All Quiet on the Western Front Chapter Three

“All Quiet on the Western Front” Chapter Three

What you need to know… • Narrative Structure • Themes The brutalising effects of war. Futility(pointlessness) of war.

Chapter Three Summary • Description of Kat finding food for his friends when there seems to be none. • Memories of training at barracks. • The men discuss abuse of power. • Tjaden and bedwetting. • The beating of Himmelstoss.

Narrative Structure • How does Chapter Two end? • Explain how this contrasts with the beginning of Chapter Three. • Try to explain why Remarque might choose to structure his novel in this way. • Most of this chapter is written in the present tense. Why do you think this is? • Identify two extracts from the novel which are written in flashback. Where do they both take place? Explain briefly why you think Remarque has included them.

Brutalising Effects of War • Explain what happens to Himmelstoss at the end of this chapter. • Copy down the following quotation: “Himmelstoss ought to have been pleased; his saying that we should each educate one another had borne fruit for himself. We had become successful students of his method. ” • Explain what Paul means by Himmelstoss’ “method”. • Can you identify and explain the tone Paul uses here? • What is your reaction to this incident. Explain as fully as you can. • Copy this quotation: “And an old buffer was pleased to call us young heroes. ” • Can you explain the irony intended here?

Abuse of Power • On page 43, Kat explains what he believes is the abuse of power. • Summarise Kat’s ideas, explaining why men abuse their power in the army.

Chapter Four • Narrative Structure • Writer’s Style. • Themes. • Horror of war. • Brutalising Effects of War. • Comradeship.

Chapter Four • The men are on wiring fatigue. • Description of how soldiers’ faces change • Description of the earth. • Bombardment when they are in the graveyard. • Paul trying to help recruit. • Horses • Gas attack. • Recruit injured - Paul and kat consider shooting him.

Narrative Structure • Compare the events of chapter three, with those of chapter four. What is the difference? Can you explain why Remarque has done this? • What is the time period covered in Chapter Four? • Remarque first describes the agonies of the dying horses and then he describes the injured recruit. Why do you think he puts both these incidents in the same chapter? • Where does the chapter start and where does it finish? Why do you think Remarque structures Chapter Four in this way?

Writer’s Style Page 52, “From the earth…unto thee with our lips” • Explain, in your words, why the earth is so important to the soldiers. • Write down a quotation that is an example of personification. What does this tell us about how the soldiers feel about the earth? • Write down one or two examples when the soldiers seem to be praying to the earth. What do the soldiers seem to be praying for, as a religious person might when they are praying to their god?

Writer’s Style • • • Reread the description of the bombardment on page 55, “An uncertain red glow…blue stars. ” Remarque is describing a bombardment in which people will be killed. What could be considered unusual about this description? Write down a quotation to support your answer. Look again at page 67, “Our losses are less…straighten up again. ” What do you notice about the length of sentences in this section. How does this section contrast with the description of the bombardment on page 52. Which word, which we have already discussed, can we apply to the this style of writing?

Writer’s Style Documentary style Lyrical style Description Prayer Form

The Horror of War Which of the incidents in this chapter do you find most upsetting? Try to explain why you feel as you do.

Brutalising Effect of War Copy the following quotation: “At the first droning of the shells we rush back, in one part of our being, a thousand years. ”(p. 53) • Try to explain what you think Remarque means by this and explain how it helps you to understand the brutalising effects of war. Copy this quotation: “We march up, moody or good tempered soldiers - we reach the zone where the Front begins and become on the instant human animals. ” • Again, try to explain what Remarque is trying to say about what war does to men.

Comradeship Find two examples of how Paul and/or Kat show care and concern for their fellow soldiers during this chapter. You may wish to think about the young recruit, although there are other examples.