"I don't know anyone who would write about the war better than Tolstoy."

Ernest Hemingway

Many writers use real historical events for their stories. One of the most frequently described events is war - civil, domestic, world. The Patriotic War of 1812 deserves special attention: the Battle of Borodino, the burning of Moscow, the expulsion of the French emperor Napoleon. In Russian literature, a detailed depiction of war is presented in the novel "War and Peace" by L.N. Tolstoy. The writer describes specific military battles, allows the reader to see real historical figures, gives his own assessment of the events that took place.

Causes of war in the novel "War and Peace"

Leo Tolstoy in the epilogue tells us about "this man", "without convictions, without habits, without legends, without a name, not even a Frenchman ..." who is Napoleon Bonaparte, who wanted to conquer the whole world. The main enemy on his way was Russia - huge, strong. By various deceptions, fierce battles, seizure of territories, Napoleon moved slowly from his goal. Neither the Peace of Tilsit, nor Russia's allies, nor Kutuzov could stop it. Although Tolstoy says that "the more we try to reasonably explain these phenomena in nature, the more unreasonable and incomprehensible they become for us," nevertheless, in the novel War and Peace, the cause of the war is Napoleon. Standing in power of France, having subjugated a part of Europe, he lacked a great Russia. But Napoleon was wrong, he did not calculate his strength and lost this war.

War in the novel "War and Peace"

Tolstoy himself presents this concept as follows: "Millions of people have committed such an endless number of atrocities against each other ... which for centuries will not be collected by the chronicle of all the world's courts and at which, during this period of time, the people who committed them did not look at them as crimes." ... Through the description of war in the novel War and Peace, Tolstoy makes it clear to us that he himself hates war for its cruelty, murder, betrayal, and meaninglessness. He puts judgments about the war in the mouths of his heroes. So Andrei Bolkonsky says to Bezukhov: "War is not a courtesy, but the most disgusting thing in life, and one must understand this and not play war." We see that there is no pleasure, pleasure, satisfaction of one's desires from bloody actions against another people. In the novel it is definitely clear that the war in the depiction of Tolstoy is "an event that is contrary to human reason and all human nature."

Main battle of the war of 1812

Even in volumes I and II of the novel, Tolstoy talks about the military campaigns of 1805-1807. The Schoengraben and Austerlitz battles pass through the prism of writer's thoughts and conclusions. But in the war of 1812, the writer puts the Battle of Borodino at the forefront. Although he immediately asks himself and his readers the question: “Why was the Battle of Borodino given?

It didn't make the slightest sense either for the French or for the Russians. " But it was the Borodino battle that became the starting point before the victory of the Russian army. Leo Tolstoy gives a detailed idea of \u200b\u200bthe course of the war in "War and Peace". He describes every action of the Russian army, the physical and mental state of the soldiers. According to the writer's own assessment, neither Napoleon, nor Kutuzov, and even more so Alexander I did not anticipate such an outcome of this war. For everyone, the Battle of Borodino was unplanned and unforeseen. What is the concept of the war of 1812, the heroes of the novel do not understand, just as Tolstoy does not understand, just as the reader does not understand.

Heroes of the novel "War and Peace"

Tolstoy gives the reader the opportunity to look at his characters from the outside, to see them in action under certain circumstances. Shows us Napoleon before going to Moscow, who was aware of all the detrimental situation of the army, but went forward to his goal. He comments on his ideas, thoughts, actions.

We can observe Kutuzov, the main executor of the people's will, who preferred "patience and time" to the offensive.

Before us is Bolkonsky, reborn, morally raised and loving his people. Pierre Bezukhov in a new understanding of all the "causes of human misfortune", who arrived in Moscow to kill Napoleon.

Militia men "with crosses on their hats and in white shirts, who are with loud talk and laughter, lively and sweaty", ready to die for their homeland at any moment.

Before us is the Emperor Alexander I, who finally gave the "reins of war management" into the hands of the "all-knowing" Kutuzov, but still does not fully understand the true position of Russia in this war.

Natasha Rostova, who abandoned all family property and gave carts to wounded soldiers so that they could leave the destroyed city. She takes care of the wounded Bolkonsky, giving him all her time and affection.

Petya Rostov, who died so absurdly without real participation in the war, without a heroic deed, without a battle, who secretly from everyone "signed up for the hussars." And many more heroes that we meet in several episodes, but are worthy of respect and recognition in true patriotism.

Reasons for the victory in the war of 1812

In the novel, Leo Tolstoy expresses his thoughts about the reasons for Russia's victory in the Patriotic War: “No one will argue that the cause of the death of Napoleon's French troops was, on the one hand, their entry at a later time without preparation for a winter campaign deep into Russia, and from on the other hand, the character that the war took from the burning of Russian cities and the incitement of hatred towards the enemy in the Russian people. " For the Russian people, victory in the Patriotic War was a victory for the Russian spirit, Russian strength, Russian faith in any circumstances. The consequences of the war of 1812 for the French side, namely for Napoleon, were difficult. It was the collapse of his empire, the collapse of his hopes, the collapse of his greatness. Napoleon not only did not take over the whole world, he could not stay in Moscow, but fled ahead of his army, retreating in disgrace and failure of the entire military campaign.

My essay on the theme "The depiction of war in the novel" War and Peace "very briefly talks about the war in the novel of Tolstoy. Only after carefully reading the entire novel can you appreciate all the skills of the writer and discover interesting pages of the military history of Russia.

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Pictures of war in the novel "War and Peace". Schoengraben and Austerlitz battles. Ermilova Irina, Tomilin Ivan 1

Hypothesis Showing such historical events as the Shengraben and Austerlitz battles, L.N. Tolstoy reveals the “dialectic of the soul” of his hero (Prince Andrei) and claims that there is something much more significant and eternal in life than the war and the glory of Napoleon. This "something" is the natural life of nature and man, natural truth and humanity. ("Dialectics of the Soul" is a literary depiction of the character's inner life in its dynamics, development; moreover, this development itself is caused by internal contradictions in the character and inner world of the hero.) 2

Main theses 1. Heroism and cowardice, simplicity and vanity are contradictory intertwined in the thoughts and actions of the participants in the battles. 2. According to Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy, "war is the fun of idle and frivolous people," and the novel "War and Peace" itself is an anti-war work, which once again emphasizes the senselessness of the cruelty of war, bringing death and human suffering. 3. Dreams of "Toulon" were finally dispelled by Bolkonsky on Austerlitz. The sky of Austerlitz becomes for Prince Andrey a symbol of a new, high understanding of life. This symbol runs through his entire life. 3

On the causes of the war of 1805. There is a war in Austria. General Mack and his army are defeated at Ulm. The Austrian army surrendered. The threat of defeat hung over the Russian army. Russia was an ally of Austria, and, true to its ally duty, also declared war on France. Then Kutuzov decided to send Bagration with four thousand soldiers through the rugged Bohemian mountains to meet the French. This was the first war, unnecessary and incomprehensible to the Russian people, which was fought on the foreign side. Therefore, in this war, almost everyone is far from patriotism: the officers think about awards and glory, and the soldiers dream of an early return home. Also, one of the reasons for Russia's participation in the war of 1805 is the desire to punish Napoleon. Napoleon's desire for world domination led to the Russian-Austro-French war of 1805 between a coalition of European powers and France. four

