Read the passage about earth in Chapter 4. Discuss the role of earth, according to Paul, using specific quotes from the text. How did his view affect you when you first read it? Answer in paragraph form, using correct grammar and punctuation.
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jozbirn 
“From the earth, from the air, sustaining forces pour into us–mostly from the earth. To no man does the earth mean so much as to the soldier. When he presses himself down upon her long and powerfully, when he buries his face and his limbs deep in her from the fear of death by shell-fire, then she is his only friend, his brother, his mother; he stifles his terror and his cries in her silence and her security; she shelters him and releases him for ten seconds to live, to run, ten seconds of life; receives him again and often for ever.” When I read this i felt so astonished, because that feeling that Paul was talking about only happens in war. Some people might never experience how it feels when you hit mother nature and save yourself by the gun fire. You will never have that feel unless you go to war.
So true! Great answer!
When Paul is talking about the earth he says that it is a shelter, friend, mother and many other things. He says “Earth with thy folds, and hollows, and holds, into which a man may fling himself and crouch down.” His view of the earth is very thoughtful and deep. It affected me by making me think what it would feel like to be a soldier being bombed and having no cover but the ground to hide me.
Excellent!
The role of the earth, according to Paul, is the most protecting thing he has. In chapter four, Paul says how the earth is his “only friend, his brother, his mother”. He associates the earth with mothering qualities because it acts as his main safety. His view was surprising to me because I cannot imagine how it would be to only rely on the earth as protection.
Strong answer!
Win Watson
Honors English 4th
Blog
January 26, 2012
Read the passage about earth in Chapter 4. Discuss the role of earth, according to Paul, using specific quotes from the text. How did his view affect you when you first read it? Answer in paragraph form, using correct grammar and punctuation
“She is his only friend, his brother, his mother,” those are Paul’s thoughts as the shell fire rains down upon him from the enemy. The Earth is, at that moment, the only thing saving his life. How someone can put all of their faith into this one object, that can’t even tell you your name, astounds me. “He stifles his terror and his cries in her silence and her security,” this alone gives you an idea of the magnitude of war. If this young man, arguably still an infallible boy, is so frightened after experiencing this multiple times, imagine the effect on a normal person. My mind was spinning trying to figure out how I would react in the situation. It would not have been a pretty site.
Strong content…good, solid answer!
Paul says, “To no man does the earth mean so much as to the soldier.” I believe this to be completely true. Like he says, it protects them from the bombardment, quiets their cries, and is a comforting constant in an uncertain time. I also think that they appreciate the different lands better than other people as well. Hills that are hard to escape off of, forests that provide good cover, even flat lands that hold no defense. All of these areas mean more to a soldier than to others.
Paul is explaining that the Earth is a soldier’s friend. The Earth comforts, and protects the soldier. The Earth provides shelter for the soldiers that are under shell fire. Paul is expressing how the Earth has a motherly, comforting nature, this could express how the soldiers have become so numb to emotion and other human qualities. If the Earth could take the place of your mother’s embrace, then that shows how robot-like you can become on the front.
I love your last sentence! How insightful! Make sure you use direct quotes when asked. Good job!
“To no man does the earth mean so much as to the soldier. When he presses himself down upon her long and powerfully…from the fear of death by shell-fire…” Soldiers at war are always aware that at any point they might have to toss himself into the ground for protection. In combat and after many times of throwing yourself at the ground, the earth becomes your best friend. It scared me when I first read it and thought about what Remarque was trying to say.
So true! Good job!
Usually one wouldn’t think of the Earth as a protector; in Paul’s case, he learns that if you don’t place most of your survival instincts around “Mother Earth”, then you chance of survival is low. He feels as if the Earth is a special hiding place where you can still stay alive and feel secure from all hurt, harm, and danger. The first time I read this, I felt pity for Paul knowing how he feels in this time of trouble. –Robert King
Excellent answer!
