All Quiet on the Western Front

The final two paragraphs of the novel shift perspective from first person to third person. Why does the author choose to make this shift at the end of the novel? How does this shift help emphasize and develop some of the novel’s themes? What is significant about breaking from Paul’s personal narrative and taking a more removed voice and tone at the end?

Teaching Suggestion: You may consider reading the entirety of Chapter 12 aloud before engaging in the discussion, allowing students to hear the shift from first person to third person.

Differentiation Suggestion: To support students who are visual and tactile learners, consider making hard copies of Chapter 12 so they can take notes directly on the paper itself prior to discussing. Additionally, you may consider providing students with a note-taking template to keep track of their own thoughts as well as their peers’.