The depiction of war in the novel. The contradictoriness, unnaturalness of war is revealed by comparing the clear, harmonious life of nature and the madness of people killing a friend. Example: “The slanting rays of the bright sun ... threw ... in the clear morning air, penetrating light with a golden and pink hue and dark long shadows. The distant forests, ending the panorama, as if carved out of some kind of precious yellow-green stone, were seen by their curved line of peaks on the horizon ... golden fields and copses glittered closer. " (vol. III, part II, ch. XXX) This description is contrasted with a cruel, deeply tragic picture of the war: “the officer gasped and, curled up, sat down on the ground like a bird shot on the fly”; the killed senior colonel was lying on the rampart, as if examining something below; the red-faced soldier, who had recently had a cheerful conversation with Pierre, was still twitching on the ground; the lying wounded horse screeched shrilly and lingeringly. (vol. III, part II, ch. XXXI) Let us consider in more detail the pictures of the war on the example of the Shengraben and Austerlitz battles. five

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Battle of Shengraben One of the key moments of the war of 1805, described by L. N. Tolstoy in his novel War and Peace, was the Battle of Shengraben. A war launched with aggressive aims is hateful and disgusting to Tolstoy. A just war can only be caused by absolute necessity. To save his army from defeat, Kutuzov sent a small vanguard of General Bagration to detain the French. The thin, hungry soldiers, exhausted by the long night march through the mountains, had to stop the army of the enemy, eight times the strongest. This would give our main forces time to take a more advantageous position. Bypassing the troops before the battle, Prince Andrey, who had arrived at Bagration's disposal, remarked with bewilderment that the closer to the enemy, the more organized and fun the type of troops became. The soldiers went about their everyday affairs so calmly, as if all this did not take place in front of the enemy and not before the battle, where half of them would be killed. 7

Battle of Schengraben But then the French opened fire, the battle began, and everything did not happen at all as it seemed to Prince Andrew, as taught and said in theory. The soldiers are knocked together, but nevertheless fight off attack after attack. The French are coming closer and closer, another attack is being prepared. And at this decisive moment Bagration personally leads the soldiers into battle and restrains the enemy. Observing the actions of Bagration during the battle, Bolkonsky noticed that the general gave almost no orders, but pretended that everything was happening “in accordance with his intentions”. Thanks to Bagration's endurance, his presence gave extremely much to both the commanders and the soldiers: under him they became calmer and more cheerful, flaunting their courage. 8

The battle of Shengraben And here is the complex and multi-colored pictures of the Battle of Shengraben: “Infantry regiments, taken by surprise in the forest, ran out of the forest, and the companies, mixing with other companies, left in disorderly crowds” “but at this moment the French, advancing on ours, suddenly, without for obvious reasons, they ran back ... and Russian arrows appeared in the forest. It was Timokhin's company ... The fleeing returned, the battalions gathered, and the French ... were driven back "(vol. I, part II, chapter XX). Elsewhere, four unprotected cannons under the command of Staff-Captain Tushin fired “audaciously”. Here a significant number of soldiers were killed, an officer was killed, two cannons were smashed, a horse with a broken leg fought, and the gunners, forgetting all fear, beat the French and set fire to the occupied or the village. 9

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Battle of Shengraben But now the battle is over. After the battle “an invisible, gloomy river seemed to flow in the darkness ... In the general roar because of all other sounds, the moans and voices of the wounded were heard clearest of all ... Their moans seemed to fill all this darkness that surrounded the troops. Their groans and the darkness of this night were one and the same. " (vol. I, part II, ch. XXI). The chiefs of the units with their adjutants and staff officers gathered at Bagration to analyze the details of the battle. All ascribe to themselves unprecedented feats, emphasize their role in the battle, while the most cowardly are boasted more than others. eleven

Heroes of the Shengraben battle In this battle, as always, Dolokhov, demoted to soldiers, is bold and fearless. Here is how L. N. Tolstoy describes his hero: "Dolokhov was a man of average height, curly and with light, blue eyes. He was twenty-five years old. He did not wear a mustache, like all infantry officers, and his mouth, the most striking feature his face was all visible. The lines of this mouth were remarkably thinly curved. In the middle, the upper lip energetically descended on the strong lower lip in a sharp wedge, and in the corners something like two smiles was constantly formed, one on each side; and all together, and especially in combination with a firm, arrogant, intelligent look, it made the impression that it was impossible not to notice this face "(vol. I, part I, ch. VI). Dolokhov killed one Frenchman, took prisoner the surrendered officer. But after that he goes to the regimental commander and reports on his "trophies": "Please remember, your excellency!" Then he untied the handkerchief, tugged at it and showed caked blood: “Wound with a bayonet, I stayed at the front. Remember, your excellency. »Everywhere, always he remembers, first of all, about himself; whatever he does, he does for himself. 12

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Heroes of the Battle of Shengraben Along with Dolokhov, we meet Zherkov. We are not surprised by his behavior. When, in the midst of the battle, Bagration sent him with an important order to the general of the left flank, he did not go forward, where the shooting was heard, but began to look for the general away from the battle. Because of an unspoken order, the French cut off the Russian hussars, many were killed and wounded. There are many such officers. They are not cowardly, but they do not know how to forget themselves, their careers and personal interests for the sake of a common cause. However, the Russian army consisted not only of such officers. We meet truly true heroes: Timokhin and Tushin. 14

Heroes of the Battle of Shengraben Tushin The portrait of Tushin is not at all heroic: “A small, dirty, thin artillery officer without boots, in only stockings”, for which, in fact, he receives a scolding from the staff officer. Tolstoy shows us Tushin through the eyes of Prince Andrei, who “once again looked at the artilleryman's figure. There was something special about her, not at all military, somewhat comic, but extremely attractive. " The second time on the pages of the novel, the captain appears during the Battle of Shengraben, in an episode called by literary critics “the forgotten battery”. At the beginning of the Shengraben battle, Prince Andrey again sees the captain: "Little Tushin, with a pipe eaten on one side." His kind and intelligent face is somewhat pale. And then Tolstoy himself, without the help of his heroes, frankly admires this amazing figure, which is surrounded from all sides, the author emphasizes, by huge broad-shouldered heroes. Bagration himself, bypassing the positions, is nearby. However, Tushin, not noticing the general, runs out ahead of the battery, under the very fire, and, "looking out from under the little handle", commands: "Add two more lines, it will just be." 15

Heroes of the Battle of Shengraben Tushin shy before everyone: before his superiors, before senior officers. His habits and behavior remind us of zemstvo doctors or village priests. There is so much Chekhov's, kind and sad, and so little loud and heroic in it. However, the tactical decisions made by Tushin at a military council with Feldwebel Zakharchenko, "for whom he had great respect," deserve a decisive "good!" Prince Bagration. It is difficult to imagine a reward higher than this. And now the French think that here, in the center, the main forces of the allied army are concentrated. Even in a nightmare, they could not have dreamed that four cannons without cover and a little captain with a tube-nose-warmer would burn Schöngraben. “The little man, with weak, awkward movements, constantly demanded another pipe from the orderly. ... ... ran ahead and looked at the French from under a small handle. - Crash, guys! - he said, and he himself picked up the guns by the wheels and unscrewed the screws ”. 16

Heroes of the Battle of Shengraben Tolstoy describes the true, folk, heroic, heroic reality. It is from here that this epic gesture and a cheerful, carnival attitude towards enemies and death. Tolstoy enjoys drawing a special world of mythical representations that have become established in Tushin's mind. The hostile cannons are not cannons, but pipes smoked by a huge invisible smoker: “Look, I puffed again. ... ... now wait for the ball ”. Apparently, Tushin himself seems to be just as huge and strong, throwing cast-iron balls over the horizon. Only Prince Andrew is able to understand and see the heroic and powerful that is in the captain. Standing up for him, Bolkonsky at the military council convinces Prince Bagration that the success of the day “we owe most of all to the action of this battery and the heroic staunchness of Captain Tushin”, which deserves the embarrassed gratitude of the captain himself: “Thank you, you helped me out, my dear. 17

