Critical depiction of secular society in the novel "War and Peace". Critical depiction of high society in Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace How secular youth have fun, War and Peace”
"- a story for all times, which does not lose its relevance today. The relationship between fathers and children, love and betrayal, the role of personality in history and history in the life of an ordinary person, the gap between those who organize wars and those who participate in them... All these topics from the book have been discussed more than once in large studies and simple school essays.
We found other evidence in War and Peace that people have not changed at all over the past two centuries.
"Golden Youth" without borders
Modern scions of influential families drive cars, violating all traffic rules, while remaining unpunished. This is where their fantasy, as a rule, ends. It’s like the case of the “golden youth” from “War and Peace”! There is an unambiguous hint in the novel that Helen and Anatoly Kuragin are connected by something more than the love of brother and sister.
But this is also nothing. Pierre Bezukhov and his comrades “got a bear somewhere, put it in a carriage and took it to the actresses. The police came running to calm them down. They caught the policeman and tied him back to back to the bear and let the bear into the Moika; the bear is swimming, and the policeman is on him.” Interestingly, all those involved in the incident escaped any serious punishment thanks to their parents with connections in high circles. Only Dolokhov was called to account, whose mother, despite her noble birth, did not have patrons.
Yazhemothers
Natasha Rostova is one of Tolstoy's most beloved heroines and, of course, one of the most important characters in Russian classics. But today she would definitely find herself in the ranks of those who are contemptuously called ovules or yam mothers.
Lev Tolstoy
“She valued the company of those people to whom she, disheveled, in a dressing gown, could walk out of the nursery with long steps with a joyful face and show a diaper with a yellow spot instead of a green spot, and listen to consolation that the child is now much better. Natasha had sunk to such an extent that her costumes, her hairstyle, her out-of-place words, her jealousy - she was jealous of Sonya, of the governess, of every beautiful and ugly woman - were the usual subject of jokes of all her loved ones. The general opinion was that Pierre was under his wife’s shoe, and indeed this was so.”
In general, the description of the family life of Natasha and Pierre from the epilogue of War and Peace can make many modern women sad. But this is exactly the case when every happy family is happy in its own way.
Armchair analysts
In the 19th century, there was no Internet or Facebook, where you could show off your knowledge in the field of politics and military affairs without leaving your couch. But there were secular salons where much the same thing happened. And the participants in the discussions, who intelligently talked about the games of thrones, were as far from what was happening as many modern commentators who have their own authoritative opinion on any of the hot topics.
Lev Tolstoy
And although those who directly took part in military campaigns and diplomatic negotiations also entered Anna Pavlovna Scherer’s salon, it was the secular drones who most actively discussed the agenda.
“Anna Pavlovna had an evening on August 26, the very day of the Battle of Borodino, the flower of which was to be the reading of the letter from the Eminence, written when sending the image of the venerable saint Sergius to the sovereign. This letter was revered as an example of patriotic spiritual eloquence. It was to be read by Prince Vasily himself, famous for his art of reading...”
Re-read the first chapter of the fourth volume of War and Peace, and you are guaranteed righteous anger towards armchair analysts of all stripes.
Selfie
The main anti-heroine of War and Peace, Helen Kuragina, behaves every moment in society as if a dozen or two lenses are pointed at her. Suffice it to recall the scene in the theater where the Kuragins meet Natasha Rostova. Helen is not interested in the personality of her interlocutor, the topic of the conversation, or what is happening on stage, because her image of a socialite and beauty, which she generously presents to others, is much more important. Nowadays, she would definitely be among those who post selfies from every status event.
Hipsters in the village (downshifters)
After a series of life disappointments, both Pierre Bezukhov and Andrei Bolkonsky are trying to find themselves by escaping from the bustle of society. Pierre goes to inspect his estates in the Kyiv province and dreams of reforms that will make the lives of ordinary people better. And Prince Andrei, after Austerlitz and the death of his wife, decides to devote himself to his son, hiding in the family nest in the Bald Mountains. On the way out, Pierre is openly fooled by his own manager, and the life of his people only gets worse. But the more practical and active Andrey achieves serious success. He even transfers three hundred souls to free cultivators and organizes literacy training for peasant children.
