World War I (1914-1918) was called ‘The Great War’ because until that time, there had never been a more destructive war on such a global level. Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front, a novel set during this Great War, centers around the changes brought on by war in one young, German soldier. During his time in the war, Paul Baumer, the narrator and protagonist, changes from a rather innocent Romantic to …showed first 75 words of 1163 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1163 total…Our knowledge of life is limited to death." The Great War took its toll on all of the soldiers that fought in it, on both sides. Paul, like many other young soldiers, was forced to grow up, to change, much faster than normal. When he died, he had given up all the hopes and dreams he formerly had in life and about the war. He died a desensitized, hardened soldier; “After all, war is war.”