Heroes of the Battle of Shengraben In the epilogue of the novel, Tolstoy said: "The life of nations does not fit into the life of several people." It is quite possible that such a remark is true in relation to historical and state characters. But the touching and sincere little captain Tushin is wider, larger and taller than his portrait. In it, in a special way, folklore motives and reality, epic, song depth and soulful simplicity of wisdom came together. Undoubtedly, this is one of the most striking characters in the book. eighteen

Heroes of the Shengraben battle. Timokhin The second true hero of the Shengraben battle. He appears at the very moment when the soldiers succumbed to panic and fled. Everything seemed lost. But at that moment the French, advancing on ours, suddenly ran back ... and Russian arrows appeared in the forest. It was Timokhin's company. And only thanks to Timokhin did the Russians have the opportunity to return and gather battalions. Courage is varied. There are many people who are unrestrainedly brave in battle, but lost in everyday life. In the images of Tushin and Timokhin, L. N. Tolstoy teaches the reader to see truly brave people, their discreet heroism, their enormous will, which helps to overcome fear and win battles. Tolstoy emphasizes that the actions of Tushin and Timokhin are real heroism, and Dolokhov's deed is false. 20

Austerlitz battle. (vol. I, part III, ch. XIX) The episode of the Battle of Austerlitz is one of the central ones in the novel "War and Peace". A huge semantic load falls on him. Traditionally, the author gives a short introduction to the upcoming battle. He describes the mood of Prince Andrew on the night before the supposed decisive battle of his life. Tolstoy gives an emotional inner monologue of the hero (this is a special technique, which will be discussed later). Prince Andrew imagines one central point of the battle. He sees the confusion of all military commanders. Here he saw his Toulon, which for so long pursued him in his cherished dreams. 22

Battle of Austerlitz. (vol. I, part III, ch. XIX) Toulon is the first victory of Napoleon, the beginning of his career. And Prince Andrew dreams of his Toulon. So he single-handedly saves the army, takes the entire disposition into his own hands and wins the battle. It seems to him that ambitious dreams are about to come true: “I want fame, I want to be known to people, I want to be loved by them, it's not my fault that I want this, that I live for this alone. I will never tell anyone this, but my God! What can I do if I love nothing but glory, human love. " Prince Andrew knows that Napoleon will directly participate in the battle. He dreams of meeting him in person. In the meantime, the hero wants an ostentatious epic feat. But life will put everything in its place. Prince Andrew is aware of much more than he knew, expecting fame. 23

Austerlitz battle. (vol. I, part III, ch. XIX) The battle itself is presented entirely from the position of Prince Andrew. The hero is at the headquarters of Kutuzov. According to the forecasts of all commanders, the battle should be won. That is why Prince Andrew is so busy with disposition. He closely observes the course of the battle, notices the servility of the staff officers. All groups under the commander-in-chief wanted only one thing - ranks and money. The common people did not understand the significance of the military events. Therefore, the troops so easily turned into panic, because they defended other people's interests. Many complained about the dominance of the German military in the allied army. Prince Andrew is enraged by the mass flight of soldiers. For him, this means shameful cowardice. In this case, the hero is struck by the actions of the headquarters. Bagration is not busy organizing a huge army, but maintaining its fighting spirit. Kutuzov perfectly understands that it is physically impossible to lead such a mass of people standing on the edge of life and death. He monitors the development of the mood of the troops. But Kutuzov is also at a loss. The sovereign, whom Nikolai Rostov admired so much, himself turns to flight. 24

Austerlitz battle. (vol. I, part III, ch. XIX) The war turned out to be unlike the magnificent parades. The flight of the Absheronites, which Prince Andrey saw, served as a signal of fate for him: “Here it is, the decisive moment has come! It came to me, "thought Prince Andrey and hitting the horse, turned to Kutuzov." Nature is shrouded in fog, like that night when Prince Andrew so passionately wanted fame. For a moment, it seemed to Kutuzov's entourage that the field marshal was wounded. To all the persuasions, Kutuzov replies that the wounds are not on his uniform, but in his heart. The staff officers miraculously managed to get out of the general disorderly mass. Prince Andrew is embraced by the desire to change the situation: “- Guys, go ahead! He shouted in a childishly shrill voice. At these moments, Prince Andrey did not notice the shells and bullets flying directly at him. He ran shouting "Hurray!" and never for a moment doubted that the whole regiment would run after him. And so it happened. Panicking a moment ago, the soldiers rushed into battle again. Prince Andrew led them with a banner in his hands. This moment was truly heroic in the life of Bolkonsky. 25

Austerlitz battle. (vol. I, part III, ch. XIX) Here Tolstoy accurately conveys the psychological state of a person in the face of mortal danger. Prince Andrey quite by accident sees ordinary scenes - a fight between a red-bearded officer and a French soldier over a bath-bed. These ordinary scenes help us to look into the depths of human consciousness. Immediately after the episode of the fight, Prince Andrey feels that he is badly wounded, but he does not realize this right away. Here the author also acts as a subtle connoisseur of the human soul. Prince Andrew's legs began to give way. As he fell, he still saw a fight over the bannik. Suddenly before him there was a high, piercing - blue sky, over which the clouds were quietly "crawling". This sight fascinated the hero. The clear, calm sky was completely unlike earthly battles, flight, vanity. 27

Austerlitz battle. (Vol. I, Part III, Ch. XIX) The tone of the story changes when describing the sky. The very structure of the sentences conveys the unhurried movement of the clouds: “How quietly, calmly and solemnly, not at all the way I ran,” thought Prince Andrey, “not the way we ran, shouted and fought. How could I not have seen this high sky before ”. This is the moment of truth for the hero. In one second, he realized the insignificance of fleeting earthly glory. It is incomparable with the vastness and grandeur of the sky, the whole world. From this moment, Prince Andrew looks at all events with different eyes. He no longer cared about the outcome of the battle. It is the sky of Austerlitz that will open a new life for the hero, become his symbol, the embodiment of a cold ideal. Prince Andrew could not see the flight of Alexander I. Nikolai Rostov, who dreamed of giving his life for the tsar, sees his true face. The emperor's horse is not even able to jump over the moat. Alexander leaves his army to the mercy of fate. Nikolai's idol was debunked. A similar situation will be repeated for Prince Andrew. On the night before the battle, he dreamed of accomplishing a feat, leading an army, meeting Napoleon. All his wishes came true. The hero did the impossible, in front of everyone he showed heroic behavior. Prince Andrew even met with his idol Napoleon. 28

Battle of Austerlitz. (vol. I, part III, ch. XIX) The French emperor used to drive through the battlefield, looking at the wounded. People seemed to him to be mere puppets. Napoleon liked to be aware of his own greatness, to see the complete victory of his irrepressible pride. And this time he could not help but stop near the lying prince Andrey. Napoleon considered him dead. At the same time, the emperor said slowly: "Here is a glorious death." Prince Andrew immediately realized that this was said about him. But the words of the idol resembled "buzzing of a fly", the hero immediately forgot them. Now Napoleon seemed to Prince Andrew an insignificant, small man. Thus, the hero of Tolstoy realized the futility of his plans. They were aimed at the mundane, vain, passing. And a person must remember that there are eternal values \u200b\u200bin this world. I think that the sky to some extent embodies wise values. Prince Andrew understood: life for the sake of glory will not make him happy if there is no striving in his soul for something eternal, high. 29