Their path is followed by modern young city dwellers from those who are commonly called hipsters. They, of course, do not have estates or serfs. But there is still the same eternal desire to understand oneself and change life for the better. Someone gets a job as a rural teacher, someone tries to organize production in the village or create a mini-farm. And, like two hundred years ago, someone’s impulses remain impulses, while others achieve real success.
Literature lesson in X grade
Teacher of the first qualification category
MAOU« Lyceum No. 36» Leninsky district of Saratov
Gurova Irina Petrovna
Subject. The younger generation in the novel by L.N. Tolstoy« War and Peace».
Target. Involve students in research activities on the main problem of the topic, develop skills in analyzing a literary work, and prepare students for writing on this topic.
Lesson structure.
Entering a learning situation. Teacher's opening speech.
Working with the text of the novel in groups.
Working with information sheets.
Individual task. Work on the diaries of Leo Tolstoy (literary student)
Summarizing. Exit from the learning situation. Abstracts for essays.
During the classes.
1. Teacher's opening speech.
Today in class we will try to comprehend everything that is connected with the depiction of the life ideals of the young heroes of the novel, we will observe their attitude towards people, towards the Fatherland, towards events that determine not only their destinies, but also the destinies of the entire generation. We will try to answer questions that are important to us:
Which heroes does the writer Count L.N. Tolstoy value, respect, and which ones does he despise?
how should one live? What should a person strive for?
Epigraph of the lesson.
To live honestly, you have to rush, get confused, fight, make mistakes, start and quit, and always struggle and lose, but calmness is spiritual meanness.
L.N. Tolstoy.
Note.
Literary scholar. In Ozhegov’s dictionary we read:« Youth is the age between adolescence and maturity, the period of life at that age».
Teacher's word.
A very sparse comment. But it is precisely during this period that either a bad or a wonderful beginning is formed in a person, everything that will later find development in adulthood.
All the young people we will talk about belonged to the same class, they are educated, very rich or simply rich, some are poor. In the lives of many there have been attempts to resist the blows of fate, not to succumb to injustice. We will observe the death of the soul, the loss of its best qualities and the path of self-improvement.
Teacher. What and how do Tolstoy's heroes live?
The main questions of the lesson. (Work in groups: filling out information sheets, oral answers).
Why are B. Drubetskoy and people like him not interesting to Tolstoy?
Why does Berg, a hero who has not committed a single reprehensible act, evoke only contempt?
What unites Boris Drubetsky and Berg?
Pierre, a kind, delicate man, throws angry words full of contempt into Helen’s face:« Where are you, there is depravity and evil». What explains this attitude towards his wife?
Why does Helen die?
What is the true beauty of the ugly heroine of the novel, Princess M. Bolkonskaya, later Countess Rostova?
Leo Tolstoy's favorite heroine is Natasha Rostova. What traits make her truly valuable and attractive?
Why does Tolstoy call Sonya, Natasha Rostova’s friend, an empty flower?
Do you consider Fyodor Dolokhov a positive character?
Next to Dolokhov we often see Anatoly Kuragin. Why are people like this hero of the novel dangerous?
What is interesting about the image of Nikolai Rostov?
Generalization. Speech by students and literary critic.
So how should one live, according to Leo Tolstoy? What influences the formation of the views and life position of young heroes?
Position of L.N. Tolstoy. From Tolstoy's diary.
1847 g. (Tolstoy is only 19 years old).
"17March... I clearly saw that a disordered life, which most secular people accept as a consequence of youth, is nothing more than a consequence of youth, is nothing more than a consequence of early depravity of the soul»
General conclusion.
The formation of the worldview of young heroes is influenced by
- environment
- self-education and self-analysis of behavior and actions
- family
Teacher's word.
Now we perceive Leo Tolstoy more clearly:«... calm - spiritual meanness».
Intense internal work is what distinguishes any of Leo Tolstoy’s heroes. There are a large number of honest and kind people, conscientious, obsessed, purposeful, from them there is purity and faith on earth.
Homework: write conclusions, prepare for an essay.
