All Quiet on the Western Front Test Study Guide

These flashcards cover key characters, themes, and significant events from 'All Quiet on the Western Front' to assist in exam preparation.

Paul Baumer

The protagonist and narrator of the novel who experiences the horrors of World War I.

Katczinsky (Kat)

Paul’s close friend, known for his resourcefulness and ability to find food.

Tjaden

A soldier who has a strong resentment toward authority; he is also known for his voracious appetite.

Himmelstoss

The soldiers’ former training officer who tries to befriend them after experiencing war.

Kemmerich's boots

After Kemmerich's death, his boots are taken by others as a symbol of survival and practicality.

Kantorek

The boys' former schoolmaster who encourages them to enlist in the army.

Detering

A soldier who is deeply connected to nature and longs for home.

Survival instinct

The soldiers' instinctual drive to fight and survive in war.

Gas explosions

A significant danger faced by soldiers that can lead to immediate death or injury.

Discipline

The expectation of military obedience and behavior that Paul struggles with when returning home.

Transformational grief

The intense grief of mothers like Mrs. Kemmerich which Paul struggles to understand.

Just War Theory

A philosophical doctrine that discusses the moral justification of warfare.

Camaraderie

The companionship and mutual support experienced among soldiers during wartime.

Home leave

A temporary time away from the front line that reveals the changes in soldiers after experiencing war.

Open arrest

A punishment given to Tjaden for insubordination; he is confined without hard labor.

Nostalgia

Paul's conflicting feelings about his past life during home leave.

The futility of war

Paul's realization that his generation has lost its innocence to the brutal realities of life.