Battle of Austerlitz. (vol. I, part III, ch. XIX) In this episode, Prince Andrew performs a feat, but this is not important. The most important thing is that the hero has realized the meaning, the meaning of his feat. The huge world turned out to be immeasurably wider than Bolkonsky's ambitious aspirations. This is where the discovery, the epiphany of the hero was reflected. Prince Andrew is contrasted in this episode with Berg, cowardly fleeing from the battlefield, with Napoleon, happy because of the misfortunes of others. E Episode of the Battle of Austerlitz is the plot-compositional unit of the first volume of the novel. This battle changes the lives of all its participants, especially the life of Prince Andrew. Ahead of him is a real feat - participation in the Battle of Borodino not for the sake of glory, but for the sake of the Motherland and life. Speaking about the war and, in particular, about battles, one cannot but reveal the images of Napoleon, Kutuzov and Alexander I. 30

Napoleon Bonaparte The image of Napoleon in War and Peace is one of Leo Tolstoy's brilliant artistic discoveries. In the novel, the French emperor acts at a time when he turned from a bourgeois revolutionary into a despot and conqueror. Tolstoy's diary entries during the period of work on War and Peace show that he followed a conscious intention - to rip off Napoleon's aura of false greatness. The idol of Napoleon is fame, greatness, that is, the opinion of other people about him. It is natural that he seeks to make a certain impression on people with words and appearance. Hence his passion for posture and phrase. They are not so much the personality traits of Napoleon as the obligatory attributes of his position as a “great” man. Acting, he renounces real, genuine life, "with its essential interests, health, illness, work, rest ... with the interests of thought, science, poetry, music, love, friendship, hatred, passions." The role that Napoleon performs in the world does not require higher qualities; on the contrary, it is possible only for the one who renounces the human in himself. “Not only genius and any special qualities do not need a good commander, but on the contrary, he needs the absence of the highest and best human qualities - love, poetry, tenderness, philosophical, inquiring doubt. For Tolstoy, Napoleon is not a great person, but an inferior, flawed person. 32

Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon is the "executioner of peoples". According to Tolstoy, evil is brought to people by an unhappy person who does not know the joys of true life. The writer wants to inspire his readers with the idea that only a person who has lost the true idea of \u200b\u200bhimself and the world can justify all the cruelties and crimes of war. This was Napoleon. When he examines the battlefield of Borodino, a battlefield strewn with corpses, here for the first time, as Tolstoy writes, “for a short moment, personal human feeling prevailed over the artificial ghost of life that he had served for so long. He endured the suffering and death that he saw on the battlefield. The heaviness of the head and chest reminded him of the possibility of suffering and death for him. " But this feeling, writes Tolstoy, was brief, instantaneous. Napoleon has to hide the absence of a living human feeling, to imitate it. Having received a portrait of his son, a little boy, as a gift from his wife, “he approached the portrait and pretended to be pensive tenderness. He felt that what he would say and do now is history. And it seemed to him that the best that he can do now is that he, with his greatness ... that he showed, in contrast to this greatness, the simplest fatherly tenderness. " 33

Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon is able to understand the experiences of other people (and for Tolstoy it is like not feeling like a person). This makes Napoleon ready "... to play that cruel, sad and difficult, inhuman role that was intended for him." And yet, according to Tolstoy, man and society are alive precisely by "personal human feeling." 34

Alexander I The real image of Alexander I is especially vividly shown in the scene of his arrival in the army after the defeat of the invaders. The tsar holds Kutuzov in his arms, accompanying them with an angry hiss: "The old comedian." Tolstoy believes that the top of the nation is dead and now lives an "artificial life." All those close to the king are no different from himself. The country is run by a bunch of foreigners who have nothing to do with Russia. Ministers, generals, diplomats, staff officers and other close associates of the emperor are busy with their own enrichment and careers. Here the same lie, the same intrigue and opportunism, reigns everywhere. It was the Patriotic War of 1812 that showed the real essence of the representatives of the authorities. Their false patriotism is covered by loud words about their homeland and people. But their mediocrity and inability to govern the country are well portrayed in the novel. All strata of the Moscow noble society are represented in War and Peace. Tolstoy, characterizing the noble society, seeks to show not individual representatives, but entire families. After all, it is in the family that the foundations of decency and morality, as well as spiritual emptiness and idleness, are laid. One of these families is the Kuragin family. 35

Alexander I The theme of patriotism occupies more and more space in the novel and evokes an increasingly complex feeling in Tolstoy. So, when reading the manifesto-appeal of the tsar to the Muscovites, the Rostovs, the count, listening to the manifesto, shed tears and said: "Just tell the emperor, we will sacrifice everything and will not regret anything." Natasha, responding to her father's patriotic statement, says: "What a charm, this dad!" ... The appearance of Alexander I in Tolstoy's depiction is unattractive. The traits of duplicity and hypocrisy that were inherent in the "high society" are also manifested in the character of the tsar. They are especially vividly seen in the scene of the arrival of the sovereign in the army after the victory over the enemy. SP Bychkov wrote: “No, Alexander I was not the savior of the fatherland,” as the state patriots tried to portray, and it was not among the tsar's close associates that one had to look for the true organizers of the struggle against the enemy. On the contrary, at the court, in the tsar's inner circle, there was a group of outspoken defeatists, headed by the Grand Duke and Chancellor Rumyantsev, who feared Napoleon and stood for the conclusion of peace with him. 36

Kutuzov In War and Peace, Kutuzov is shown to us not at headquarters, not at court, but in the harsh conditions of war. He inspects the regiment, speaks affectionately with officers and soldiers. He recognizes among them participants in previous campaigns, such as the simple, modest Timokhin, always ready and capable of disinterested heroism, often invisible to a less thoughtful commander. The soldiers noticed the attentiveness of the commander-in-chief (vol. I, part II, ch. II): “- How, they said, Kutuzov is crooked, about one eye? - And then no! Quite a curve. - Not… brother, eyes are bigger than you. Boots and screw-ups - I looked around ... - How he, my brother, will look at my feet ... well! I think ... ”The French defeated General Mack, captured the Taborsky bridge in Vienna without firing a shot and moved across the Russian army. The situation of the Russians was so difficult that it seemed, apart from surrender, there was no other way out. But resolute, bold to the point of insolence, Kutuzov found this way out. He had three possible decisions: either to remain in place with his forty thousandth army and be surrounded by the fifty-thousandth army of Napoleon, or to enter the unexplored regions of the Bohemian mountains, or retreat to Olmutz to join the troops coming from Russia, at the risk of being warned by the French, and take the battle on a campaign with three times the strongest enemy, which surrounded him on both sides. 38

Kutuzov As an ancient epic hero, "Kutuzov chose the last exit", the most dangerous, but the most expedient. A skilled strategist, he uses all means in order to save his army: he sends a detachment of four thousand, led by the brave Bagration, entangles the French in the nets of their own military cunning, accepting Murat's proposal for an armistice, energetically advancing his army to join forces from Russia and without prejudice to the honor of the Russian army comes out of a desperate situation. The same determination, firmness, combined with great martial art and the ability of wise providence, which is the result of the ability to group events and draw conclusions from them, characterizes Kutuzov during the battle at Austerlitz. Considering all the circumstances, Kutuzov categorically declared to the emperor that battles should not be fought, but they did not obey him. When the Austrian general Weyrother read out his far-fetched, confused disposition, the old general was frankly asleep, because he knew that he could neither interfere nor change anything. Morning came, and the Russian commander-in-chief was by no means a mere contemplator: in fulfilling his duty, he gave expedient and clear orders. 39

