NOTES: ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

Symbols: boots, marching and saluting, screaming horses, trenches, food.

Ironies: The war seems to have no purpose to the soldiers.
A few individual leaders of a few countries decided on the war for reasons no-one seems to be aware of.
Crude humor about death ("bodies being blown out of their clothes").
Loss of compassion for those who are dying.
Going home is an unpleasant event.
Comrades - closer than lovers or mothers.

Themes:

Nationalism vs. Individualism
Dehumanization of soldiers and civilians during war
Death