for Paul to hear?
What instrument does one of the Russian prisoners play next to the fence for Paul to hear?
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Who visits Paul before his return to the front?
Who visits Paul before his return to the front?
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What do Paul's father and his sister give Paul before they leave?
What do Paul's father and his sister give Paul before they leave?
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What does Paul give the prisoners after his father and sister leave?
What does Paul give the prisoners after his father and sister leave?
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When Paul returns to the front, who is arriving shortly to view the army?
When Paul returns to the front, who is arriving shortly to view the army?
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What are the soldiers given in preparation for the Kaiser's visit?
What are the soldiers given in preparation for the Kaiser's visit?
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What does Paul volunteer to do that requires him to crawl into No Man's Land?
What does Paul volunteer to do that requires him to crawl into No Man's Land?
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After stabbing the French soldier in the shell hole, what does Paul do to the soldier?
After stabbing the French soldier in the shell hole, what does Paul do to the soldier?
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What does Paul learn was the French soldier's trade before the war?
What does Paul learn was the French soldier's trade before the war?
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What do Paul, Tjaden, Müller, Kropp, Detering, and Kat guard in the abandoned village?
What do Paul, Tjaden, Müller, Kropp, Detering, and Kat guard in the abandoned village?
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What does Paul do while the others roast pigs?
What does Paul do while the others roast pigs?
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What animal do the soldiers take back with them when they are moved from the abandoned village?
What animal do the soldiers take back with them when they are moved from the abandoned village?
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After his leg is injured below the knee, what does Kropp resolve to do if his leg must be amputated?
After his leg is injured below the knee, what does Kropp resolve to do if his leg must be amputated?
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What do Paul and Kropp bribe the sergeant-major with so they will be in the same carriage to the hospital?
What do Paul and Kropp bribe the sergeant-major with so they will be in the same carriage to the hospital?
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In Chapter 11, to what does Paul compare the war?
In Chapter 11, to what does Paul compare the war?
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According to Paul, the soldiers identify themselves first and foremost as ___?
According to Paul, the soldiers identify themselves first and foremost as ___?
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What does Detering take that reminds him of his orchard at home?
What does Detering take that reminds him of his orchard at home?
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What happens to Detering after he is caught while deserting the army?
What happens to Detering after he is caught while deserting the army?
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What happens to Kat while he is returning with scavenged food?
What happens to Kat while he is returning with scavenged food?
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In the autumn of 1918, what seems likely to happen if the war does not end soon?
In the autumn of 1918, what seems likely to happen if the war does not end soon?
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What injury leads to Paul receiving fourteen days recuperation time?
What injury leads to Paul receiving fourteen days recuperation time?
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How does Paul imagine his generation returning home after the war?
How does Paul imagine his generation returning home after the war?
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What happens to Paul in October of 1918?
What happens to Paul in October of 1918?
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What is the expression on Paul's face after he has died?
What is the expression on Paul's face after he has died?
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Study Notes
Setting and Characters
- Chapter 1 begins with Paul Baümer and the other members of the Second Company resting amidst the chaos of war.
- Paul and his comrades, including Leer, Müller, Kropp, and Haie Westhus, are all 19 years old at the start of the narrative.
Hospitalization and Relationships
- Kemmerich, a character in the company, is hospitalized with a severe thigh wound.
- Kantorek refers to his former students as "The Iron Youth" in a letter, showcasing his romanticized view of young soldiers.
Experience of War
- The men barter with a hospital orderly, exchanging cigarettes for more morphine for their injured comrade.
- Paul reflects on his past, recalling that he wrote poetry as a young student, a stark contrast to his current grim reality.
- Paul expresses concern that while older generations will forget the war, younger men like him will be left with nothing.
Discipline and Survival
- Corporal Himmelstoss's humiliating discipline is perceived by Paul as a necessary means for survival in the harsh conditions of war.
Personal Aspirations and Death
- Kemmerich had dreams of becoming a head forester, illustrating the ambitions lost to war.
- Just before his death, Kemmerich asks Paul to give his boots to Müller, highlighting the transient nature of life and possessions amid the war.
Social Dynamics
- Kat, a resourceful character, provides beans to a new recruit, illustrating camaraderie among soldiers.
- Kat believes that equal treatment in food and pay could end the war, pointing to systemic inequities.
Memories and Distractions
- Soldiers in the trenches remember the familiarity of their barracks with nostalgia.
- Tjaden brings news of Himmelstoss’s impending return, igniting excitement among the men.
- Paul and his friends once retaliated against Himmelstoss by beating him up, indicating their resistance to tyranny.
Psychological Impact
- The roar of guns and whistling shells sharpen the men's senses, a survival mechanism forged in war.
- The earth takes on a new significance for soldiers, representing both a refuge and a grave.
Impressions of War
- Detering, a character who despises the use of horses in warfare, symbolizes a heart within the machinery of war.
- Paul finds shelter under a coffin during shelling, highlighting the constant threat of death.
Morality and Decisions
- After a severe injury in the graveyard, Kat suggests the harsh decision to shoot the injured recruit, reflecting the grim realities faced by soldiers.
- Himmelstoss is sent to the front as punishment for his prior behavior.
Reflections on Home
- Detering dreams of his farm, showcasing the minds of soldiers often wandering to loved ones and homes.
- Paul experiences mixed emotions upon hearing familiar noises, such as trams, which remind him of the battlefield.
War's Human Cost
- Paul empathizes with Russian prisoners scavenging through refuse, seeing them as mirrors of his own plight.
- A haunting moment occurs when a Russian prisoner plays the violin, echoing the shared humanity amidst conflict.
Visits and Offers
- Paul's brief leave from duty is marked by a visit from his father and sister, who provide him with homemade gifts.
- After their departure, Paul shares his scarce food with the prisoners, demonstrating kindness despite scarcity.
Returning to the Front
- On returning to combat, Paul prepares for a visit from the Kaiser, indicative of the façade presented to figures of authority.
- Paul’s role requires him to gather intelligence from No Man's Land, emphasizing the risks soldiers undertake.
Combat Experiences
- After wounding a French soldier, Paul chooses to bandage his wounds, highlighting a complicated morality amidst violence.
- Paul discovers the fallen soldier was a printer, humanizing the enemy combatant.
Supply and Survival
- Paul and his comrades guard a supply dump in an abandoned village, showcasing the strategic and mundane aspects of war.
- While others prepare food, Paul makes pancakes, revealing moments of normalcy amidst chaos.
Descent into Despair
- Kropp resolves to commit suicide if his leg is amputated, illustrating the despair faced by soldiers when confronting severe injuries.
- Kat’s injury while scavenging food emphasizes the constant peril soldiers experience.
War's Toll and Future
- By autumn 1918, the sentiment of revolt among German citizens suggests the fragility of morale and support for the war effort.
- Paul receives recuperation time due to a gas inhalation injury, reflecting war's physical toll on soldiers.
Endgame of the Conflict
- Paul envisions a future where his generation returns home as "living corpses," underscoring the spiritual and emotional devastation wrought by the conflict.
- Ultimately, Paul dies in October 1918, with a calm expression on his face, representing a tragic end to his tumultuous journey.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Test your knowledge on 'All Quiet on the Western Front' with these flashcard questions. Dive into Chapter 1 and explore key characters and events that shape the narrative. Perfect for students looking to reinforce their understanding of this classic novel.
