Question

Think again about the causes of World War I. Nationalism was one of the main causes. It can be defined as extreme feelings of loyalty or devotion for one's country. Feelings of nationalism led the people fighting in the war to believe that they were fighting for a right and just cause. Additionally, as you've learned, literature prior to World War I glorified war, making it seem heroic or even romantic. Based on the excerpts that you read from All Quiet on the Western Front, what did Erich Maria Remarque think about the nationalism that caused the war? Why do you think he decided to write a book that showed the war experience to be so harsh and cruel? Your answer should be about 100 to 200 words long. It should also provide evidence from the excerpts or from any outside research that you conduct. Be sure to list any sources that you use.

Answer 1

The war novels before "All Quiet on the Western Front" they tended to romanticize what war was like, making others believe that war was a symbol of glory, honor, patriotic duty, and adventure, "All Quiet on the Western Front" sets out to show people how actually the war was: An unromantic vision of fear, meaninglessness, and butchery. World War I demanded this depiction more than any war before it—it completely altered mankind’s conception of military conflict with its catastrophic levels of carnage and violence, its battles that lasted for months, and its gruesome new technological advancements (e.g., machine guns, poison gas, trenches) that made killing easier and more impersonal than ever before.