1. First-Person Narrative: The story is told from the perspective of Paul Bäumer, a young German soldier. This allows for a deeply intimate and personal account of the war's horrors, highlighting the psychological impact on individuals.
2. Stream of Consciousness: The narrative often reflects Paul's thoughts and feelings in a free-flowing, fragmented manner, mirroring the disorientation and chaos of war. This gives readers a sense of immediacy and visceral experience.
3. Symbolism:
* Nature: The beauty of nature, often juxtaposed with the brutality of war, symbolizes the fragility of life and the destructive power of conflict.
* Rats: These creatures represent the decay and corruption of war, feeding on the dead and reflecting the soldiers' constant fear and unease.
* The Trench: The confined, claustrophobic space symbolizes the psychological and physical constraints of war.
4. Imagery: Remarque uses vivid sensory descriptions to paint a picture of the war's brutality and the soldiers' suffering. He employs imagery of blood, mud, smoke, and the constant bombardment, emphasizing the harsh realities of war.
5. Juxtaposition: The text frequently contrasts the beauty of the pre-war world with the horrors of the battlefield. This stark contrast highlights the profound impact of war and the loss of innocence.
6. Irony: The title itself is ironic, as the "quiet" on the Western Front is a deceptive calm masking the constant threat of death. This irony extends to other elements, like the "comradeship" of soldiers forced to rely on each other in a brutal environment.
7. Repetition: The use of repetition, often of words or phrases like "comrade" and "death," emphasizes the cyclical nature of violence and the relentless feeling of fear and despair.
8. Personification: Remarque sometimes personifies objects and concepts like "death" or "the trench," giving them human qualities to further illustrate their impact on the soldiers.
9. Hyperbole: The exaggerated descriptions of war's horrors are used to emphasize the soldiers' suffering and the dehumanizing effects of conflict.
10. Pathetic Fallacy: The weather is often used to mirror the mood and emotions of the soldiers, reflecting the atmosphere of gloom and despair.
By effectively employing these literary devices, Remarque creates a powerful and unforgettable account of the First World War, offering a raw and unflinching look at its effects on those who fought it.