The role of the Earth in All Quiet on the Western Front is of a protector of Baumer. He said that the Earth is his,” only friend, his brother, his mother.” He gives the Earth the qualities of his friend, brother, and mother because it is comforting to him and it shields him from the harm all around him when he is in the shell hole at the graveyard. When I read this I felt as if everything about war is sad and dangerous.
It serves to comfort and shield…which is ironic considering he is in a graveyard being attacked. Good job!
According to Paul, the role of Earth is that it takes6t away the person away when they are dead. A quote that shows this is, “she shelters him and releases him for ten seconds to live, to run, ten seconds of life: receives him again and often forever.” His view of the earth is very thoughtful and deep. It affected me by making me think what it would feel like to be a soldier being bombed and having no cover but the ground to hide me. The person is dying, but Earth lets him have ten seconds before it takes the person forever.
Good…or before it lets him up to run some more…
Earth, according to Paul, is the only form of protection from the war he has. “She is his only friend, his brother, his mother.” Paul refers to earth as the only motherly figure for the soldiers. This is surprising to me, that they felt as though earth was their only form of shelter, their shoulder to cry on.
“To no man does the earth mean so much as to a soldier.” Paul says that the soldiers almost worship the earth; it means so much to them. She offers shelter and protection when they fling themselves down on her, avoiding the shell bombs
Yes! Good answer!
I agree with Mrs. Ozbirn! You are truly inspirational Meredith!
In the novel, Paul describes the earth was protection against the war surrounding him. There are several quotes in the book that describe this feeling he portrays in the novel, such as: “Earth with thy folds, and hollows, and holes, into which a man may fling himself and crouch down.”… “In the spasm of terror, under the hailing of annihilation, in the bellowing death of the explosions, O Earth, thou grantest us the great resisting surge of new-won life.” These quotes from the novel show how Paul thinks of the earth as being his protection against all of the explosions and bombs. When I first read this I thought about it, and I understood his feelings and I couldn’t imagine having to go through the war like he is in the novel.
Good use of support!
During enemy fire, the only protection and comfort Paul and his fellow soldiers had was the earth. Paul even stated, “She is his only friend, his brother, his mother.”
He said also, “To no man does the earth mean so much as to a soldier.” The earth meant everything to Paul, and no one could understand this feeling except him and the other soldiers. I originally found these statements shocking. I never considered how the earth could protect us from such dangerous encounters.
Paul says, “To no man does the earth mean so much as to the soldier.When he presses himself down upon her long and powerfully, when he buries his face and his limbs deep in her from the fear of death by shell-fire, then she is his only friend, his brother, his mother; he stifles his terror and his cries in her silence and her security; she shelters him and releases him for ten seconds to live, to run, ten seconds of life; receives him again and often for ever.” The earth is their shelter and their protection from the shell bombs. It is what keeps them alive. It’s sad to think that Earth is the most important thing to them. It makes you see war in a sad perspective.
On the front the soldiers don’t have anything to cling to except the earth for shelter. Paul states, “To no man does the earth mean so much as to the soldier. When he presses himself down upon her long and powerfully, when he buries his face and his limbs deep in her from the fear of death by shell-fire, then she is his only friend, his brother, his mother; he stifles his terror and his cries in her silence and her security; she shelters him and releases him for ten seconds to live, to run, ten seconds of life; receives him again and often forever.” Many times, if a soldier is hit, he does not live to full recovery. If an arm or leg got amputated the wound often got an infection because of the unsanitary conditions on the front.
Good!
It does make you see war in a sad perspective…good answer.
In Paul’s case, the role of the earth is simply his shield. Paul quotes in the novel, “To no man does the earth mean so much as to a soldier. When he presses himself down upon her long and powerfully, when he buries his face and his limbs deep in her from the fear of death by shell-fire, then she is his only friend, his brother, his mother…” The soldiers’ only protection in trench warfare is the earth. There are no forts, thick walls, etc. So, they have to rely on and thoroughly depend upon the few resources they have. Reading this passage at first perplexed me as to why he was so in touch with the earth, but after rereading it, I see clearly that he and his fellow soldiers are desperate to find comfort in anything available.
Wow! This is a great answer!
