Preview

Erich Maria Remarque: All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque Essay Example

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1183 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Erich Maria Remarque: All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque Essay Example
Julian Bangash All Quiet on the Western Front, a soldier’s bloody account of World War I, was written by Erich Maria Remarque in 1929. It was first made into a movie in 1930, and then re-made in 1979 directed by Delbert Mann. All Quiet on the Western Front is the story of a young German named Paul Baumer who is drafted into the German Imperial Army along with many of his high school friends. They are sent to the battlefield on the German western front seeking glory and adventure only to discover that it is a wasteland of death. All Quiet on the Western Front is a prestigious and well-made historical movie because of its historical accuracy, important themes, and portrayal of wars’ devastating impact on the average soldier. All Quiet on the Western Front is recognized as one of the most historically accurate movies. The review in the New York Times describes the movie and director as follows:
“’ Years after directing the classic Marty, Delbert Mann became a creator of prestige TV movie projects, none more daunting than his adaptation of All Quiet on the Western Front. One of the most respected anti-war novels beloved by fans of cinema.”
All Quiet on the Western Front is historically accurate even down to the tiniest detail. From the machine guns to the hand grenades to the chemical warfare, everything displayed in the movie was as it was really used on the battlefields of the western front. The popular movie review website All Movie Guide.com says,
“The scenery and costuming in this period piece are well done, and surely contributed to its winning the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Made for TV. Also contributing to the greatness of the film are the exceptional cinematography and special effects that, while realistically gruesome, truly emphasize the horrors of war.”

Just as historical accuracy is central for a director to deliver his message, using important themes is also powerful. Some of mankind’s deepest themes are shown in All Quiet on the

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In the novel, All Quiet on the Western Front, written by Erich Maria Remarque, the characters sacrificed their youth in the war and their innocence was lost. Paul Bäumer, the narrator, was forced to discover a harsh reality. Paul’s high school teacher, Kantorek, pressured Paul and his classmates to enlist in the army. Paul was optimistic and naïve. At first, he was convinced that it would be an honor to die for his country. He enlisted, unknowingly signing up for a terrible suffering. His patriotism vanished and his personality battled with the truth of war. This led him to feel great sorrow. Paul and his classmates later realized that there is another aspect in the world and things around them are not as simple and innocent. The battle influenced their minds and attitude throughout the novel. Paul and his group of friends changed their thoughts and outlooks on life by witnessing the horrors of war when they became soldiers. The many deaths became part of their lives, which they were forced to deal with. The innocence that they once knew slowly altered.…

    • 613 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Explore how this is evident in ‘The Namesake’ and ‘All quiet on the Western Front’…

    • 895 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The novel, All Quiet on the Western Front is the harshest story about war ever written. This novel was written by Erich Maria Remarque, based on his real life experience about World War 1. It tells a story about a group of companions at war and how they live their life everyday there. After analyzing the novel, All Quiet on the Western Front, readers realized that almost all the characters were either very noble or not noble at all. The one character that stood out of all the character for being a noble man was the narrator, Paul. He is the most noble for being loyal to all his companions, for being sensitive to others and for being selfless in difficult times.…

    • 785 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Many movies and novels throughout world war history talk about experiences such as the increase of nationalism and patriotism, but “All Quiet on the Western Front” based on the novel by Erich Maria Remarque does the complete opposite and engages the audience in the real horrors of war such as the lost of pride, innocence, and emotion that eventually leads to the defeat of the central powers. The movie only talks about those changes, but how patriotism fueled the war and the millions of men that fought in the war.The movie takes place during the “Great War” and it’s all based on the feelings and emotions of a young man by the name of Paul Baumer. Like all wars, the war started off with the full undivided support of the people caused by their nationalism and pride of their nation. They all believed the war was going to end quick, but later find out that was nowhere near possible.…

    • 735 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    World War I was a brutal and murderous fight. Over 38 million people suffered casualties with 17 million deaths and around 20 million soldiers were wounded during the war. Soldiers showed courage by fighting and learned how important it is to trust other men. They faced hard conditions and suffered many injuries. In the novel, All Quiet on The Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque portrays the main character, Paul Baümer, as a superior comrade, a smart decision-maker, and a brave soldier.…

