Silverstein Name_________________________________Per__English 2RAll Quiet on the Western FrontChapter 7: “Leave—A pause that makes everything after it so much worse.”

Context: This chapter opens with Paul and his soldiers getting an easy kitchen duty, but still feels too uneasy to relax when he’s away from the front line. The soldiers offer their bread and meat rations to some French women they meet and spend the night with them. Paul is then assigned leave and travels home, but he feels even more uncomfortable around civilians. He can’t really relate or open up to most of the people back home—parents, teachers, military trainers, etc. Remarque, the author, often displays this disconnect by juxtaposing Paul’s interior monologue (narrator’s thoughts) with the words that he says aloud.

Pre-reading Activity: View the handout “Casualty,” from Eyewitness World War I.

Explain the term “shell-shock” and how it affected the soldiers. Explain why you think Paul and his comrades would suffer from this, using a supporting quote from any part of the novel. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Close Reading Questions: For each question, respond in two to three full sentences. Be clear and specific, smoothly incorporating supporting quotes to back up your interpretation.

1) Re-read pages 137-138. How do Paul and the others respond to Himmelstoss’ new behavior and why?

2) Re-read pages 138-139. Why can’t the men “burden” themselves with feeling?

3) Re-read page 140. Explain why Paul thinks that the news is “all rot”.

4) Re-read pages 141-143. How do the soldiers respond to the movie poster and why?

5) Re-read pages 144-147. Why do the soldiers swim across the canal? What do they bring and why?

6) Re-read pages 148-150. How does Paul feel when he spends the night with young French woman?

7) Re-read pages 151-152. Why is Paul reluctant to go on leave?

8) Re-read page 153. Why is Paul frustrated by the young woman when he tells her he’s going on leave?

9) Re-read pages 157-158. When Paul returns home he clutches tightly to his helmet and rifle is supported by the gun. Explain the symbolism of this.

10) Re-read pages 158-159. Why does Paul cry when he returns home?

11) Re-read page 160. Paul names the objects and people around him that should comfort him, but don’t. Describe and explain.

12) Re-read page 161. Describe how and why Paul lies to his mother about conditions on the front.

13) Re-read pages 162-163. How does Paul react to the military major and why?

14) Re-read pages 163-164. How does Paul feel about his civilian clothes (as opposed to his soldier’s uniform)? How do his parents respond to the clothes and why?

15) Re-read page 165. How does Paul respond to his father’s interest in his war experiences and why?

16) Re-read 165-168. Describe Paul’s experiences with the teachers (masters) at the beer garden (outdoor bar).

17) Re-read pages 168-169. Describe Paul’s reaction to civilian life. Explain why he has mixed feelings about civilians.

18) Re-read pages 172-173. What happens when Paul tries to read his beloved book collection and why?

19) Re-read pages 174-179. Why does Mittelstaedt , Paul’s old schoolmate, have such fun as a superior officer to Kantorek? Describe the contrast between the old Kantorek and the new one who is a soldier.

20 ) Re-read page 179. Explain how leave is a “pause” that makes things worse.p

21) Re-read pages 180-181. How and why does Paul lie to Kemmerich’s mother?

22) Re-read pages 182-185. Describe the juxtaposition (contrast) of Paul’s interior monologue (narration/internal thoughts) and what he tells his mother.