CHARACTER                              SYMBOLISM                               Supporting Reference

1.  Paul- Paul represents the lost generation. Hes not like most other generations because he doesnt feel normal at home, hes happy when he dies at war. 

2.  Kat- Hes the one who gives the troops hope, proof of this being how he always finds food for himself and the others.

3.  Albert Kropp- He represents someone who doesnt have a car in the world. His view on the war is that it should be a festival for people to see.

4.  Leer- Hes one of the people at the war that wants to fight. Hes excited about being at war.

5.  Franz Kemmerich- He represents how nothing about war is certain. This is shown when he gets his leg amputated and dies during the early stages of the war.

6.  Detering- Hes one of the men thats forced into the war and wants to get out of it. Proof is how he dies trying to escape from the war.

7.  Kantorek- Hes one of the people who supports the war, but isnt going to fight in it. He instead tells his students to enlist and join the war.

8.  Corporal Himmelstoss- Hes one of the men that abuse their power and feels more important than they really are. Proof is when it says that he is just a lowly mailman in real life.

Scene or Situation                              SYMBOLISM                         Supporting Reference

1. the theft of

Kemmerichs watch- it goes back to pre-war life for the army men. The atch is something the Kemmerich loves.

2. Kemmerichs death- It shows the different pains that war can bring. It also shows how Paul feels sorry for Kemmerich and is saddened by his death.

3. the front- Its unknown to the men because it is the first time they are on it. It makes the men act different than they would if they were living their normal lives.

4. Earth! Earth! Earth!- The importance of life is shown. The men live on the Earth and they die on it, and they depend on it to live.

5. coffin stacked against

a school-house wall- this shows that death can strike at any time and has no limits. The soldiers make jokes about the death and how their death is coming.

6. the death of the

horses- It shows there are no limits on war. The horses were shot down during the war because they couldnt handle it.

7. Paul dreaming of

childhoos scenes during

a bloody battle  Hes trying to remember his childhood so he doesnt forget about it. He also tries to remember it so that it takes his mind off the war and to better times.

8. the plight of the

infantrymen during battle- It shows the element of surprise during the war, and that there are no rules for timing. The men are caught by surprise.

9. the young recruits

[the infants]-  It shows the difference between generations. The young recruits were looking forward to their first battle, while the older veterans were just awaiting another terrifying battle.

Scene or Situation                            SYMBOLISM                           Supporting Reference     

10. the encounter with

the French girls- Hopelessness. Shows that the men dont have anything to look forward to, they do not have wives or children.

11. Pauls visit home- It goes back to the childhood that he was trying to remember during the bloody battle scene. Paul struggles to remember his childhood.

12. the Russian prisoners- Shows that soldiers do have feelings for each other, they feel sorry for each other. Paul expresses his sorrow for the prisoners.

13. sharing the goose

with Kat- Shows the bond that the soldiers have made together. Once again Kat finds food for himself, ubt he makes sure to share it with his fellow soldiers.

14. the death of

Gerard Duval- Again shows that soldiers do have feelings. Paul feels sorry for Gerard after he kills him, he realizes what the war has done to him.

15. Pauls friends voices

in the dark during combat- Shows how confusing the war can be. Paul hears all of the voices and starts to run in multiple directions.

16. the death of Kat- Shows the pain that war brings to people. Paul sees that Kat is dead and he tries to deny it.

17. Pauls death- Once again shows the lost generation. Paul dies happily during the war, not what most people would expect.

 18. the boots- Shows what war does to a man again. The men are more worried about who gets the boots, than the person dying.