    • 880 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    “Their accounts conflict on significant details. But one thing they all agree on: the event provoked a seismic response” (Eksteins 10). Similarly, there are many accounts of what happened during The Great War, however, there is no accurate description of soldiers’ experiences. There are many resemblances between the opening night of Le Sacre du printemps and The Great War, but the resemblance that stands out the most is the different experiences each spectator had from both of these events. In “All Quiet on The Western Front,” Erich Remarque conveys a war account that focuses on the insightful depiction of the inner and social experiences faced by soldiers during the Great War rather than the physical combat. Therefore Remarque’s fictional…

    • 1709 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    In All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque, a profoundly horrific image of war is formed in the eyes of the reader. In the past, War stories leaned toward themes of glory, adventure, and honor. In presenting his realistic version of a soldier 's experience, Remarque strips away the glory of war and reveals the physical and mental hardships of war. Throughout his book, a plethora of themes are emphasized and brought to light. Among those themes are deception, camaraderie, and propaganda, but the prevailing theme seems to be maintaining one 's humanity. The theme of humanity is readily prevalent throughout the novel, and can be tied in with the loss of innocence, fear, and ultimately the emergence of courage. During All Quiet on the Western Front, the main character Paul who is only nineteen, is faced with the atrocities of war which take a toll on his humanity.…

    • 1402 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    War stories before Erich Maria Remarque's times still leaned toward themes of glory, adventure, and honor. In presenting his realistic version of a soldier's experience, Remarque stripped that from war novels in his antiwar novel, All Quiet on the Western Front. Remarque accurately depicts both the physical and mental hardships of war. This novel should be read by all soldiers thinking of enlisting in the army for several reasons.…

    • 812 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front is a World War I anti-war novel that uses different objects that all symbolize different themes that impact the story. The leaves and different seasons impact the storyline to show the point in the lives of Paul and his comrades and to represent their feelings. The beginning of the novel takes place in late summer while everyone is experiencing a short period of lighthearted fun (9). The end of summer is usually associated as a time that people begin to wonder what had happened to the time that had previously appeared to be everlasting. Paul is faced with the stripping of his childhood due to being exposed to the harshness of war immediately after he was living without a care. Paul reports…

    • 185 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Through out the appalling novel, All Quiet on the Western Front written by Erich Remarque, many themes were prevalent in the reading. The one theme that stood out most to me was the horrors and dehumanizing effects of war. Remarque, who fought in World War I himself, gives great details on how the solders live and the gruesome encounters.…

    • 542 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Best Essays

    Justine, Marilyn. “Plot Summary: All quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque.” Helium. n.d. 14 Apr. 2009. .…

    • 2167 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    One of the main themes in All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque is Futility of War. The novel takes place during the Great War and takes place in France. Paul Baumer is the main character in the book along with many of his friends. In the book the theme of futility of war appears in the beginning, middle and end of the novel and Baumer slowly becomes more aware of what war is really like.…

    • 532 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    “The first bombs, the first explosion, burst into our hearts.” (Remarque 88) This is what the soldiers felt like in Erich Maria Remarque novel, All Quiet on the Western Front, Paul Baumer, a young man serving in the German army during World War One, is constantly being faced with the horrible and terrifying aspects of war. From seeing, his fellow soldiers lying dead on the battle field, to learning how to survive on the western front of the war. With his rifle by his side and his comrade’s right next to him, he knew what his job was to do in the war and that was to serve his country. Although Paul fought for his country in the War, Corrie Ten Boom a member of the Dutch reformed church was faced with the horrific scenes…

    • 1866 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Best Essays

    Introduction to Film

    • 2437 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Lewis Milestone’s All Quiet on the Western Front was one of the first realistic war films of its time. This film works to make a powerful statement about the misconceptions of war and fighting. Its message is one that anyone who has seen war close up can attest to. Regardless of time, location, or people, these realities have remained the same, which is why this film has grown to be a timeless classic. The purpose of this assignment will be to critique and analyze based in terms of film structure, acting, cinematography, editing, and musical score.…

    • 2437 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    “The effective war film is often the one in which the action begins after the war, when there is nothing but ruins and desolation everywhere…”…

    • 1284 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays