Task 2 Print
Analyzing All Quiet on the Western Front
In this unit, you learned that World War I affected an entire generation of young people. This
generation is sometimes referred to as the “Lost Generation.” The Lost Generation was marked by
intellectual and artistic trends that differed greatly from their parents’ generation. Some literature,
for example, depicted the horrors experienced by soldiers during the war. One example is the
book All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque, a German veteran of World War I. A
great deal of literature prior to World War I romanticized war, speaking of glory, courage, and
adventure. Remarque, however, chose to illustrate the fear, meaninglessness, and butchery of the
war. In this task, you will read and analyze a few excerpts from Remarque’s book.
Question 1
The following excerpt is the epigraph from All Quiet on the Western Front. An epigraph is a
sentence or short paragraph that prefaces a book. Read the excerpt and then answer the
questions.
This book is to be neither an accusation nor a confession, and least of all an adventure, for
death is not an adventure to those who stand face to face with it. It will try simply to tell of
a generation of men who, even though they may have escaped its shells, were destroyed
by the war.
Part A
What do you think is the main point of the excerpt?
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Part B
Why do you think the author said that the book is “least of all an adventure”?
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Part C
How does this excerpt relate to what you know about the “Lost Generation”?
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Question 2
In the following excerpt, the author explores the relationship between the older generation—
those with authority, such as teachers, parents, or government leaders—and the younger
generation. Read the excerpt and then answer the questions.
For us lads of eighteen they ought to have been mediators and guides to the world of
maturity, the world of work, of duty, of culture, of progress—to the future. We often made
fun of them and played jokes on them, but in our hearts we trusted them. The idea of
authority, which they represented, was associated in our minds with a greater insight and
a more humane wisdom. But the first death we saw shattered this belief. We had to
recognise that our generation was more to be trusted than theirs. . . . The first
bombardment showed us our mistake, and under it the world as they had taught it to us
broke in pieces.
While they continued to write and talk, we saw the wounded and dying. While they taught
that duty to one’s country is the greatest thing, we already knew that death-throes are
stronger. But for all that we were no mutineers, no deserters, no cowards–they were very
free with all these expressions. We loved our country as much as they; we went
courageously into every action; but also we distinguished the false from true, we had
suddenly learned to see. And we saw that there was nothing of their world left. We were
all at once terribly alone; and alone we must see it through.
Part A
In a few sentences, summarize the author’s main point about the relationship between the
generations.
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Part B
From the author’s perspective, what are the main differences between the older generation
and the younger generation?
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Question 3
In this excerpt, the author writes about a scene in a war hospital. Read the excerpt and then
answer the questions:
A man cannot realize that above such shattered bodies there are still human faces in
which life goes its daily round. And this is only one hospital, one single station; there are
hundreds of thousands in Germany, hundreds of thousands in France, hundreds of
thousands in Russia. How senseless is everything that can ever be written, done, or
thought when such things are possible. It must all be lies and of no account when the
culture of a thousand years could not prevent this stream of blood being poured out,
these torture-chambers in their hundreds of thousands. A hospital alone shows what war
is.
Part A
How does this excerpt relate to what you already know about the number of casualties of
World War I?
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Part B
Look again at the last sentence of the excerpt. In your own words, explain briefly what you
think this sentence means.
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Question 4
Think again about the causes of World War I. Nationalism was one of the main causes. It can
be defined as extreme feelings of loyalty or devotion for one’s country. Feelings of nationalism
led the people fighting in the war to believe that they were fighting for a right and just cause.
Additionally, as you’ve learned, literature prior to World War I glorified war, making it seem
heroic or even romantic. Based on the excerpts that you read from All Quiet on the Western
Front, what did Erich Maria Remarque think about the nationalism that caused the war? Why
do you think he decided to write a book that showed the war experience to be so harsh and
cruel? Your answer should be about 100 to 200 words long. It should also provide evidence
from the excerpts or from any outside research that you conduct. Be sure to list any sources
that you use.