1. It is obvious that all the ideas associated with assessing the life of the younger generation in the novel “War and Peace” are determined by the views of L.N. Tolstoy, which developed in the constant search for his purpose in his youth. The writer's diaries confirm this. 1847 On March 17 (Tolstoy is only 19 years old) he writes: “I clearly saw that the disordered life that most secular people accept as a consequence of youth is nothing more than a consequence of early depravity of the soul. A month later, an equally important confession appeared: “I would be the unluckiest of people if I had not found a goal for my life - a common and useful goal.”
2. People are all different. Some people need family and children to be happy, others need material well-being. The basics of well-being - career: position, ranks. Striving to achieve a career, young people like Boris Drubetsky will not waste their mental strength on others. The ideal of their life is well-being based on calculation, love and attention only to themselves. Indifferent, they are dangerous because they will stop at nothing on their path to a career. Even love, a holy feeling, can be neglected for selfish interests. Julie Kuragina, overcoming disgust, Boris Drubetskoy will say words of love without feeling it in his heart. He will always lie, adapt, be cautious, because he is convinced that his ideal of life is undoubtedly true, and most importantly, achievable. Difficulties and hardships are a great blessing, because they strengthen and form character, integral and fair, but this does not apply to Boris Drubetsky. Difficulties did not toughen him, but embittered him. The consequence of this is a persistent desire to live only for oneself.
3. Without having a large-scale mind and outstanding abilities, you can live your life honestly and benefit the state and family. Tolstoy creates the image of an ideal officer, dutiful, loyal, honest, ready to give his life for the Fatherland and the Russian Emperor. What is the purpose of man? Nikolai Rostov does not ask himself this question, although Tolstoy asserts the need for self-education and self-improvement. He does what his family expects of him. The origins of his behavior in life are in the family, where caring for each other, honesty towards each other is the law of life, brought up by the exceptional love of Count and Countess Rostov.
4. One of the most valuable properties of young people is the ability for internal changes, the desire for self-education, for moral search. But moral tormenting questions never troubled Helen’s soul. The falsehood that took root in the family also consumed Helen. The family never discussed what was good and what was bad. Neither Helen nor her brother understand that, in addition to their pleasure, there is also the peace of other people. Tolstoy, deliberately emphasizing Helen's beauty, helps us understand Helen's spiritual ugliness. Beauty and its youth are repulsive, because... this beauty is not warmed by any emotional impulses.
5. Many of Tolstoy’s heroes are characterized by a need for deep introspection. This need in young years contributes to getting closer to people and is the source of joy. Already in her lonely girlhood, Princess Marya makes a discovery about the imperfection of human nature, and therefore strives to find the truth in human relationships. Having gotten married, she brings sophistication and the warmth of confidential communication into the existence of the family. She creates a bright atmosphere in the house, she devotes herself completely to moral formation and raising children. It cannot be otherwise, because she is from the Bolkonsky family, where everyone lives according to their conscience and follows the “road of honor.”
6. Tolstoy does not idealize his heroes. On the contrary, it gives them the right to make mistakes. However, Dolokhov almost never makes mistakes. He acts deliberately cruelly: he takes revenge for the fact that he is not rich, he takes revenge for the fact that he does not have patrons, like many. He himself chose his own path, but on this path there is no service to goodness and justice. He could have chosen a different path because he is smart, brave, daring (worthy qualities of an officer), but he chooses this one, thereby dooming himself to spiritual loneliness.
The gallery of noble types in the novel "War and Peace" is rich and varied. “Light” and society are depicted by Tolstoy in generous colors. High society appears in the novel as the force that rules the country. If the people live in suffering, then the top of society, despite the losses caused by the war, is still prosperous.
The center around which they are grouped is the royal court, and above all the Emperor Alexander. Alexander, according to Tolstoy, is just a puppet. The fate of Russia is decided by numerous advisers, favorites, temporary workers, ministers, and courtiers. The ordinary nature of the emperor lies in the fact that he does not have his own opinion, under the influence of certain persons he makes different decisions. Alexander as a person is not only weak, he is hypocritical and false, he loves to pose. Tolstoy believes that luxury does not contribute to the development of the mind, and the habit of living in idleness devastates the personality. The struggle of “parties” for influence does not stop around Alexander, intrigues are constantly woven. The courtyard, headquarters, ministries are filled with a crowd of mediocre, greedy, power-hungry people. The government and generals are losing one war after another. The army, robbed by the quartermasters, starves, dies from epidemics and in senseless battles. Russia entered the War of 1812 unprepared. Throughout the war, Alexander did not commit a single reasonable act, limiting himself to stupid orders and spectacular poses.
