All Quiet on the Western Front:

Chapter 3Hanna Oosterveen, Gabriella LeMarquand

Summary

* The chapter is mainly comprised of discussions between

soldiers and Paul’s memories

A group of new, young recruits arrive to fill the spots of

the deceased soldiers

At mealtime, Katczinsky gives a new recruit some beans

he got by bribing the company’s cook

Paul recounts other examples of Katczinsky’sresourcefulness

When he found a burnt out shelter + horse meat for supper

…

Paul and his comrade friends think back to the barracks

with longing

Everything seems better when compared to actual war

The men discuss the uselessness of training when they

reach the front lines

The men talk about Himmelstoss and how Kat believes

that he’s only cruel because he’s taking advantage of

the power that was given to him

…

Tjaden discovers that Himmelstoss will be coming to the

front with them and informs the others

Paul recounts how Himmelstoss attempted to break

Tjaden of his habit of wetting the bed

Paul, Tjaden, Haie, and Kropp have their revenge on

Himmelstoss

Characters

Paul

Narrator, kind hearted

Katczinsky

Paul’s best friend, unbelievably resourceful

Himmelstoss

Cruel training officer who abuses his power

…

Tjaden

A friend of Paul’s who has a lot of

bitterness towards Himmelstoss

Haie

A friend of Paul’s

Kropp

Very analytical of the war (intelligent)

Themes

The Corrupting Effects of Power

Himmelstoss’s cruelty

Uniform=power tripping

Animalism Himmelstoss = dog

the boys barbarically attack Himmelstoss

Brutality of War

Barracks and Himmelstoss’s cruel antics seem more than pleasant when compared to actual war

Camaraderie

Literary Techniques

Tone

Tone is bitter and depressing when describing war however

lighter and happier when recounting pleasant memories

Allegory

Man is comparable to a dog when

given the opportunity to have power

“…man is essentially a beast…”

Extra Important Bits

Kat believes that if every soldier got the same food and

the same pay, the war would end quickly

“Give ‘em all the same grub and all the same pay and the

war would be over and done in a day.”

Kropp proposes that the declaration of wars should be

conducted like a festival. The generals and national

leaders should battle one another with clubs in an open

arena—the country with the last survivor wins the war.

Wrong people do the fighting

…

When the boys beat Himmelstoss, this is an example of

the strive for power. This moment proves that atrocities

occur because of the need for someone to have power

over the other.

* Basically, in this chapter, characters become more

developed so that the reader forms a connection with

them.

Quiz

Activity

Why do you think war causes people to adopt animalistic

behaviors?

Thank you!