Dulce et ecorum est pro patria mori.

         When you think about life, it is a huge privilege. It can be taken from you before you even know it, it can bring you joy, and it can bring you pain, however it is valued. The war took millions upon millions of lives, this can be seen either as a waste of lives, or as a beautiful heroic act of courage. Some men and woman thought it was better to die fighting for your county rather then to die at home of old age or something else. I believe that it is more honorable to die at war, because me being who i am and having the life i have, i realize that my entire life could be different without them fighting for people like me each and every day. However, i see no shame in staying home. In fact if i was put in that position i think i would stay home, not because i don't respect my country but because i think there is more to life then violence and fright. From what i read in the book "All Quiet on the Western Front" there were times when they didn't eat, when they saw their friends die painful deaths right in front of them, when they had to dodge bombs for days on end. This is not a life that i would want to live but i respect it.
        The war dehumanized some of the men, even when they returned home they could not be themselves. Nobody deserves to have constant paranoia and be traumatized. Some of the things that the was exhibits isn't something that we should be proud of. When people die in the war that isn't just someone dying, that is a life. That was a young man that could have raised a family and made something of himself, it is deeply saddening to think of all of these young men and woman loosing their lives to what some see as a "lost cost." I personally see how people would want to loose their lives fighting for something bigger then themselves rather then rotting at home, but i think that people should also do what makes them happy.

Paul's Frustration

When paul comes home to find his mother and quickly realized she is sick, he does become upset. She did irritate him by asking questions like " was it very bad out there, paul?'' when she said this it really angered him because she doesn't know the least of what he has been through. When paul sees his old teacher the teacher was instructing paul and telling him how they should be fighting and handling the war. This is wrong because this is the teacher that made this group of boys sign up for the war leading to a lot of their deaths. The teacher was asking him if he had been in one on one, hand combat which is extremely dangerous. Paul was insulted by the almost joke like tone in the teachers voice, however he is incredible respectful so he doesn't say anything. Paul has to tell Kemmerich's mother about her sons death, she was incredibly sad and paul lied to her and told her that his death was quick and painless. Kemmerich's mom didn't believe him but he promised. I think paul was irritated by all these incidents because nobody knows what he has been through, and he realizes that his life will never again be the same. The war has permanently been imbedded in his life style and once he has lived under these conditions and been put in these situations his life will never return to the way it was before.

Death and Defeat

AS soon as the americans joined the army the Germans were pretty much doomed. Many of pauls former classmates had already been killed but in chapter 11, Müller got shot in the abdoment, Kat ws wounded and paul carried him a long way and then realizes he was dead, Detering dies with the cherry blossom because he got captured trying to escape. Paul gets to leave for 14 days because of the gas he had inhaled, he was worried that when he came home his entire generation would be gone. Everyone that he had gone through this expirence with as well as go to school with was deceased. Even Kat who was his mentor and leader in a sense was dead. Paul was the only one left to understand, the only men who could understand him were long gone, returning to home would almost be pointless because things would never be the same. Paul "i am the last of the 7 fellows from our class." There was rumor of the war ending soon which kept men from going to the front of the line, the american soldiers are forces were too strong. The men fighting out there were loosing their lives for no reason, there were no chances of the germans making it through this war so the men were just dying without purpose.

The Redeemer

By Siegfried Sassoon

We lugged our clay-sucked boots as best we might   
Darkness: the rain sluiced down; the mire was deep;   
It was past twelve on a mid-winter night,
Horror and pain, not uncontent to die   

Along the trench; sometimes a bullet sang,   

When peaceful folk in beds lay snug asleep;   

There, with much work to do before the light,   

We lugged our clay-sucked boots as best we might   

Along the trench; sometimes a bullet sang,   

And droning shells burst with a hollow bang;   

We were soaked, chilled and wretched, every one;   

Darkness; the distant wink of a huge gun.

