Erich Maria Remarque's use of simile in Im Westen nichts Neues contributes greatly to the depth of the narrative and dispels the notion that this anti-war novel is nothing more than a simple soldier's account of the First World War. Definitions of simile and metaphor have existed since Aristotle. This study, however, treats simile as the literary equal of metaphor. Simile can be an even more powerful literary device than metaphor when cleverly and properly used. Remarque purposefully chose his more than 150 similes, many containing animal or nature images. Nearly all are used to show vividly and honestly war's reality while at the same time dismissing war's glory as a lie. Remarque also employs simile for antithesis. Seen through the perspective of the author, Remarque, and the narrator, Paul Baumer, the many similes represent the development Baumer undergoes up until the story's tragic end.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:arizona.edu/oai:arizona.openrepository.com:10150/277198 |
| Date | January 1989 |
| Creators | De Leeuw, Howard |
| Contributors | Richter, Roland |
| Publisher | The University of Arizona. |
| Source Sets | University of Arizona |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text, Thesis-Reproduction (electronic) |
| Rights | Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. |
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