All Quiet on the Western Front Video!

Erich Maria Remarque 1898 - 1970 Background: German Born Erich Paul Remark (changed middle name to honor mother; changed last name to honor French ancestors) Early interests: Writing and music Often argued with school authorities – especially Professor Konschorek (Kantorek)

Erich Maria Remarque 1898 - 1970 1916 – at age 18 Remarque is drafted into German army as infantryman He experiences trench warfare He is wounded several times, once seriously Carries out friend, Troske, who dies 1917 – mother dies of cancer

Erich Maria Remarque 1898 - 1970 Post war After trauma he experiences in war, Remarque lives as one of the “lost generation.” Odd jobs as tombstone salesman, substitute teacher, organist, and journalist

All Quiet on the Western Front Semi-autobiographical; Remarque faced wartime torments Serialized in 1928 (original title: Im Westen nichts Neues, In the West Nothing New) 1929 – Published in book form; sold more than 1 million copies in Germany Translated into 23 languages Nominated for Nobel Prize

All Quiet on the Western Front 1930 – made into Hollywood movie; receives Academy award for Best Picture Controversy ensues Nazi party attacks novel as pacifist and anti-nationalist Remarque forced to leave Germany (lives in Switzerland; moves to U.S. in 1939 – becomes naturalized U.S. citizen in 1947) Nazis burn books in 1933

Erich Maria Remarque 1898 - 1970 Remarque’s other works, including sequel to All Quiet (The Road Back), are not as popular. Famous for his social life in Hollywood (friends with Greta Garbo, Charlie Chaplin, Cole Porter, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald)

All Quiet on the Western Front Setting: late 1916 – October 1918 (one month before armistice), near German front lines Point-of-view: first person Style specifics: present tense verbs, verbal/situational irony, symbolism Symbols: boots, goose, wounded horses, cherry tree

Characters Second Company, former schoolmates Paul Bäumer – protagonist, 19 Tjaden – grudge vs. Himmelstoss Stanislaus Katczinsky – 40, leader, ingenuity Albert Kropp – best thinker, hospital Kantorek – teacher, encourages students to enlist, pompous/authoritarian Himmelstoss – drillmaster, despised

Characters continued Detering – farmer, fondness for nature/ animals Kemmerich – dies, boots, Paul visits mother Müller – boots Gérard Duval – French soldier Mittelstaedt – commander of home guard Sergeant Oellrich – rifle sniper Lieutenant Bertinck – company commander Ginger - cook