Kutuzov When Alexander I drove up, Kutuzov, giving the command "to attention" and saluting, "assumed the appearance of a subordinate, non-judgmental person", in which position he was really placed. The emperor, apparently, understood the hidden mockery, and this "affectation of piety" struck him unpleasantly. Kutuzov expressed his attitude to the imperial will with boldness incomprehensible to the courtiers. Alexander I, having driven up to the troops with the Austrian emperor, asked Kutuzov why he didn’t start the battle: “I’m waiting, your Majesty,” Kutuzov repeated (Prince Andrey noticed that Kutuzov's upper lip trembled unnaturally while he was saying this "I'm waiting"). "Not all of the columns have assembled yet, Your Majesty." The Emperor apparently did not like this answer. - After all, we are not on Tsaritsyn Luga, Mikhail Larionovich, where the parade does not begin until all the regiments arrive, - said the emperor ... - That's why I don't start, sir, - Kutuzov said in a sonorous voice, as if warning the possibility not to be heard, and in his face quivered once more. “That’s why I’m not starting, sir, because we’re not at the parade and not at Tsaritsyn’s Meadow,” he said clearly and distinctly. 40

Kutuzov In the suite of the sovereign, a murmur and reproach were expressed on all faces, who instantly exchanged glances with each other. (vol. I, part III, ch. XV) In this battle, the Russian and Austrian troops were defeated. Kutuzov, who so boldly objected to the plan approved by both emperors, was right, but this consciousness did not soften the grief of the Russian military leader. He was slightly injured, but when asked: “Are you injured? "- answered:" The wound is not here, but where! " (vol. I, part III, ch. XVI) - and pointed to the fleeing soldiers. Whoever was to blame for this defeat of the Russian army, for Kutuzov it was a severe mental wound. 41

Comparative analysis of battles. Battle of Shengraben The decisive battle in the 1805-1807 campaign. Schöngraben is the fate of the Russian army, which means a test of the moral strength of Russian soldiers. The path of Bagration with an army of four thousand through the Bohemian mountains was intended to delay Napoleon's army and give the Russian army the opportunity to gather forces, i.e., in fact, to preserve the army. Battle of Austerlitz The purpose of the battle is noble and understandable to the soldiers. The purpose of the battle is not understood by the soldiers. Heroism, exploits of Confusion among the soldiers; senseless feat of Prince Andrew. Victory The defeat of Austerlitz is a "battle of the three emperors". Its purpose is to consolidate the achieved success. But in fact, the Battle of Austerlitz became a page of "shame and disappointment for the whole of Russia and individual people and the triumph of Napoleon the victor" 42

The result of the table: heroism and cowardice, simplicity and vanity were contradictory intertwined in the thoughts and actions of the participants in the battles. 43

The senseless and merciless nature of the war In the novel War and Peace, Tolstoy, on the one hand, shows the senselessness of war, shows how much grief and misfortune war brings to people, destroys the lives of thousands of people, on the other hand, shows the high patriotic spirit of the Russian people who participated in liberation war against the French invaders, and won. According to Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy, "war is the fun of idle and frivolous people," and the novel "War and Peace" itself is an anti-war work, which once again emphasizes the senselessness of the cruelty of war, bringing death and human suffering. 44

The senseless and merciless nature of the war When describing the battles, Tolstoy speaks of the senselessness and mercilessness of war. For example, the novel gives the following picture of the Battle of Austerlitz: “On this narrow dam now between the wagons and cannons, under the horses and between the wheels, people disfigured by the fear of death crowded, crushing a friend, dying, walking over the dying and killing a friend in order only to pass a few steps, to be just the same to be killed. " Tolstoy also shows another scene of the Battle of Austerlitz - a red-haired artilleryman and a French soldier are fighting for a bannik. " - What are they doing? - thought Prince Andrew, looking at them. " This scene symbolizes the meaninglessness of the war. Thus, Tolstoy, showing the horror and senselessness of war, says that war and murder are a state unnatural to humanity. 45

The change in the life philosophy of Prince Andrei Andrei Bolkonsky is the most educated man of his time, free from religious and, to some extent, from noble prejudices. But what is especially unusual in the living conditions of the nobility of that time is his love for work, the desire for useful activity. Naturally, Bolkonsky cannot be satisfied with that brilliant and outwardly varied, but idle and empty life with which people of his class are quite satisfied. Bolkonsky explains his decision to take part in the war with Napoleon to Pierre: "I am going because this life that I lead here, this life is not for me!" And then he bitterly says that here "everything is closed for him, except for the drawing room," where he stands "on the same board with the court lackey and the idiot." This is how Bolkonsky views the secular society around him. "Living rooms, gossip, balls, vanity, insignificance - this is a vicious circle from which I cannot get out." (vol. I, part I, ch. VIII) 46

Changes in the life philosophy of Prince Andrei But Prince Andrei is not only an intelligent and educated person who is burdened by the society of the Kuragin, Sherer and the like; it is also a strong-willed person who breaks the "vicious circle" with a firm hand. (contrast to Pierre). He takes his wife to his father in the village, and he himself goes to the army. Andrey is attracted by military glory, the dream of "Toulon" and its hero at the moment is the famous commander Napoleon. Plunging into the ebullient activities of the commander-in-chief's headquarters, becoming a participant in this activity, Bolkonsky completely changes: “In the expression of his face, in his movements, in his gait, there was almost no sign of the old pretense, fatigue, and laziness; he had the appearance of a person who does not have time to think about the impression he makes on others, and is busy with something pleasant and interesting. " (vol. I, part I, ch. III) Here at once his outlook as a statesman was revealed. "Prince Andrew was one of those rare officers in the headquarters who considered his main interest in the general course of military affairs." Some loved him, others did not love him, but everyone recognized him as an extraordinary person. 47

Changes in the life philosophy of Prince Andrei Due to the mediocrity of the allied Austrian command, the Russian army found itself in a difficult situation, and Bolkonsky immediately “dawned on him that it was he who was destined to lead the Russian army out of this situation ... the council will give an opinion that will save the army, and how he alone will be entrusted with the execution of the plan. " When Kutuzov sent Bagration at the head of the four thousandth detachment to detain the French, Bolkonsky, realizing the danger of the situation, asks to send him to this detachment. Bagration's detachment did indeed accomplish the feat, but Prince Andrey was convinced that true heroism is outwardly simple and everyday, often completely invisible and not appreciated by others. He felt "sad and hard." "It was all so strange, so unlike what he had hoped for." But, circling the camp before the Battle of Austerlitz, Bolkonsky is again all in the grip of dreams of heroism, of glory: "... I want one thing, I live for this alone ... what should I do if I love nothing but glory, human love" ... (Vol. I, Part III, Ch. XII) 48

Changing the life philosophy of Prince Andrei Depicting the characters of the goodies in development, in movement, the writer reflects the “dialectic of the soul” in the description of their appearance. Deep bitterness and irritation sounded in Andrey's words when he spoke about the Russian army and the peasants. But Andrei Bolkonsky is a living, strong person, and a temporary decline in his strength is replaced by a revival of faith in life, in his own strength, a desire for broad activity. Even now he did not understand how he could ever doubt the need to take an active part in life. But soon Andrei came to the conclusion that his work in the conditions of the existing regime was futile. Therefore, soon Prince Andrew again asked to join the army and began to command the regiment. Now he was no longer attracted by personal fame. The path of Andrei Bolkonsky is the path to the people, the path to selfless service to the motherland. Bolkonsky belonged to that advanced part of the nobility, from which the Decembrists emerged. The image of Prince Andrei is revealed through the portrait characterization, behavior and statements of himself and other characters, the author, as well as through a direct description of his inner world and speech characteristics. Very often the author uses the technique of internal monologue. fifty

Changes in the life philosophy of Prince Andrei Outcome: Dreams of "Toulon" were finally dispelled by Bolkonsky on Austerlitz. The sky of Austerlitz becomes for Prince Andrey a symbol of a new, high understanding of life. This symbol runs through his entire life. 51

