All Quiet on the Western Front Seminar Reflection
Anne Chase
9/11/2014
Seminar Reflection
As ten of my fellow classmates gathered in a circle to discuss ideas from the book All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque, many intriguing interpretations and conclusions were made. The discussion started off focusing on what we believed the author is trying to convey what the truth of war is. Each student interpreted the text a little differently then other students. Some concluded the truth of war is absolute horror and death, or that the book never specifically stated what the truth is. Others concluded that there was no such thing as a truth. We discussed how everyone’s truth of war differs because it is based on opinion, experience and interpretation. Before the seminar I believed that the truth of war was too powerful to harness into words, and now I believe there is no such thing as the pure truth. Another main idea that was discussed during the seminar was how war affected soldiers psychologically. Several supportive and interesting quotes were shared about how the soldiers have been gripped by war and how it has destroyed their future because of the psychological issues it has created. I hadn’t made the connection between soldiers in World War 1 and today and the posttraumatic issues both endure. Overall, this seminar triggered great discussion and a lot was learned.
In a moment in chapter 9 Paul experiences the crucial realization that everyone is human just like himself. There is no enemy, just a face. After experiencing his first hand-to-hand combat, and being trapped in a shell hole with the man he has killed, Paul feels shame, fear, and a connection to the man. Once the man has died, Paul tells him, “Forgive me, comrade. We always see it to late…Forgive me, comrade; how could you be my enemy?” (223). In this moment, he perceives the French man as his comrade and not as an enemy. This is an important realization because he recognizes how truly corrupt the concept of war is.
History may never repeat itself but it sure can rhyme. Today, America is planning on eliminating the terrorist group ISIS to remove the security threat that they pose on us. On the other side, ISIS is threatening America. Although intensions seem to be to safe and will be effective in eliminating ISIS, this plan has many opportunities to turn bad and start a war. A similar situation occurred before the start of World War 1. There was a rivalry between Britain and Germany to become the most superior country. Each wanted to eliminate the treat of one country overtaking the other country by destroying one another. This clash between the two countries is very similar to the clash between America and ISIS. If our current situation follows the same recipe of the start of World War 1, it is quite possible a deadly war could break out.
Our enemy has become weaker, I can tell, yet their guns fire as strong and loud as ever. Progress is more than just a hope because I can see it. Dust and fumes collect on my lips, my teeth, and my tongue. I suffocate from the dust and from the fear. I peer out of the shell hole to find our trench has been blown to clouds of dust and guts. It is pure luck I made it out before we were struck, although a man can only be lucky so many times. Pain floods over me. I look down and see my side has been torn open, I have lost all sense of direction, but I know I need to move to survive. Slowly I struggle out of the hole, pain piercing through my brain, my body burns. Once I stand, I know I have made a grave mistake. Black clouds my vision and I stumble back into another hole. Quickly and forcefully, a knife pierces through my leg, stomach, side, gut, and chest. I roll into the mud face down, unable to move. I come in and out of consciousness. Every time the black settles in, visions of snowy peaks and a warm meadow fill my thoughts. I see my beloved family. When I awake from the dream I wish only to return. I wish to be with my family, and I wish to be home.
One of the main themes in All Quiet on the Western Front was how innocence is an enemy in war. If one wishes to survive, they must eliminate their innocence immediately. When Paul is a young recruit, he talks of how his horrific experiences have made he and his friends become old folk. After seeing his friend, Behm, shot dead, the brutality sets in and his innocence and glorious images of war flee his mind. Paul states, “We are burnt up by hard facts; like tradesmen we understand distinction… We are forlorn like children and experienced like old men. We are crude and sorrowful and superficial- I believe we are lost.” (122). Paul is speaking about loosing his innocence and peace of mind because of the horrors of war he has endured. They are hopeless souls blindly wandering into a void of death and despair.
The men of twenty years of age are a part of a lost generation. They have been gripped by the horrors of war. Paul states, “All the older men are linked up with their previous life…they have a background so strong that the war cannot obliterate it...We young men of twenty, however…beyond this our life did not extend. And of this nothing remains.” (19). These young men have never experienced anything in life besides war, have no connections to a wife, family or career. He also shares, “I am young, I am twenty years old; yet I know nothing of life but despair, death, fear and fatuous superficiality cast over an abyss of sorrow.”(263). This generation of men has been destroyed by war. They will never understand life off of the battlefield. Their knowledge of life is limited to war, and will never return to the person they used to be.