One of the representatives of high society was Prince Vasily Kuragin, minister. His desire for enrichment knows no bounds. Sighing, he tells Scherer, “My children are the burden of my existence.” His son Ippolit holds the position of diplomat, but he speaks Russian with difficulty, he is not able to connect three words, his jokes are always stupid and meaningless. Prince Vasily catches a rich groom for his daughter Helen Kuragina. Pierre falls into his network through naivety and natural kindness. Later he will tell Helen: “Where you are, there is depravity and evil.”
Anatole Kuragin, another son of Prince Vasily, lives an idle life. Anatole is a guards officer who does not know which regiment he is in; he has made the main meaning of his life “a trip to pleasure.” His actions are guided by animal instincts. Satisfying these instincts is the main driver of his life. Wine and women, carelessness and indifference to everything except his desires become the basis of his existence. Pierre Bezukhov says about him: “Here is a true sage. Always happy and cheerful.” Experienced in love affairs, Helen Kuragina helps her brother hide his inner emptiness and worthlessness. Helen herself is depraved, stupid and deceitful. But, despite this, she enjoys enormous success in the world, the emperor notices her, there are constantly admirers in the countess’s house: the best aristocrats of Russia, poets dedicate poems to her, diplomats become sophisticated in their wit, the most prominent statesmen dedicate treatises. The brilliant position of the stupid and depraved Helen is a damning exposure of noble morals.
The image of Prince Boris Drubetskoy created by Tolstoy deserves special attention. This young man, on his way to fame and honor, is “called upon” to replace the older generation of Russia. Already from his first steps one can understand that Boris “will go far.” He gives birth, has a cold mind, is free of conscience, and is very attractive in appearance. His mother, a prude and a hypocrite, helps him take the first steps towards a brilliant career. The Drubetskys owe a lot to the Rostov family, but very quickly forget about it, because the Rostovs are ruined, not so influential, and in general, they are people of a different circle. Boris is a careerist. His moral code is not very complicated: the end justifies the means.
A profitable marriage and useful connections open the doors to the most powerful society for him. The ending of his life is clear: Boris will reach high positions and become a “worthy” successor to the older generation, the rulers of Russia. He will be a faithful support of autocratic power. Tolstoy vividly painted the image of the adventurer, nobleman Dolokhov. Duels, drinking bouts, “pranks” in the company of “golden youth,” playing with his own and other people’s lives become an end in itself for him. His courage has nothing to do with the heroism of such people as Denisov, Rostov, Timokhin, Bolkonsky. The image of Dolokhov is an example of noble adventuristic militancy.
The image of the Moscow governor Rostopchin is also very remarkable. It is revealed with all its brightness in the scenes preceding the French entry into Moscow. “Rastopchin,” writes Tolstoy, “did not have the slightest idea about the people he was supposed to rule.” The leaflets he distributed are vulgar, his orders on organizing the people's defense of Moscow are harmful. Rastopchin is cruel and proud. With one stroke of the pen, he exiles innocent people suspected of treason, executes the innocent young man Vereshchagin, handing him over to an angry crowd. Exiles and executions of innocents are needed in order to divert popular anger from the true culprits of disasters in the country. The artistic expression of Tolstoy’s view of the people as the creator of history, the belief that the people conceal within themselves an inexhaustible source of strength and talent, the recognition as legitimate of all forms of struggle that the people resort to to defend the Fatherland - all this places Tolstoy’s great epic among the best works of world literature. This is the enduring significance of the great epic.
Question: How does Nikolai Rostov save Princess Marya? In what volume, part and chapter does this take place?
Answer: Volume 3, Part 2, Chapters 13 and 14
Question: How did the officers react to the commander-in-chief’s order to remain in simple overcoats and why?