Conclusion So, we come to the conclusion that in war the activity of the masses of people, bound by the unity of feelings and aspirations, determines the course of events. This path from the particular to the general in Tolstoy's reasoning is the best example of the writer's close attention to a person. Lack of moral incentive for waging war, incomprehensibility and alienation of its goals to soldiers. Mistrust between the allies, confusion in the troops - all this was the reason for the defeat of the Russians. According to Tolstoy, it was in Austerlitz that the real end of the war of 105-1807 was achieved, since Austerlitz expresses the essence of the campaign. The era of "our failures and our shame" - this is how Tolstoy himself defined this war. 52

Verification test 1. During which of the battles did Andrei Bolkonsky realize the insignificance of fleeting earthly glory? A) Shengraben battle B) Austerlitz battle C) Borodino battle 2. Who was the idol of Andrei Bolkonsky at the very beginning of the novel, before the hostilities? A) Nikolai Rostov B) Napoleon Bonaparte C) Kuragin 3. Who decided to retreat under Olmutz to join forces coming from Russia, risking meeting the French? A) Weyrother B) Andrey Bolkonsky C) Kutuzov 53

Screening test 4. What is a symbol of a new high understanding of life for Andrei Bolkonsky? A) sky B) oak C) sun 5. When did Prince Andrew's dreams of "Toulon" finally dissipate? A) on the Schöngraben B) on Austerlitz C) in the battle of Borodino 6. Which of the true heroes do we meet in the Shengraben battle? A) Nikolay Bolkonsky B) Tushin C) Pierre Bezukhov 54

Verification test 7. How did the battle of Shengraben end? A) the victory of the Russians B) the victory of the French 8. From whose person is the description of the Battle of Austerlitz conducted? A) Kutuzov B) Bagration C) Andrei Bolkonsky 9. Monologue of Andrei Bolkonsky on a foggy night before the Battle of Austerlitz is a technique ... A) internal monologue B) antithesis C) hyperbole 10. What does the author reflect, depicting the characters of goodies in development, movement? A) portraits of heroes B) "dialectics of the soul" C) actions of heroes 55

Leo Tolstoy's epic novel "War and Peace" is dedicated to the glorious era of the Patriotic War of 1812 and its prehistory.

In depicting the war, Tolstoy used the same artistic principle that underlies the Sevastopol Tales. All events are given from the point of view of a direct participant in the battle. This role is played first by Prince Andrei Bolkonsky (Shengrabenskoe and Austerlitz battles), and then Pierre Bezukhov (Borodino). This technique allows the reader to plunge into the thick of events, to get closer to understanding the course and meaning of the battle. At the same time, Leo Tolstoy follows the Pushkin principle of covering historical events. The author seems to pass through his novel a grandiose stream of life, in which large-scale events and individual destinies are intertwined. The turning points in the lives of the heroes directly depend on the outcome of major military battles. For example, after Austerlitz, Prince Andrew radically changed his views on life. After the Battle of Borodino, Pierre became more close to the people than ever. The figurative disclosure of the era helps to brighter, more clearly imagine its course and meaning.

The war pictures of the novel are a kind of scenes. They are relatively independent in relation to other episodes of the work. Each battle opens with its own exposition. In it, the author talks about the reasons for the battle, the balance of forces, gives dispositions, plans, drawings. In doing so, he often argues with military theory. Then the reader observes the entire battlefield from a certain height, sees the deployment of troops. The battle itself is described in several short, flamboyant scenes. After that, the author sums up what is happening.

It is the war episodes that are the compositional centers of the entire novel. They are all linked together. The culmination of the entire work is the Battle of Borodino. This is where all the storylines converge.
Participants in the battle, historical events are given from the point of view of the common people. Tolstoy was the first to show the true heroes of the war, its true appearance.
The key battles of the epic novel are Shengrabenskoye, Austerlitskoye, Borodinskoye. The author clearly divides the military environment into careerists who only want ranks and awards, and modest war workers, soldiers, peasants, and militias. It is they who decide the outcome of the battle, every minute performing an unknown feat.

We observe the first battle of Shengraben through the eyes of Prince Andrei Bolkonsky. Field Marshal Kutuzov was heading with his troops on the road from Krems to Olmins. Napolene wanted to surround him in the middle of the way, in Znaim. To save the lives of the soldiers, Kutuzov makes a wise decision. He sends a detachment of Bagration to Znaim by a detour mountain route and gives the order to keep the huge army of the French. Bagration managed to do the incredible. In the morning, his troops approached the village of Schöngraben earlier than Napoleon's army. General Murat was frightened and took a small detachment of Bagration for the entire Russian army.

The center of the battle itself is the Tushin battery. Before the battle, Prince Andrey drew a battle plan, pondering the best steps. But at the scene of the hostilities, I realized that everything was not happening at all as planned. During the battle, it is simply impossible to organize leadership, complete control over events. Therefore, Bagration achieves only one thing - to raise the spirit of the army. It is the spirit, the attitude of each soldier that determines the entire battle.
In the midst of the general chaos, Prince Andrey sees the battery of the modest Tushin. Until recently, in the tent of the martenant, he looked like an ordinary, peaceful person, standing with his shoes off. And now, occupying the most disadvantageous disposition, being under continuous fire, he is showing miracles of courage. Tushin seems big and strong to himself. But instead of a reward or praise, he is reprimanded at the council after the battle for daring to speak out without an order. If not for the words of Prince Andrew, no one would have known about his feat.
The Shengraben victory became a guarantee of victory at Borodino.

On the eve of the Battle of Austerlitz, Prince Andrew was looking for laurels, dreamed of leading an army. The military leaders had no doubt that the enemy's forces were weakened. But the people were tired of the senseless bloodshed, were indifferent to the benefits of the headquarters and the two emperors. They were annoyed at the dominance of the Germans in their ranks. As a result, it turned into chaos and confusion on the battlefield. Prince Andrew performed the long-awaited feat in full view of everyone, with the flag staff led the fleeing soldiers, but this heroism did not bring him happiness. Even Napoleon's praise seemed insignificant to him in comparison with the endless and calm sky.

Tolstoy succeeded in surprisingly accurately, psychologically reflecting the state of the wounded person. The last thing that Prince Andrey saw in front of the exploding shell was a fight between a Frenchman and a Russian over a bathhouse. It seemed to him that the projectile would fly by and not hit him, but it was an illusion. It seemed to the hero that something heavy and soft had been thrust into his body. But the main thing is that Prince Andrey realized the insignificance of war and destruction in comparison with the vast world. On the Borodino field, he will tell Pierre the truth, which he realized after participating in these events: "The battle is won by the one who firmly decided to win it."

Russian troops won a moral victory in the Battle of Borodino. They could not retreat, further was only Moscow. Napoleon was amazed: usually, if the battle was not won within eight hours, one could speak of its defeat. For the first time, the French emperor saw the unprecedented courage of Russian soldiers. Although at least half of the army was killed, the remaining soldiers continued to fight as hard as in the beginning.

The "cudgel of the people's war" also fell on the French.

The whole battle is conveyed through the eyes of Pierre, a non-military man. It is located in the most dangerous place - at the Rayevsky battery. An unprecedented uplift arises in his soul. Pierre sees with his own eyes that people are going to die, but they overcome their fear, hold on in formation, and fulfill their duty to the end.

Prince Andrey accomplishes his main feat. Even being in reserve, he sets an example of courage to his officers, does not bow his head. Here Prince Andrey is mortally wounded.

The collective image of the people acts in the battle. Each participant in the battle is guided and warmed by that "latent warmth of patriotism", which is the main feature of the Russian national character. Kutuzov managed to subtly feel the spirit and strength of the Russian army. He knew a lot about the outcome of battles, but never doubted the victory of his soldiers.

