A STEP BEYOND

TESTS AND ANSWERS

TEST 1

_____ 1. Remarque's principal purpose in the novel was to

A. present a vivid portrayal of the horrors of World War I
B. show how a German generation was affected by the war
C. set the record straight about trench warfare

_____ 2. Paul and his friends were encouraged to enlist by

A. the editorials written by Heff Krauss
B. the town's leading politician, Heinrich Boll
C. the schoolmaster, Kantorek

_____ 3. A symbolic action which points up the war's effect upon morality was

A. Muller's attempt to get the boots
B. the theft of Kemmerich's watch
C. Paul's killing of Gerard Duval

_____ 4. In the process of training the young soldiers, Himmelstoss tried to

A. break their spirits
B. inspire them with Germany's glorious destiny
C. develop their sense of mutual responsibility

_____ 5. Katczinsky's great skill lay in his ability to

A. cut through red tape
B. scrounge for food
C. be the best marksman in the company

_____ 6. The halfway existence of the soldiers between life and death is best illustrated by the scene in the

A. hospital
B. cemetery
C. field depot

_____ 7. One of the terrible images of the battle scene is the

A. dying horses
B. bayonet charge by "the gladiators"
C. suicide of the frightened soldier

_____ 8. The theme which is NOT developed in this novel is that war

A. is inevitable
B. destroys ambition
C. helps develop brotherhood among the soldiers

_____ 9. The several references to butterflies in the novel

A. provide a contrast to the horrors of war
B. are inserted to show Paul's scientific interests
C. introduce Paul's vivid dream sequences

_____ 10. Paul shows compassion for Kemmerich's mother by

A. sending her an optimistic letter in her son's name
B. telling her that Franz is recovering satisfactorily
C. lying about the manner of her son's death

11. All Quiet is sometimes said to be lacking plot and characterization. Is this true? If so, does it harm the novel?

12. In wartime, society seems to suspend the Ten Commandments for soldiers. Explain this idea and use examples from the novel to support your points.

13. All through the war, Paul and his friends seem obsessed with food, comfort, and physical things. Give several examples involving food and comfort and explain how these examples provide an indication of how the war is progressing.

14. Explain the meaning of this statement: "Chance rules a soldier's life at the front." Give examples which support your explanation.

15. Explain why Paul objects to his and his friends' being called "Iron Youth."

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