Answer: T. 1 part 2 chapters. 1. Review of the regiment. Kutuzov. Allies. The officers were given the order, but the reason was not explained, which was contrary to the regulations. Well, maybe not the regulations, but army standards of behavior.
Question: Help please!!! We need the main bad traits of Marya Bolkonskaya.
Answer: Here you need to describe some trait of Marya, and explain exactly why, in your opinion, she is bad. For example, Marya’s devotion (to fate, to a man, to moral ideals...) can be regarded both as a drawback and as the most important of a woman’s virtues. Here you will have to prove yourself as an individual.
Question: Help, does anyone remember anything about the wife of Prince Vasily Kuragin, Alina?
Answer: In the third volume - on the one hand, she condemned, but on the other hand, she was very jealous of Helen, how she could be happy, “cleverly” treated men and managed to come up with reasons for her divorce.
Question: Partisan movement of Denisov and Dolokhov. Tell me the part and chapter!!!
Answer: Volume 4, part three, right there
Question: Does Pierre love Natasha more than Andrey?
Answer: Of course - more, in the sense - longer. “He said that in all his life he had loved and loves only one woman and that this woman could never belong to him.” This is Pierre to the Frenchman Rambal, whom he saved.
Question: How old is Liza Bolkonskaya at the beginning of the first volume?
Answer: 16 years old
Question: Why can Pierre Bezukhov and Andrei Bolkonsky be called the best people? What can you say, what examples can you give?
Answer: Both are noble. Slightly different views on life. In some situations they agree, sometimes they argue and defend their ideas (which rarely happens), but this is a big plus of the friendship between Pierre and Andrei Bolkonsk. Friendship is simply not possible without this. It’s as if life itself brings them together with a tight invisible thread so that in annoying moments they feel moral support within themselves, supporting each other and loving. Pierre, without any flattery, always sincerely and politely says to his friend: “How glad I am to see you!” And it's really sincere and believable. Bolkonsky always responds in the same way: with a meek or humble smile, or with the words: “I’m glad too!” If it weren’t for Count Bezukhov, who he became after the death of his father, or Andrei Bolkonsky, in the novel, perhaps their lives would have turned out completely differently. The main thing that unites them is that they always wanted to find a sincere and decent person in the world, to whom they could pour out their whole soul and at the same time not be afraid that that person would betray or deceive you. They agreed on this. We found each other and fell in love, as brothers love each other.
Question: What three mistakes did Pierre Bezukhov make?
Answer: Perhaps these: wild life, marriage to Helen, joining the Masonic community. After these actions, being young and inexperienced, he lost most of his fortune, left as an inheritance by his father.
Question: What is the secret of Natasha Rostova’s success at the first ball?
Answer: In her innocent beauty and a bit of dancing ability.
Question: Tell me, which of the film adaptations of “War and Peace” is based exactly on the book?
Answer: In the old one (1965, directed by Bondarchuk, 4 episodes) everything is accurate, but thoughts, feelings and reasoning are revealed by 20 percent. So it’s impossible not to read.
Question: What was the relationship between the guests in A.P. Scherer’s salon?
Answer: Deliberate, devoid of any sincerity. They are not interested in communication in the full sense of the word, but in gossip and information that may be useful to them, which will help them take a higher place in society or resolve personal issues.
Question: Where is the description of Pierre’s entry into the Freemasons?
Answer: Book 1, volume 2, part 2, chapter 3.
Question: How many times was Prince Andrei Bolkonsky wounded and where?
Answer: The first time was during a counterattack near Austerlitz with a bullet or grapeshot (I don’t remember) in the head. The second - near Borodino, multiple shrapnel wounds.
Question: Please describe Dolokhov.
Answer: Thin lips, curly blond hair, blue eyes. always maintains a sober mind, even when drunk. a famous rake and reveler in St. Petersburg. was not rich, but he was respected.
Question: Where do these words come from: “all this: misfortune, and money, and Dolokhov, and anger, and honor - all nonsense, but here it is - real...”.
Answer: These are the thoughts of Nikolai Rostov when he arrived home after losing to Dolokhov at cards and heard Natasha singing...
