Imagine a place where you wake up every day wondering if it will be your last. That is what the main character Paul goes through in the anti-war novel All Quiet On the Western Front by Erich Remarque. It is about a young man who has been fighting on the front for the Germans during WWI. He has to face the horrors of war through gas attacks, full on charges, and close combat. All Quiet On the Western Front is a great book for several reasons.
One excellent thing about this book is the foreshadowing. Foreshadowing is when the author indicates beforehand that an event will occur through clues. The first example of foreshadowing is between Paul and Kemmerich's mom. She asks Paul if her son felt any pain before he died. Paul of course responds by telling her, "Kemmerich was shot through the heart and he died instantaneously" (156 Remarque). Believing he is a liar she makes Paul swear that he shall never come back if he is lying. He agrees to her oath for which then Paul meets his demise in the very end of the novel. .
The second example of foreshadowing is when Kemmerich gets shot in the leg. To get him in higher hopes as they carry him off the field Paul and Muller talk to him, "Just think of it Kemmerich, in a month you will be out of the hospital and back home" (15 Remarque). This foreshadows Kemmerich's fate for he only lasts a week in the hospital before he passes away.
Meissner 2.
Another great thing about this book is the imagery. Imagery is when the author uses descriptive words to make the story come alive. Remarque uses imagery abundantly in this novel to describe every bird, flower, person, and scenery. At one point in the story, Paul is riding in one of the lorries heading towards the front and notices the beautiful surroundings, "In the distance, the soft blue silhouette of the mountain ranges begins to appear" (116 Remarque). According to book reviewer Shane Morris states, "Remarque writes in such detail, I almost thought I was there" (Morris).
