All Quiet on the Western Front

In the war novel, All Quiet on the Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque presents the story by jumping from one idea to the next, to emphasis the frontier lifestyle. The irregular pattern of stories explained by Paul Baumer portrays the spontaneous aspect of World War I. Baumer often describes the down time that the soldiers have and then jumps right in to describing the violent front. This sporadic writing technique reflects how the soldiers always felt uncertain of what was to come.  In chapter ten, Baumer explains that he found an empty house with his fellow soldiers, where they cooked a large meal, which was a rarity on the front. Their cooking and relaxing time is interrupted by shells being thrown at the place. Next in the chapter, Baumer describes the injury that both Kropp and he receive. The quick changing of ideas and emotions truly reveals the uncertain soldier lifestyle. Baumer states, "The moment that the first shells whistle over and the air is rent with the explosions there is suddenly in our veins, in our hands, in our eyes a tense waiting, a watching, a heightening alertness, a strange sharpening of the senses." Baumer presents this imagery to validate the awareness and alertness of the soldiers, which was vital for their survival. It was interesting that when going back to his home on leave, Baumer was no longer able to understand his old self and wanted to return to the war. The war scarred and removed all innocence from the soldiers and war was the only place they could understand.