World War I; or The Great War, was one of the deadliest wars, with almost 15.5 million casualties. It was one of the most tragic events in history which resulted in a generation that was changed by the war forever. This generation lost most of their youth fighting and when they returned home, they were unable to reconnect with the life they had before the war. Many new technologies were utilized, such as machine guns and poisonous gas, which lead to soldiers digging trenches for cover and using gas masks for protection. Even though before the war, most citizens held an extremely positive view of warfare, their mindset was changed to a more negative one as they witnessed the realities of warfare.
At the start of the war, soldiers and civilians …show more content…
Machine guns changed warfare during World War I because soldiers could no longer stand in rows like before. As a result, soldiers dug trenches when they were fighting in the war. However, soldiers had to stay in trenches for days and were living in very poor conditions. In the movie of All Quiet on the Western Front, the soldiers were depicted in the trenches smashing at the rats that were trying to take their food (All Quiet on The Western Front). This illustrates one of the consequences of fighting in the trenches and how trench warfare worsened warfare for the soldiers. Overall, new technological inventions greatly increased the sufferings of the soldiers and changed the way people viewed the …show more content…
In All Quiet On the Western Front when Paul comes home, he tries to, “take one of the books, intending to read, and turn over the leaves. But [he] put it away and take out another” (Remarque 173). The books symbolize fragments of his innocence and his childhood and he is unable to reconnect to his normal life and understand the books. Also, Paul thinks that he be standing there “as before a judge” (173). Since the purpose of a judge is to prosecute criminals, Paul feels like he is a criminal for what he has done in the war and does not feel like a hero like soldiers expected to after the war. This is further illustrated in the poem, “Dulce et Decorum Est”, when Owen says, “ To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est Pro patria mori” (Owen). When Owen says, “To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est Pro patria mori” which means that it is sweet and honorable to die for one’s country. However, Owen calls that “the old lie” because he no longer believes it to be true after experiencing war himself. He is saying that children will not feel glorious by fighting in the war, which was one of the key reasons a lot of people joined the army. The soldiers were gloomy in war and not as excited as they were at the start. In the poem, “How to Die”, by Siegfried Sassoon,
At the start of the war, soldiers and civilians …show more content…
Machine guns changed warfare during World War I because soldiers could no longer stand in rows like before. As a result, soldiers dug trenches when they were fighting in the war. However, soldiers had to stay in trenches for days and were living in very poor conditions. In the movie of All Quiet on the Western Front, the soldiers were depicted in the trenches smashing at the rats that were trying to take their food (All Quiet on The Western Front). This illustrates one of the consequences of fighting in the trenches and how trench warfare worsened warfare for the soldiers. Overall, new technological inventions greatly increased the sufferings of the soldiers and changed the way people viewed the …show more content…
In All Quiet On the Western Front when Paul comes home, he tries to, “take one of the books, intending to read, and turn over the leaves. But [he] put it away and take out another” (Remarque 173). The books symbolize fragments of his innocence and his childhood and he is unable to reconnect to his normal life and understand the books. Also, Paul thinks that he be standing there “as before a judge” (173). Since the purpose of a judge is to prosecute criminals, Paul feels like he is a criminal for what he has done in the war and does not feel like a hero like soldiers expected to after the war. This is further illustrated in the poem, “Dulce et Decorum Est”, when Owen says, “ To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est Pro patria mori” (Owen). When Owen says, “To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est Pro patria mori” which means that it is sweet and honorable to die for one’s country. However, Owen calls that “the old lie” because he no longer believes it to be true after experiencing war himself. He is saying that children will not feel glorious by fighting in the war, which was one of the key reasons a lot of people joined the army. The soldiers were gloomy in war and not as excited as they were at the start. In the poem, “How to Die”, by Siegfried Sassoon,