In his novel, Leo Tolstoy managed to masterfully combine reviews of large-scale historical battles and a description of the emotional experiences of a person in a war. It was in this feature that the author's humanism was manifested.

Military events in the novel by L. Tolstoy "War and Peace"

Prepared by Sergey Golubev

Prince Adrei and the war

The novel describes the military events of 1805-1807, as well as the Patriotic War of 1812. We can say that war as a kind of objective reality becomes the main plot line of the novel, and therefore the fates of the heroes must be considered in a single context with this “hostile” event to humanity. But at the same time, war in the novel has a deeper understanding. This is a duel between two principles (aggressive and harmonious), two worlds (natural and artificial), a clash of two attitudes (truth and lie).

Throughout his life, Andrei Bolkonsky dreamed of “his Toulon”. He dreams of accomplishing a feat in front of everyone, so that, having proved his strength and fearlessness, he will plunge into the world of glory and become a celebrity. “There I will be sent,” he thought, “with a brigade or a division, and there, with a banner in hand, I will go forward and break everything in front of me.” At first glance, this decision seems quite noble, it proves the courage and determination of Prince Andrew. The only thing that repels him is that he is focused not on Kutuzov, but on Napoleon. But the Battle of Shengraben, namely the meeting with Captain Tushin, becomes the first crack in the hero's system of views. It turns out that a feat can be accomplished without knowing it, not in front of others; but Prince Andrew is not yet fully aware of this. It can be noted that in this case, Tolstoy sympathizes not with Andrei Bolkonsky, but with Captain Tushin, a good-natured person who comes from the people. The author even in some way condemns Bolkonsky for his arrogance, somewhat contemptuous attitude towards ordinary people. (“Prince Andrei looked around Tushin and, without saying anything, walked away from him.”) Shengraben undoubtedly played a positive role in the life of Prince Andrei. Thanks to Tushin, Bolkonsky is changing his view of war.

It turns out that war is not a means of achieving a career, but dirty, hard work, where an anti-human deed is performed. The final realization of this comes to Prince Andrew at the Austerlitz field. He wants to accomplish a feat and does it. But he later recalls not his triumph, when he fled to the French with a banner in his hands, but the high sky of Austerlitz.

Shengraben battle

Depicting the war of 1805 under Schengraben, Tolstoy paints various pictures of hostilities and various types of its participants. We see the heroic transition of Bagration's detachment to the village of Shengraben, the Battle of Shengraben, the courage and heroism of Russian soldiers and the bad work of the commissariat, honest and courageous commanders and careerists who use the war for their own purposes. Typical of staff officers Zherkov, who in the midst of the battle was sent by Bagration on an important assignment to the general of the left flank.

The order was to retreat immediately. Due to the fact that Zherkov did not find the general, the French cut off the Russian hussars, many were killed and wounded comrade Zherkova Rostov.

As always, daring and brave Dolokhov. Dolokhov "killed one Frenchman point-blank and was the first to take the surrendering officer by the collar." But after that he will go up to the regimental commander and say: “I stopped the company ... The whole company can testify. Please remember ... ”Everywhere, he always remembers first of all about himself, only about himself; everything he does, he does for himself.

They are not cowardly, these people, no. But in the name of the common good they cannot forget themselves, their pride, their career, their personal interests, no matter how loud words they say about the honor of the regiment and no matter how they show their concern for the regiment.

Tolstoy shows with special sympathy the commander Timokhin, whose company “alone kept in order” and, inspired by the example of its commander, unexpectedly attacked the French and threw them back, making it possible to restore order in the neighboring battalions.

Another inconspicuous hero is Captain Tushin. This is "a small, stoop-shouldered person." In his figure "there was something special, not at all military, somewhat comic, but extremely attractive." He has "big, intelligent and kind eyes." Tushin is a simple and humble man who lives the same life with the soldiers. During the battle, he does not know the slightest fear, cheerfully and animatedly commands, in decisive moments, consulting with sergeant major Zakharchenko, to whom he has great respect. With a handful of soldiers, the same heroes as their commander, Tushin with amazing courage and heroism carries out his work, despite the fact that the cover, which stood near his battery, left on someone's orders in the middle of the case. And his "battery ... was not taken by the French only because the enemy could not imagine the audacity of firing four unprotected cannons." Only after receiving the order to retreat, Tushin left the position, taking away the two guns that survived the battle.

Battle of Austerlitz

Battle of Austerlitz 1805 The general battle between the Russian-Austrian and French armies took place on November 20, 1805 near the town of Austerlitz in Moravia. The Russian-Austrian army numbered almost 86 thousand people. with 350 guns. It was commanded by General MI Kutuzov. The French army numbered about 3 thousand people. with 250 guns. It was headed by Napoleon. The main forces of the allied army under the command of F. F. Buxgewden attacked the corps of Marshal L. Davout and, after stubborn battles, captured the Castle, Sokolnitsy, Telnitsy. Meanwhile, the 4th Allied Column under the command of I.-K. Kolovrata, which was the center of the allied forces, went on the offensive with a delay, was attacked by the main forces of the French and left the Pratsen Heights dominating the area.In these conditions, Buxgewden received an order from Kutuzov to retreat, but did not fulfill it. Meanwhile, Napoleon, having defeated the center of the allied forces, deployed his troops and attacked the left wing of the allies (Buxgewden) with the main forces both from the front and from the flank. As a result, the allied forces withdrew with heavy losses. The losses of the Russian troops amounted to 16 thousand killed and wounded, 4 thousand prisoners, 160 guns; Austrians - 4 thousand killed and wounded, 2 thousand prisoners, 26 guns; French - about 12 thousand killed and wounded. As a result of the defeat at Austerlitz, the 3rd anti-French coalition collapsed.

findings

One of the main lines of the book is Prince Andrey's disillusionment with the very idea of \u200b\u200bwar, with heroism, with the special vocation of the military. From the dream of accomplishing a feat and saving the entire army, he comes to the idea that war is a “terrible necessity”, which is permissible only when “they ruined my house and are going to ruin Moscow”, that the military estate is characterized by idleness, ignorance, cruelty, debauchery, drunkenness.

So, depicting military events, Tolstoy not only presents broad battle pictures of the Shengraben, Austerlitz and Borodino battles, but also shows the psychology of an individual human personality involved in the flow of hostilities. Army commanders, generals, staff chiefs, combat officers and soldiers, partisans - all these various participants in the war, bearers of very different psychology are shown by Tolstoy with amazing skill in the most varied conditions of their combat and "peaceful" life. At the same time, the writer, himself a former participant in the defense of Sevastopol, seeks to show a real war, without any embellishment, “in blood, in suffering, in death,” drawing with deep and sober truth the wonderful qualities of the people's spirit, alien to ostentatious bravery, pettiness, vanity, and, on the other hand, the presence of all these traits in the majority of officers - nobles.

From the time of Homer to the present, there is no literary creation in the whole world that, with such all-embracing simplicity, would describe life as Leo Tolstoy did in the epic War and Peace.

Romance is as deep as life

There are no main characters in the work in the usual sense of the word. The Russian genius has let into the pages of the book the stream of life, which then rumbles with war, then dies down in peace. And ordinary people live in this stream, who are its organic parts. They sometimes influence him, but more often they rush with him, solving their daily problems and conflicts. And even the war in the novel "War and Peace" is portrayed truthfully and vividly. There is no heroization in the novel, but there is also no whipping up of passions. Ordinary people live in conditions of war and peace, and manifest themselves exactly as it is consonant with their inner state.

