Robin Pennington Eng 102 Prof. Kehl "ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT" 11 March 2014 "ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT" In chapter one of "All Quiet on the Western Front", the novels main themes are presented: the horror of war and its effect on the ordinary soldier. Paul and his classmates were persuaded to volunteer by their high school teacher, Kantorek. They went through basic training, which they hated, under the despicable Sergeant Himmelstoss. Many of Paul's classmates die or are injured shortly after reaching the front, notably Franz Kemmerich. For Paul and his classmates, the army has become an expression of patriotic duty instead of a career. Outside the classroom, young men of their age faced ostracism...