I turned in the black ditch, loathing the storm;   

A rocket fizzed and burned with blanching flare,   

And lit the face of what had been a form   

Floundering in mirk. He stood before me there;   

I say that He was Christ; stiff in the glare,   

And leaning forward from His burdening task,   

Both arms supporting it; His eyes on mine   

Stared from the woeful head that seemed a mask   

Of mortal pain in Hell’s unholy shine.

No thorny crown, only a woollen cap

He wore—an English soldier, white and strong,   

Who loved his time like any simple chap,   

Good days of work and sport and homely song;   

Now he has learned that nights are very long,   

And dawn a watching of the windowed sky.   

But to the end, unjudging, he’ll endure   

Horror and pain, not uncontent to die   

That Lancaster on Lune may stand secure.

He faced me, reeling in his weariness,

Shouldering his load of planks, so hard to bear.   

I say that He was Christ, who wrought to bless   

All groping things with freedom bright as air,   

And with His mercy washed and made them fair.   

Then the flame sank, and all grew black as pitch,   

While we began to struggle along the ditch;   

And someone flung his burden in the muck,   

Mumbling: ‘O Christ Almighty, now I’m stuck!’

        In my opinion this poem is extremely soulful and relevant to the book "All Quiet On the Western Front" .  This poem has alot on the living style and conditions in the trenches. It shows the emotion and the feel of WWI. They sheer darkness and not knowing what to expect, however stating that it was peaceful when they were sleeping. There was a quote saying "horror and pain...." which says to me the terrible and scary lifestyle that was presented to them ear day. It deeply saddens and sickens me to think that human being were, and still to a sense are dealing with this today. It is incredibly surreal to think that while i live my life like i do every day, there are man and women dealing and living in these ridiculous conditions to protect their countries. This poem greatly exhibits strength, honor, and persistence and for that i admire this poem!

This poster would catch the attention of younger men, it makes you look heroic and like a strong figure. They would appeal to them because all young men seek respect and power, by joining the army the would be honored and look as powerful as the men in this picture! This would also appeal to those who are conspiring to be on top, the way they say "land and the sea" they would be on top! Because there are flags this shows nationalism and represents america and is interesting to those with pride in their country!


This is a poster made by the germans. In one hand this man is holding a sword and his other hand is wrapped around his wife and baby. This is appealing to the family man, which is showing that he can be the dominant one in the family  and impress and protect his people. This makes these type of men look valiant and fearless, capable of anything. 

WWI

Something that stood out to me about WWI is their lack of tactics and strategies. This was a more modern war and they used some advanced things such as guns with 20 mile range, machine guns, mustard gas, chlorine gas, and others. The fact that they were living out of trenches was a true realization of the conditions they were facing, extremely poor hygiene and danger at all times! It really was weird to see how outdated their clothes and utensils are in comparison to the men presently in the war. There was so many people killed it was incredible, and because of that i was surprised so many people wanted and were completely willing to fight and insert themselves in these types of situations. They were young and had potential and this war definitely shifted the way these places evolved and advanced, effecting how the world has come to be currently. About 9 million people's lives were taken in this war which is an incredibly high number for 4 years. This put everything in perspective for me and i have a better and more literal understanding WWI.

Keeping Things WholeBy Mark Strand

In a field

I am the absence

of field.

This is

always the case.

Wherever I am

I am what is missing.

When I walk

I part the air

and always

the air moves in   

to fill the spaces

where my body’s been.

We all have reasons

for moving.

I move

to keep things whole.

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This poem to me seems in a way depressing, I do however think it is beautiful. I think this poem means that you can't find yourself no matter where you are. The line  "This is always the case. Wherever i am i am what is missing", to me means that no matter where this person is that they can't find themselves, that may be due to many different reasons. I find myself lost and feeling this way sometimes as well. Everyone has some doubt in who they are when they are young and trying to figure out what they are going to be and where they are going to go. This makes me feel like i am not the only one who looses themselves sometimes and that it truly is difficult to find yourself in this world.