9/11/2014
Seminar Reflection
As ten of my fellow classmates gathered in a circle to discuss ideas from the book All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque, many intriguing interpretations and conclusions were made. The discussion started off focusing on what we believed the author is trying to convey what the truth of war is. Each student interpreted the text a little differently then other students. Some concluded the truth of war is absolute horror and death, or that the book never specifically stated what the truth is. Others concluded that there was no such thing as a truth. We discussed how everyone’s truth of war differs because it is based on opinion, experience and interpretation. Before the seminar I believed that the truth of war was too powerful to harness into words, and now I believe there is no such thing as the pure truth. Another main idea that was discussed during the seminar was how war affected soldiers psychologically. Several supportive and interesting quotes were shared about how the soldiers have been gripped by war and how it has destroyed their future because of the psychological issues it has created. I hadn’t made the connection between soldiers in World War 1 and today and the posttraumatic issues both endure. Overall, this seminar triggered great discussion and a lot was learned.
In a moment in chapter 9 Paul experiences the crucial realization that everyone is human just like himself. There is no enemy, just a face. After experiencing his first hand-to-hand combat, and being trapped in a shell hole with the man he has killed, Paul feels shame, fear, and a connection to the man. Once the man has died, Paul tells him, “Forgive me, comrade. We always see it to late…Forgive me, comrade; how could you be my enemy?” (223). In this moment, he perceives the French man as his comrade and not as an enemy. This is an important realization because he recognizes how truly corrupt the concept of war is.
History may never repeat itself but it sure can rhyme. Today, America is planning on eliminating the terrorist group ISIS to remove the security threat that they pose on us. On the other side, ISIS is threatening America. Although intensions seem to be to safe and will be effective in eliminating ISIS, this plan has many opportunities to turn bad and start a war. A similar situation occurred before the start of World War 1. There was a rivalry between Britain and Germany to become the most superior country. Each wanted to eliminate the treat of one country overtaking the other country by destroying one another. This clash between the two countries is very similar to the clash between America and ISIS. If our current situation follows the same recipe of the start of World War 1, it is quite possible a deadly war could break out.
Our enemy has become weaker, I can tell, yet their guns fire as strong and loud as ever. Progress is more than just a hope because I can see it. Dust and fumes collect on my lips, my teeth, and my tongue. I suffocate from the dust and from the fear. I peer out of the shell hole to find our trench has been blown to clouds of dust and guts. It is pure luck I made it out before we were struck, although a man can only be lucky so many times. Pain floods over me. I look down and see my side has been torn open, I have lost all sense of direction, but I know I need to move to survive. Slowly I struggle out of the hole, pain piercing through my brain, my body burns. Once I stand, I know I have made a grave mistake. Black clouds my vision and I stumble back into another hole. Quickly and forcefully, a knife pierces through my leg, stomach, side, gut, and chest. I roll into the mud face down, unable to move. I come in and out of consciousness. Every time the black settles in, visions of snowy peaks and a warm meadow fill my thoughts. I see my beloved family. When I awake from the dream I wish only to return. I wish to be with my family, and I wish to be home.
One of the main themes in All Quiet on the Western Front was how innocence is an enemy in war. If one wishes to survive, they must eliminate their innocence immediately. When Paul is a young recruit, he talks of how his horrific experiences have made he and his friends become old folk. After seeing his friend, Behm, shot dead, the brutality sets in and his innocence and glorious images of war flee his mind. Paul states, “We are burnt up by hard facts; like tradesmen we understand distinction… We are forlorn like children and experienced like old men. We are crude and sorrowful and superficial- I believe we are lost.” (122). Paul is speaking about loosing his innocence and peace of mind because of the horrors of war he has endured. They are hopeless souls blindly wandering into a void of death and despair.
The men of twenty years of age are a part of a lost generation. They have been gripped by the horrors of war. Paul states, “All the older men are linked up with their previous life…they have a background so strong that the war cannot obliterate it...We young men of twenty, however…beyond this our life did not extend. And of this nothing remains.” (19). These young men have never experienced anything in life besides war, have no connections to a wife, family or career. He also shares, “I am young, I am twenty years old; yet I know nothing of life but despair, death, fear and fatuous superficiality cast over an abyss of sorrow.”(263). This generation of men has been destroyed by war. They will never understand life off of the battlefield. Their knowledge of life is limited to war, and will never return to the person they used to be.