According to Paul, “To no man does the earth mean so much as to the solider.” Paul feels that when he is burying his body in the ground from the fear of shell-fire that the earth is his only friend, brother and mother. Earth is there to shelter him and will repeatedly accept him over and over again. When I first read Paul’s point of view it made me think about how all the times I would get upset and run into the woods for comfort. All this time I felt no one was there for me, but really mother earth was always willing to take me in anytime I needed her and she always will be.
I like how you are connecting. Can you imagine how it would have felt to depend on those woods to save your life? Good answer!
The role of the Earth is to protect and comfort the soldiers. According to Paul, “She is his only friend, his brother, his mother; he stifles his terror and his cries in her silence and her security.” The Earth protects them from enemy attack, and serves as a mother by offering them comfort and something to rely on during the bombardments. Paul also says, “To no man does the earth mean so much as to the soldier.” This passage is very moving because it shows you how little they really have, and it makes you realize how fortunate you are.
Absolutely! Good job, Kacy!
Paul say ” To no man does the earth mean so much as to a soldier.” He is saying the earth does not means as much to any man as it does to soldiers, because they rely on it to keep them alive. He also relates to the earth as his mother with mother qualities.
According to Paul,the role of the Earth is that it is the most protecting thing he has. In chapter four, Paul says how the Earth is his “only friend, his brother, his mother”. He associates the Earth with mothering qualities because it acts as his main safety. It’s surprising because how could something be so big, be so mothering and provide protection.
Interesting perception about size being an issue…great answer!
In this section of All Quiet on the Western Front, Paul is describing his emotions and thoughts toward the earth. He mentions that “To no man does the earth mean so much as to the soldier”. Paul describes how the soldiers seek protection from the earth during bombardments when they don’t know when their life will be taken. The earth provides shelter from the threatening open space during war. When soldiers are alone during bombings the earth “is his only friend, his brother, his mother; he stifles his terror and his cries in her silence”. Reading this helped me place myself in that situation and understand a soldier’s view.
Fantastic answer!
in the quote “to no man does the earth mean as much as to a soldier” i think its talking about how the earth helps them to survive. they use the earth to hide, fight, and live throughout the war.
a bit vague…Elaborate more.
” To no man does the earth mean so much as to the soldier.When he presses himself down upon her long and powerfully, when he buries his face and his limbs deep in her from the fear of death by shell-fire, then she is his only friend, his brother, his mother; he stifles hsi terror and his cries in her silence and her security,” Paul said. This made me think that when your in a war scence like they were that the earth is the only thing that is ther to protect you.
Explain! Make sure you proofread what you type…
In “All Quiet on the Western Front” they say that in war, the earth is your best friend. I think they say this because, in the scheme of things, no one can save you, and the earth just may have an advantage over anyone else. They recall “hugging the earth”, that says that they have no other place to hide.
True…be careful with using the word “they.” Who are you talking about exactly?
“When he presses himself down upon her long and powerfully, when he buries his face and his limbs deep in her from the fear of death by shell-fire, then she is his only friend, his brother, his mother.” In saying this, he was saying that earth was the only thing he could rely on. Earth was sort of like a mother to him and the other soldiers.
Elaborate on your comment about “the only thing he could rely on.”
According to Paul, the earth “is more important to a soldier than to man”. Meaning something along the lines of the earth serves more purpose to a soldier than to the average person. For a soldier it serves as a place to sleep or a place to be protected from the French, and so one and so forth.
The earth is like a safe haven for the men, like when Paul says,” Earth with thy folds, and hollows, and holes, into which a man may fling himself and crouch down.” It protects them from the bombs, the guns, and the gas of the war. “she shelters him and releases him for ten seconds to live, to run”.
When Paul talks about Mother Earth, he is saying that he feels comfortable when laying down on the ground because it seems as though the earth is keeping him from the dangers of the war.
Where is your direct quote? This is true, but I need more support…
In the story the Earth are the soldiers’ best frtends. That means that when everyone dies the ground will be there to catch you.
What about your supporting quotes? Paul’s purpose was describing how the earth was a protector…