all quiet ch11

2-5-14 All Quiet… ch11

summary: The German army is nothing compare to its enemies… Most of Paul's friends have died already; Muller, Leer, and Bertnick. He continues the fight when a glace of hope catches his eye. A cherry tree reminds Paul of his family back home, and reminds him that he wants to live to see them. However, in combat, his best friend Kat is shot in the leg, so Paul carries him to safety. Later, Kat is shot in the head and he dies.

quote: “Perhaps you will leave soon. You may even be sent back to become a farmer.”

sig of quote: Enthusiastic Paul is thinking ahead to the future so the guys who are about to go into battle will have reasons to live. 

reflection: I totally called this on my last litblog. Everything was good for Paul until basically all his friends died. The cherry tree in this chapter is very symbolic. To his friends the cherry tree might have reminded them of beauty or food; but, to Paul, the cherry tree meant hope. I believe that seeing that cherry tree was what  kept Paul alive during the battle, for it reminded him why he should try harder to survive. What was waiting for him at the other end was his family, and his future. To Paul those are the most important things.

question: What did the cherry tree mean to all the other soldiers who saw it?

all quiet ch10

2-5-14 All Quiet… ch10

summary: Paul and his group of soldiers are sent to an abandoned village. Everything is peaceful until they are attacked again. Paul has minor injuries, but Kropp is very hurt. They are sent to a hospital, treated for their wounds, and then have to bribe the officer in charge to let them go back to see their friends. On the train back to the front, Kropp gets sick with a high fever. They return to a different hospital together… Paul describes all the death that happens around him, as Kropps leg is amputated.

quote: "Parting from my friend Albert Kropp was very hard. But a man gets used to that sort of thing in the army"

sig of quote: Their friendship is important to Paul… However, he is getting used to death being in the army. Kropp would be one of many of Paul's friends who have died, but its still hard to witness.

Reflection: I enjoyed this chapter because it focused on the friendship of the soldiers. The chapter starts with the boys bonding together at a peaceful environment… Only to be ambushed again and have to endure grave injuries. However, even after that, they still stick together. Paul refused to leave sick Kropp at the hospital alone, so he stays. Paul is showing signs of true friendship… But as this book has gone so far, I am expecting something bad to happen to Kropp. Like not making it through surgery. Thats the pattern that i've been noticing: all good is followed with bad. 

question: Why would the guys stay in the abandoned village if they knew it was a easy target for an attack?

all quiet ch9

2-4-14 All Quiet… ch9

summary: Paul returns to the front to find all his friends still alive. Not much later does he volunteer to spy in “No Mans Land”. During his venture, an attack starts and Paul has to fake death to survive. However, a French soldier runs next to him and Paul has to stab the soldier in self defense. The chapter goes on with the slow death of the French man.

quote: “Then what exactly is the war for?” -Tjaden

sig of quote: This question can mean so many things. The fact that Tjaden brought it up and the guys had no concrete answers is very powerful. Kat only shrugged his shoulders at this question; so small yet so powerful 

reflection: Up until the end of this chapter was Paul's life getting much better… He had his wonderful family visit him in the last chapter, and in this chapter he returned to find all his friends still alive. All was good until he made the stupid decision to spy on the enemy… I understand that it was the brave and courageous thing to do, but Paul isn't one to go do that. He isn't the one to kill someone, even if it is his duty. Now that he had to watch the french soldier die next to him, slowly, for several hours, Paul will endure great grief. I predict the grief will eat away at Paul so much that he may do something he will regret. 

question: Why did Paul volunteer himself to do such a dangerous task?

all quiet ch8

2-3-14 All Quiet… ch8

Summary: Paul is sent to the training camp far away from the original base and its right next to russian prison. He inspects the russian  prisoners from afar, and can tell they are the enemy. Paul is later visited by his dad and sister and they bring him home made food, in which Paul  shares with the prisoners.

quote: “But to wait for dysentery is not much of a life either.”

sig of quote: Referring to the prisoners on the other side of the fence, this quote is talking about how they only have horrors awaiting in their future.

reflection: This chapter goes deeper into Paul's life; who he is and who he was. We now know that he is a genuine, kind guy. He not only felt bad for the russian prisoners, but he was kind enough to share the little cigarettes and food he had with them. The very few and special things Paul possessed he had shared with those he thought of as the enemy and were stranger to him. His family also came in this chapter, and we can surely tell where Paul gets his kind traits from. The fact that his family actually endangered their lives to come visit their son, and bring him food in the process, shows so much love. The whole family put the needs of others ahead of their own, this is a good trait to have.

question: Will Paul befriend somebody on the other side of the fence?