Summary Of All Quiet On The Western Front

Paul Baumer died on the most peaceful, beautiful day of the war. After surviving the horrible events on the front, the last man of his class died on that day of all days. Erich Maria Remarque tells a remarkable World War I story through the eyes of the soldier Paul Baumer in All Quiet on the Western Front. In this novel, Paul faces life in the roughness of trench warfare. Remarque explores the effects of war on both an entire generation and on the individual and dives into the connection between war and political power.
The biggest recurring theme of this novel is the lost generation. Almost all of the soldiers went to fight at a young age and would have the memory of war for the rest of their lives. Paul brings this up in the first half of the book. “It is the common fate of our generation.” These men never had the chance to start an actual life after school because they were persuaded by their teacher Kantorek to join the war. Had they been older they would have the chance at establishing a career, social status, and eventually a family. However, all they knew was school and battle. Remarque describe this generation as “men who, even though they may have escaped shells, were destroyed by war.” War is an experience that no
The preface states that this novel is meant to inform readers about the men in World War I. Getting into the head of a soldier is an easy and effective way of doing so. Paul’s story tells of both the physical and mental hardships of the trenches. He was absolutely wrecked by the war and in the end he even described himself as “so alone, and so without hope”. The way this novel is written has mainly emotional appeal and makes the reader feel like they are in Paul’s