Literary Analysis- Chapters 9-10

Account

In these chapters Paul first off returns to the front line to find his friends alive. During one of the battle Paul volunteers to go out on a scouting misson. During the bombardment he is lost and he crawls into a shell hole, when a soldier jumps into the hole, instinct takes over and Paul stabs him in the lungs. After a long and painful death of the soldier, Paul finally makes it back to his line after thinking deep about the reason for war. After the battle Paul and his friends return to a town and stay there for a few days, later on the British bombard the town into dust, while escaping both Paul and Kropp are wounded. While on a train going to a hospital Paul and Kropp lose their awkwardness around the nurses due to necessity. While in the hospital Paul meets many new friends and Kropp has his leg amputated and goes into the state of depression. Paul eventually gets better and is put on leave and is sent home, but it is hard for him due to the fact that his mother is even worse with cancer.

Journal Entry

Monday,
I have just been sent home today and I have just seen mother. She is still very sick with that cancer thing and I am no sure if she is going to make it. I have decided to go to the training camp for I have found a friend from school there. Nothing else of interest has happened.
Paul

Vocab Words

--reinforced- something that has had its defense made stronger, e.g. a reinforced wall
-“a reinforced concrete cellar into which steps lead down from above” (Remarque 231)
--industry- the buying, selling, and collecting of goods
-“now we develop an immense industry” (Remarque 232)

Political Cartoon



The ones who decide war are the ones who never fight in them. In this picture a man is depicted sitting in a chair writing a writ from congress declaring war, as well as holding a sheet saying the number of American ships and lost without warning. This is a cartoon showing that the ones deciding that America would join the fight are those of congress, those that would never fight themselves. This applies to the war journal due to the fact that the German government is deciding to fight but is really sending men out to fight for them.

Reflection

In these chapters I learned how important it is for companionship during war time and having friends makes the time go a little faster. The only bad part about forming a friendship with someone is that if you are split apart it makes it so much harder to leave one another.