Chapter 1 and 2. AQOTWF.

Robby Treadwell

1/28/13

Period 4 

Chapter 1 and 2

Summary: In the beginning we meet Paul Baumer the narrator who is in combat in world war I. He is with soldiers Leer, Muller, and Kropp. Katczinsky is the leader of Paul's tribe. We meet Kantorek who told them to join the service in the first place. Paul talks about how the war is everything to him because he has nothing to back home to. At the end Paul loses his friend Kemmerick that had no leg.

Quotation: "It will try simply to tell of a generation of men who, even though they may have escaped shells, were destroyed by the war."

Quotation Significance: Even though this quote is not in the the first two chapters it is on the first page, I chose it because it talks about how brutal the war is which can tell you the story is going to be pretty brutal. Even though they made it out alive their minds are still in shell shock from the war.

Reflection: I think the quote above can tell us a lot about what this book is going to be about and how it is going to be. These first two chapters aren't much about the story line and plot but it gives you a ton of information about the characters and setting of the story. What I took from these two chapters was a platoon led by a leader that is the front line and is taking a break right, trying to heal the wounded, now talking about where they came from and how they got there. It was sad to read about Kemmerick dying but then again I feel like there is going to be a lot of that in this novel. I liked how he said he wanted to give his boots to Muller. I think that later on those boots are definitely going to be an important symbol throughout this story. 

Discussion Question: Why does the author use such odd names for the characters of this novel?