Questions for Erich Maria Remarque's

Answer the phrase:

War is ______.

Explain in a paragraph your answer.
Do not weep, maiden, for war is kind

by Stephen Crane

Do not weep, maiden, for war is kind.
Because the lover threw wild hands toward the sky
And the affrighted steed ran on alone,
Do not weep.
War is kind.
Hoarse, booming drums of the regiment,
Little souls who thirst for fight,
These men were born to drill and die.
The unexplained glory flies above them,
Great is the Battle-God, great, and his Kingdom -
A field where a thousand corpses lie.
Do not weep, babe, for war is kind.
Because your father tumbled in the yellow trenches,
Raged at his breast, gulped and died,
Do not weep.
War is kind.
Swift blazing flag of the regiment,
Eagle with crest of red and gold,
These men were born to drill and die.
Point for them the virtue of slaughter,
Make plain to them the excellence of killing
And a field where a thousand corpses lie.
Mother whose heart hung humble as a button
On the bright splendid shroud of your son,
Do not weep.
War is kind.

Questions for Erich Maria Remarque's

All Quiet on the Western Front

Chapter 1

1. Why do the men receive double rations?

1. What makes the men happy and satisfied?

1. Why did the boys enlist in the army?

1. Who was Joseph Behm and what happened to him?

1. What do the men now think of Kantorek and others who hold similar beliefs?

1. What is shown in the scene with the orderly?

Chapter 2

1. How do Paul and the other young men differ from the older soldiers?

1. What were the men forced to do in training camp? What did they learn as new recruits?

1. Describe Corporal Himmelstoss. How did the men finally get him to leave them alone?

1. What attributes did the men gain from training?

1. What is the doctor and the orderly’s attitude toward Kemmerich’s death?

1. Why does Paul run away from the hospital?

Chapter 3

1. What is Kat’s opinion of war? What is Kropp’s idea of war?

1. Why does Paul state that they dare not remember farther back than the barracks?

1. According to Kat, what is man’s basic nature? Why?

1. Why does Tjaden have a special grudge against Himmelstoss? What did he, Haie, and Paul do to get revenge on Himmelstoss?

Chapter 4

1. What symbolism does the earth have for the soldiers?

1. What allows the men to survive?

1. What does the cry of the wounded horses represent?

1. What is ironic about using the cemetery for cover?

1. What do Kat and Paul nearly do to the recruit with the hip wound? Why?

1. Why does Paul say the rain falls in their hearts?

Chapter 5

1. What does Himmelstoss expect from the group of men? Why does he want to have Tjaden court-martialled?

1. What is the status of Paul’s class? What does their past schooling have to do with their lives now?

1. What will the men’s lives be like when they return to society?

1. What is the similarity between Kat and Paul’s goose escapade and the war?

1. What is ever-present in the men’s lives?

1. What special feeling does Paul have for Kat?

Chapter 6

1. What are the men waiting for at this time? How does Chance rule their lives?

1. What foreshadows a rough battle for the men?

1. How does the bombardment wear on the men? Describe the recruit’s fit.

1. Why does Paul hesitate before throwing the grenade at the enemy?

1. How do the men react after waiting days for this attack? How do they react to the wounded soldiers?

1. As Paul stands on sentry duty, what does he think about? How have his feelings towards his memories changed?

1. How has nature reacted to the war?

1. Why are the reinforcements killed so rapidly?

1. What is the result after days of fighting?

Chapter 7

1. How do Himmelstoss and the men reconcile?

1. Why do the soldiers forget about the front-line fighting when they are behind the lines? Why do they only rest when they are behind the front?

1. What does Paul say will happen with memories of the front after the war?

1. Why is Paul unhappy after the evening with the women?

1. Why does Paul cry when he arrives home? Why does he feel strange in his own home?

1. Why does Paul lie to his mother about the reality of war?

1. Why do the major and Paul conflict? Why does Paul change into civilian clothes?

1. Why can’t Paul talk to his father and the other older men about the war? What does he realize about the people around him and their knowledge of the war?

1. What does Paul tell Kermmerich’s mother about her son’s death? Why can’t he understand her anguish?

1. Why does Paul regret coming home on leave?

Chapter 8

1. What does Paul think of the Russian prisoners?

1. How do many of the Germans treat the Russians? How do they trade with them?

1. How do the Russians differ from the Germans?

1. Why does Paul not feel more sympathetic toward the Russian prisoners? Why are these men his enemies?

1. What is Paul’s sole aim?

Chapter 9

1. How does Paul feel when he finds his friends?

1. According to the men, why does war exist?

1. What is the difference between the volunteers and the drafted soldiers? Why, do you suppose, is there a difference?

1. Why is Paul afraid while on patrol? What does friendship mean to him?

1. What new fear holds Paul as he tries to get back to his friends?

1. What does Paul do when the French soldier stumbles into his shell hole? Why doesn’t Paul then leave?

1. Why does Paul think he must bandage the Frenchman’s wounds? What does this hand-to-hand killing do to Paul?

1. What does he say and realize in his madness? What does he promise when he is calmer?

1. What does Paul think about his experience after he is safe?

Chapter 10

1. Where are the men stationed? Why do they set up an idyll of eating and sleeping?
2. How do they guard the supplies? What do they take back to the front with them?

1. What happens to Paul when the bombing begins? How are Paul and Kropp able to save themselves?

1. How do Kropp and Paul manage to stay together?

1. Why are the hospital patients angry at being awakened in the morning? How do the men get the door shut?

1. What is the Dying Room?

1. What happens to Albert?

1. What does Paul think of the world as he views the wounded? How does he view himself and his generation?

Chapter 11

1. How do the men see the war now? What are their lives and thoughts like?

1. What brotherhood do the men feel?

1. What is life to them? How are they like a flame?

1. What does Detering do?

1. What is happening to the German lines?

1. What is the summer of 1918 like? Are the Germans losing?

1. What is Paul’s reaction to Kat’s injury? Why do Paul and Kat exchange addresses?

1. Why does Paul repeat to himself twice that he and Kat are not related?

Chapter 12

1. What does Paul want after the armistice?

1. What are the fates of the various generations?

1. Why is the book titled All Quiet on the Western Front?

1. Why does the book describe Paul’s face as calm at the end?