Without artistic simplification

The theme of war in the novel "War and Peace" is not artificially emphasized by the author. It occupies exactly as much space in the work as it occupied in the real life of the Russian people at the beginning of the 19th century. But Russia has been waging constant wars for 12 years, and thousands of people were involved in them. Europe is in turmoil, the essence of the European soul is looking for new ones. Many slide down to the "two-legged creatures", which are millions, but who are "tagged as Napoleons."

For the first time, Prince Kutuzov appears on the pages of the novel before the battle of Austerlitz. His conversation, deep and meaningful, with Andrei Bolkonsky, reveals to us the mystery of the role that Kutuzov played in the fate of his people. The image of Kutuzov in War and Peace is strange at first glance. This is a commander, but the writer does not seem to notice his general leadership talents. Yes, they were in it, if we compare with Napoleon and Bagration, not too outstanding. So how did he surpass the military genius? And with those feelings, that love that escaped from his heart near Austerlitz, when the Russian troops ran: "This is what hurts!"

Leo Tolstoy mercilessly draws the logic of war. The unknown Tushin saved the Russian army from complete destruction in 1805, and not the military leadership talents of Bagration and Kutuzov. There is no doubt that the queen is a powerful piece, but her strength turns into the strength of a horse without a rider, when the pawns refuse to die for him: kicks, but bites, and that's it.

A separate topic is battles

For writers before Leo Tolstoy, this was a fertile topic that helped to reveal to the readers the best spiritual qualities of the heroes of the works. And the count was not a writer and "ruined" everything. He caught the sound of human souls. His heroes act exactly in accordance with the sound of their souls, be it war or peace. The image of Napoleon in War and Peace is shown from the most correct side, namely in the human tone. He is no more significant than the same Natasha Rostova. They are both equal in size for life. And both go from battle to battle.

Only Napoleon's path ran through blood, and Natasha's - through love. Napoleon has no doubts for a moment that he is in charge of the destinies of nations. This is how his soul sounds. But Napoleon was just elected by that incredible coincidence of circumstances when all the peoples of Europe had a terrible idea in their minds - to kill each other. And who could be more consistent with this idea, if not Napoleon - an underdeveloped dwarf with an overdeveloped mind?

Battles big and small

The descriptions of the battles in War and Peace are present in full, large and small, in time of war and in time of peace. The retreat of the Russian troops from the border was also a battle. "When will we stop?" - the young commanders impatiently ask Kutuzov. "And then, when everyone wants to fight," replied the wise old Russian man. For them, war is a game and a service where they receive awards and promotions. And for the one-eyed veteran and the people, this is the one and only life.

The Battle of Borodino is the apogee of the struggle between the two great peoples, but just an episode in the life of everyone who remained in this world after it. For only a day, the battle raged. And something changed in the world after him. Europe has come to its senses. She chose the wrong path of development. And she no longer needed Napoleon. Further only wilting. And neither the military leader's genius nor the political mind could save him from this, because the whole people on the Borodino field said that they longed with all their heart to remain themselves.

War knights

War is described in the novel "War and Peace" from the points of view of different people. Among them there are those for whom war is their native element. who wielded an ax like a wolf's teeth; Dolokhov, Breter and Player; Nikolai Rostov, a balanced and infinitely brave man; Denisov, poet of drinking and war; the great Kutuzov; Andrei Bolkonsky is a philosopher and charismatic personality. What do they have in common? And the fact that, apart from war, there is no other life for them. In this respect, the image of Kutuzov in War and Peace is simply perfectly drawn. He even, like Ilya Muromets, was pulled from the stove to save the Fatherland.

These are all knights of war, in whose heads not a worldview or imagination, but an animal sense of danger. Kutuzov is not much different from Tikhon Shcherbaty. They both do not think, do not represent, but feel like an animal that there is danger and where it threatens from. It is not hard to imagine a drunken Tikhon begging near the church. Nikolai Rostov at the end of the novel talks about something with Bezukhov, but in all the conversations he sees only battle scenes.

In the novel "War and Peace" there is neither an ordinary lie, nor the one that was told for the sake of Leo Tolstoy ruthlessly just in the portrayal of his heroes. He never condemns them, but he does not praise them either. Even Andrei Bolkonsky, seemingly his favorite hero, he does not make a role model. Living next to him is a torment, because he is also a war knight even in peacetime. Natasha's death and dying love were his reward, because he is, in essence, Napoleon's soul, who is more terrible than the real Napoleon. Everyone loved him, but he - nobody. The spiritual power of this war knight was felt even when peace came to him before his death. Even the kindest man, Pierre Bezukhov, with an infinite heart, fell under his influence, and this is already such a danger to the world that it is worse than the bloodiest war.

A split in the skies

Andrei Bolkonsky lay in a field near Austerlitz and saw heaven. Infinity opened up above him. And suddenly Napoleon drives up with his retinue. “Here is a beautiful death!” - said the one who did not understand anything either in death or, even more so, in life. And what can someone who does not feel life in another person understand in this matter? The question is rhetorical. And the war scenes in War and Peace are all rhetorical.

People scamper on the ground, shoot at each other, pull pieces of bread out of other people's mouths, humiliate and deceive their loved ones. Why all this, when the heavens are bottomlessly calm? The heavens are split because there is also a split in the souls of men. Everyone wants to live next to a kind neighbor, but at the same time inflicts spiritual wounds on a kind person.

Why is war and peace in life next to each other?

Tolstoy's depiction of war in War and Peace is inseparable from the depiction of the world, because in real life they are consubstantial. And the Russian genius draws precisely real life, and not what he would like to see around him. His philosophical reasoning in the work is rather primitive, but there is more truth in them than in the thoughts of highbrow scientists. After all, man is not a formula on paper.

Passion speaks more often than reason. Karataev is not wise because he is smart, but because he has absorbed life with every particle of his body: from the brain to the tips of his nails. The novel reflects the consubstantiality of the endless process of life, in which - the immortality of the human race, and therefore of each person individually.

And the world cracked in half - the rift smokes

Bolkonsky is on the operating table, and Anatol Kuragin's leg is being sawed next to him. And the first thought in Andrey's head: "Why is he here?" With such thoughts, any scene in human life in a single moment is ready to turn into a battle scene. War in the novel "War and Peace" is not only depicted there, where cannons are firing and people are running into a bayonet attack. When the mother screams about the murdered youngest son, isn't this a battle scene? And what could be more battle than when two people talk about the lives and deaths of millions of people whom both have never seen? The light of heaven is split into war and peace, it is split.

The beauty of life in War and Peace

Leo Tolstoy is ruthless in depicting human images, ruthless in depicting human life itself. But her beauty is seen in every word of the great novel. Bezukhov pulls a child out of the fire, looking for a mother. Someone sleepily answers questions, petrified with troubles. But Bezukhov himself and his thoughtless actions are perceived by readers as the extraordinary beauty of the human soul.

And the ecstasy of Natasha Rostova overheard by Bolkonsky in the silence of the night! And even unfortunate Sonya, with her childless, barren soul, also has her own melancholy, aching beauty. She fought for her happiness and lost the war to an inexorable fate. War in War and Peace has a thousand shades, as does beauty.

The nondescript Tushin, who throws the cannonballs at the enemy with his hands, grows into a mythical beautiful giant, not only in his imagination. It becomes akin to the oak with which Andrei Bolkonsky spoke. The scene of the meeting of generals afterwards is presented in the novel through the perception of a child. And how beautiful it looks, as the child saw and remembered the meeting: "Grandpa woke up and everyone listened to him!"

Reach for heaven

After writing the novel "War and Peace", according to many critics, Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy managed to rise to the top of super-truthful literary art only twice - in "The Devil" and in "Confession", but not for long.