All Quiet on the Western Front: Summative Assessment

YOUR TASK:

Write a three-page double-spaced literary analysis essay in which you explore one of the
following topics below in relation to Erich Remarques All Quiet on the Western Front. Your
paper must contain a strong, clearly stated thesis statement conveying your overall
argument. Your topic sentences should all relate back to this thesis statement, and each of
your body paragraphs must contain a minimum of one quote from the novel to support
your claims and assertions. That being said, I would like to see as much support as possible
within your paragraphs. Thorough analysis of each quote is expected. Essays need to be
sent into www.turnitin.com by midnight on Thursday March 30th.

ESSAY TOPICS:

1) Discuss positions of authority within All Quiet on the Western Front. How does war empower
certain men and what does it cause them to do to those lower in rank/power than them? Think
especially about Himmelstoss character development throughout the novel. How do the other
characters in the novel cope with their forced subordination? What are the issues between
morality, revenge, and justice in relation to those who abuse power and those who respond to this
abuse?

2) Discuss Pauls character development throughout the novel. Consider the theme of identity
struggle as you explore his maturation process during the course of the war. Has the brutality of
war completely stripped away Pauls humanity, or does he retain vestiges of his old self? Does
Paul hold onto his identity until his death, or did he lose it before the novel even begins? Explain
and support your ideas using specific examples from the text.

3) All Quiet on the Western Front contains a great deal of horrific irony within its pages. For
example, Remarque balances the man-made disasters of war with Mother Natures unstoppable
beauty. He simultaneously incorporates and contrasts situations of hope with the hopelessness of
dying. Explore how irony is used throughout the novel. Namely, how does irony function to
uncover the brutality of war and its effect on those involved? Be sure to include the ending of the
novel in your exploration of this idea. Support your ideas with specific examples from the novel.

4) Paul and his comrades are, in many ways, psychologically fused together by the horrific
events they experience during the war. In what ways does the novel critique the romantic rhetoric
of war, honor, and patriotism? Support your ideas with specific examples from the novel.

5) You have the option to propose another essay topic of your choice; however, keep in mind that
your topic must be clear-stated, arguable, and complex enough to meet the length requirement of
this essay. Your topic must be approved by Mrs. Emperor or Ms. Pap.