Question: What happens to Natasha after the failed escape? Describe her feelings, tell us about her behavior after the failed escape.
Questions about the novel "War and Peace" 1.Which of the heroes of the novel "War and Peace" is the bearer of the theory of non-resistance?2.Which member of the Rostov family in the novel “War and Peace” wanted to give carts for the wounded?
3.What does the author compare the evening in Anna Pavlovna Scherer’s salon in the novel “War and Peace” to?
4.Who is part of the family of Prince Vasily Kuragin in the novel “War and Peace”?
5. Having returned home from captivity, Prince Andrei comes to the idea that “happiness is only the absence of these two evils.” Which ones exactly?
called war and peace. Tolstoy’s views on war. (3 sentences approximately)
2) the main part (the main image of the war of 1812, the thoughts of the heroes, war and nature, the participation in the war of the main characters (Rostov, Bezukhov, Bolkonsky), the role of commanders in the war, how the army behaves.
3) conclusion, conclusion.
Please help, I just read it a long time ago, but now I didn’t have time to read it. PLEASE HELP
URGENT!!!
IF ANYONE HAS FORGOT HOW SINQWAIN IS COMPOSED
1) a title in which the keyword is entered
2) 2 adjectives
3) 3 verbs
4) a phrase that carries a certain meaning
5) summary, conclusion
EXAMPLE:
SINQWAIN THROUGHOUT THE NOVEL "WAR AND PEACE"
1. epic novel
2.historical, world
3. convinces, teaches, narrates
4. learned a lot of lessons (me)
5, encyclopedia of life
Help me please! War and Peace! Answer questions about the Battle of Shengraben:1. Trace the contrast between the behavior of Dolokhov and Timokhin in battle. What is the difference? (Part 2, Ch. 20-21)
2. Tell us about the behavior of officer Zherkov in battle? (Ch. 19)
3. Tell us about the Tushin battery. What is her role in battle? (Ch. 20-21)
4. The name of Prince Andrei is also correlated with the problem of heroism. Do you remember with what thoughts he went to war? How have they changed? (Part 2, Chapter 3, 12, 20-21).
2) What is the point of comparing the interior of A.P. Scherer with a spinning workshop (chapter 2)? What words would you use to define the communication between the hostess and her guests? Is it possible to say from them: “they are all different and all the same”? Why?
3) Re-read the portrait description of Ippolit Kuragin (chapter 3). As one of the researchers noted, “his cretinism in the novel is not accidental” (A.A. Saburov “War and Peace of L. Tolstoy”). Why do you think? What is the meaning of the striking similarity between Hippolytus and Helen?
4) What stood out among the guests of the salon were Pierre and A. Bolkonsky? Can it be said that Pierre’s speech in defense of Napoleon and the French Revolution, partly supported by Bolkonsky, creates A.P. in the salon. Sherer situation of “woe from mind” (A.A. Saburov)?
5) Episode “Salon A.P. Scherer” is “linked” (using Tolstoy’s own word, denoting the internal connection of individual paintings) with a description (Chapter 6) of the entertainment of St. Petersburg’s “golden” youth. Her “joint riot” is “salon stiffness topsy-turvy.” Do you agree with this assessment?
6) Episode “Salon A.P. Scherer" is linked by contrast (a characteristic compositional device in the novel) with the episode "Name Day at the Rostovs".
7) And the episode “Salon A.P. Sherer”, and the episode “Name Day at the Rostovs” are in turn linked with chapters depicting the Bolkonsky family nest.
8) Can you name the purposes of different visitors coming to the salon?
9) But at the same time, a foreign element is detected in the cabin. Someone clearly doesn’t want to be a faceless “spindle”? Who is this?
10) What do we learn about Pierre Bezukhov and Andrei Bolkonsky, barely crossing the threshold of the salon of Her Majesty's maid of honor A.P. Scherer?
11) Do they belong in a high society living room, judging only by the portraits and demeanor of the characters?
12) Compare the portrait of Pierre and Prince Vasily and their manner of behavior.
13) Name the details that reveal the spiritual closeness of Pierre Bezukhov and Andrei Bolkonsky.