The metaphor compares the men fighting in the war to a wasteland. The second object’s qualities in the comparison are unatractive, bleak, and unused. The comparison suggests that the first person in the comparison have nothing to hold onto in their old life, similar to how a wasteland lacks vegetation and life. The young men do not have something to fight for; this further dehumanizes the men at war. The comparison develops characterization of the soldier in the novel. Also, Remarque utilizes this characterization to further create a miserable and depressing tone.

This metaphor is comparing the soldiers to a wasteland. A wasteland is land that is barren or a devastated piece of land. The soldiers have been drained by the war and are emotionally damaged like a wasteland. This comparison reinforces the theme of the lost generation because the war has destroyed their soul.

The simile compares the emptiness of Paul’s room to a condemned man, as he is referring to himself, and the loss of identity that has occurred because of his time in the war. Paul's second qualities in the comparison are his loneliness and his withdrawn past. This means that his loneliness is in part of his past, and childhood being taken away from him. The comparison suggests that the first object in the comparison is nothingness, that there is nothing around Paul which relates to him, being empty without emotion, feeling, or a sense of himself. The comparison develops new characterization, and theme. Paul's mental health and what he believes in has been deteriorating all this time and he finally  breaks and loses himself completely. There is no way to tell if he will come back from his horrific experiences. THis quote also develops the major theme of life after war. Life after war is horrific as men are not able to assimilate with current society because they are still living condemned in their own body and stuck in the past. 

Remarque creates a metaphor comparing the battlefront to a whirlpool. Whirlpools affect not only the water immediately outside of the eye, but everything in its vicinity as well. Similarly, the metaphor suggests that as a soldier, Baumer doesn’t necessarily need to be at the front to feel its effects. The noise, thoughts, and experiences of the front line are carried with him, even when he is nowhere near it. This helps to develop the mood of the war and the way that it simply destroys anyone that comes in contact.

The similes compare Haie’s arms to “a signal-mast” and his hands to “a coal-shovel”. The “coal-shovel” in the comparison is revealing how strong Haie’s arms are. The comparison suggests that the first object in the comparison has multiple abilities and traits. The comparison develops characterization of Haie by revealing his tasks in his positions which is revealed through the comparison of his arm. By Haie reaching with “evident satisfaction [...] like a signal-mast”, Remarque reveals Haie’s combatant during the blows towards Himmelstoss and his exaggerated and excited actions that he is taking to beat up Himmelstoss.