All Quiet Study Guide
All Quiet on the Western Front
Study Guide
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Study and Discussion Guide
Chapter 1
1. Where are the men “at rest”? Five miles behind the front
2. Why is there such an abundance of rations? Miscalculation – did not count on so much of a lose of life on the front.
3. Who is the narrator? How old is he? Paul Bäumer – 19 years old
4. Identify the following:
A. Tjaden - skinny locksmith; biggest eater (19)
B. Albert Kropp – clearest thinker; lance-corporal
C. Muller G. Detering – smart; dreams of exams; carries textbooks with him
D. Leer - full beard; likes girls from officers’ brothels
E. Haie Westhus – peat-digger (19)
F. Stanislaus Katczinsky – leader of group; 40; shrewd, cunning
G. Detering – a peasant; thinks of farmyard and wife
5. What is symbolic about Leer’s name? Leer means to have a lustful or sly look as Leer does.
6. Why do the men feel hostile toward Ginger? He resists in giving them the extra rations and continually makes them come back from the fighting to get their own food whereas other cooks bring it up to the men at the front.
7. What is unusual about the latrine facilities? They do not have a roof, and most of them choose to use the latrines that can be moved so that they can sit in a circle and play cards and gossip while they relieve themselves.
8. What has changed about these men? They are no longer shy about simple things like using the latrine in front of others.
9. What is a “latrine-rumour”? They were like gossip-shops.
10. Who is Kantorek? The boys’ schoolmaster who convinced them to go to war because it was the honorable and courageous thing to do.
11. Why does Muller wish Kantorek were there? So that he could show him how it really was on the front.
12. What different attitudes about war were held by the “poor and simple” and those who were “better off”? The “poor and simple” knew the reality of suffering and so were not deceived by the talk of courage and heroism like the “better off”.
13. What is the double
Study Guide
—
Study and Discussion Guide
Chapter 1
1. Where are the men “at rest”? Five miles behind the front
2. Why is there such an abundance of rations? Miscalculation – did not count on so much of a lose of life on the front.
3. Who is the narrator? How old is he? Paul Bäumer – 19 years old
4. Identify the following:
A. Tjaden - skinny locksmith; biggest eater (19)
B. Albert Kropp – clearest thinker; lance-corporal
C. Muller G. Detering – smart; dreams of exams; carries textbooks with him
D. Leer - full beard; likes girls from officers’ brothels
E. Haie Westhus – peat-digger (19)
F. Stanislaus Katczinsky – leader of group; 40; shrewd, cunning
G. Detering – a peasant; thinks of farmyard and wife
5. What is symbolic about Leer’s name? Leer means to have a lustful or sly look as Leer does.
6. Why do the men feel hostile toward Ginger? He resists in giving them the extra rations and continually makes them come back from the fighting to get their own food whereas other cooks bring it up to the men at the front.
7. What is unusual about the latrine facilities? They do not have a roof, and most of them choose to use the latrines that can be moved so that they can sit in a circle and play cards and gossip while they relieve themselves.
8. What has changed about these men? They are no longer shy about simple things like using the latrine in front of others.
9. What is a “latrine-rumour”? They were like gossip-shops.
10. Who is Kantorek? The boys’ schoolmaster who convinced them to go to war because it was the honorable and courageous thing to do.
11. Why does Muller wish Kantorek were there? So that he could show him how it really was on the front.
12. What different attitudes about war were held by the “poor and simple” and those who were “better off”? The “poor and simple” knew the reality of suffering and so were not deceived by the talk of courage and heroism like the “better off”.
13. What is the double