Alls Quiet on the Western Front Paul Baumer- protagonist, narrator Stanislaus Katczinsky- 40 years old, (Kat), food finder, Best friend to Paul Albert Kropp- schoolmate, clearest thinker Tjaden- locksmith, voracious appetite, skinny Haie Westhus- peat moss digger, Kat’s right hand man Detering- farmer, peace-lover, loner Muller- classmate still carries textbooks Leer- classmate, has beard, good with women Franz Kemmerich- grows up with Paul, has boots, dies in Chapter 2 Corpal Himmelstoss- postman, Terror of Klosterberg, drillmaster Kantorek- schoolmaster, “Iron Youth” Point of View- 1st person = more realistic/personal Structure- alternating short/ long 12 chapters 4- war 5- withdrawal 6- war 7- trip home 8- reflection on war 9- war 10- hospital 11- battle and death 12- conclusion Themes- - Destructiveness of war - Lost generation - Camaraderie: friendship - Shared humanity - Corrupting effect of power- power corrupts o Absolute power corrupts absolutely – Machievelli Literary Techniques - Diction- word choice - Metaphor- whirlpool - Atmosphere- mood - Irony- graveyard scene - Humor- helmet over behind - Foreshadowing- boots - Symbolism- earth, men’s reaction, watch, boots