Ilya Repin "Portrait of the Writer Leo Tolstoy" 1887

To live honestly, one has to struggle, get confused, fight, make mistakes, start and quit, and start again and again quit, and always fight and lose. And calmness is spiritual meanness

L.N. Tolsthat

Study project

"Creation of schemes of support positions for the content of the novel" War and Peace "

Purpose: to comprehend the multifaceted content of the epic novel "Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace"

Consultation

How is the reference position diagram drawn

The scheme of support positions is the methods of "folding" knowledge, that is, the material is given in an extremely concise form for a more solid memorization, and then, when necessary, for reproduction in an "expanded" form. The diagram not only "folds" information, but also clearly shows the sequence and logical "cohesion" of thoughts.

The basis for creating a support diagram is the material of the plan - the main features of the characters. Through reasoning, it is necessary to determine the connections and dependencies between the persons of the work, to see in them the private and the general, to draw conclusions about the role and meaning in the ideological and thematic content of the work. These reasoning (or, as they say, "the movement of thought") are fixed in the form of a diagram.

When the support positions are drawn up, then perhaps the most crucial moment comes: their graphic (in the diagram) design, in which the main thing is to clearly show the sequence and logical connections between the individual stages, and "inside" them - in the "arrangement" of the support positions themselves ...

And in this you are given complete freedom of imagination.

"War and Peace"

(1863-1869)

Conclusion "I tried to write the history of the people"

1857 - after meeting with the Decembrists, a novel about one of them was conceived

1825 - "Involuntarily I passed from the present to 1825, the era of delusions and misfortunes of my hero"

1812 - "To understand my hero, I need to travel back to his youth, which coincided with the glorious era of 1812 for Russia."

1805 - "I was ashamed to write about our celebration, without describing our failures and our shame"

Output. A huge amount of material was accumulated about the historical events of 1805-1856, and the idea of \u200b\u200bthe novel changed. The events of 1812 were at the center, and the Russian people became the hero of the novel.

The novel consists of 4 volumes, 17 parts, 361 chapters. It has over 500 heroes.

The task

Why did Tolstoy get the idea for the work in 1856?

Why exactly in the 60s did LN Tolstoy take on a work in which he wants to comprehend the laws of human life? Perhaps the words of the writer taken from the epilogue of War and Peace will help you in answering this question: "The movement of peoples is not produced by power, not mental activity, not even a combination of both, as historians thought ..."

The meaning of the name

The task

Compare the interpretation of the meaning of the title of the work. Which one seems most convincing to you? Answer this question now and when you finish studying the novel, and then compare your opinions.

E. E. Zaydenshnur: "One of the concepts of the word" world "is all people, the whole world, all the people. It can be assumed that, giving the name to a work, the main character of which is the people, Tolstoy did not mean" peace "- as opposition to war, and put into it the concept of the common life of all people, of the entire people ... The name "War and Peace", that is, "War and the People", is more consistent with the main idea of \u200b\u200bthe novel, since Tolstoy's task was to show the great role of the people in the liberation war, and not at all to compare military and peaceful life. "

S. A. Bocharov: "The world turns out to be not only a theme, but it unfolds as a multivalued artistic idea of \u200b\u200bsuch completeness and capacity, which cannot be conveyed in another language."

One of the researchers says that the word "peace" has many meanings and in the novel they are at least its three meanings: "in the world" - that is, in everyday, ordinary, peaceful life; "in the world" - in the whole world, that is, in the whole world; "peace" - a community, all the people.

Consultation

"War and Peace" is a voluminous, multifaceted, complex work. Few succeed in rereading all four volumes at once; most often they read it intermittently ... But Tolstoy's thought develops in the complex dialectical unity of the whole and the particular. How to cover the general content and not "get confused" in private, but so important for the whole episodes and scenes?

We offer two options for reading-observation for the subsequent study of the work.

First option - commented recording of the content (from volume to volume, from chapter to chapter)

For example, the main events of volume I

High society image	Rostov family	The Bolkonsky family, Petersburg, Bald mountains	Pierre Bezukhov, Petersburg, Moscow	War of 1805-1807 Austria
Petersburg. Salon of Anna Scherer, her guests: Prince Vasily Kuragin, his children: Anatole and Ippolit; Anna Mikhailovna Drubetskaya with her son. Arrogance, indifference. Struggle for the will of Count Bezukhov. Pierre's marriage to Helene. Anatole's matchmaking to Princess Marya Bolkonskaya.	Birthday of the daughter and mother. Hospitality, hospitality, openness Happiness, freedom of children in the family. Nikolay, Sonya and Natasha. Count Ilya Rostov. The Countess helps her friend AM Drubetskaya.	Old Prince Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky. Upbringing and education of children. "Prince Andrey knew everything, read everything, knew about everything" Views of the book. Andrew to Napoleon. Why is Prince Andrew going to war?	Naturalness, sincerity Pierre, out of place in the salon by A. Scherer Admiration, admiration for Prince Andrew. Revelry and drinking in the society of rakes, Pierre's lack of will. Pierre is a wealthy heir (40,000 souls). Changes in the attitude towards him in society. Pierre "under the leadership" of Prince Vasily - marriage to Helene.	Look at Branau, lack of coordination in allied actions. Battle of Shengraben. Captain Tushin's battery. The first battle of Nikolai Rostov, his love for Tsar Alexander I.

Introduction

Leo Tolstoy in his epic portrayed more than 500 characters typical for Russian society. In War and Peace, the heroes of the novel are representatives of the upper class of Moscow and St. Petersburg, key statesmen and military leaders, soldiers, people from the common people, and peasants. The portrayal of all strata of Russian society allowed Tolstoy to recreate an integral picture of Russian life at one of the turning points in Russian history - the era of the wars with Napoleon in 1805-1812.

In War and Peace, the characters are conventionally divided into main characters - whose fates are woven by the author into the narrative narrative of all four volumes and the epilogue, and minor ones - heroes who appear sporadically in the novel. Among the main characters of the novel, one can single out the central characters - Andrei Bolkonsky, Natasha Rostova and Pierre Bezukhov, around whose destinies the events of the novel unfold.

Characteristics of the main characters of the novel

Andrey Bolkonsky - "a very handsome young man with definite and dry features", "small stature." The author acquaints the reader with Bolkonsky at the beginning of the novel - the hero was one of the guests at Anna Scherer's evening (which was also attended by many of the main characters of Tolstoy's novel War and Peace).

According to the plot of the work, Andrei was tired of high society, he dreamed of glory, no less glory than Napoleon, and therefore goes to war. The episode that turned Bolkonsky's worldview was a meeting with Bonaparte - Andrei, wounded on the Austerlitz field, realized how insignificant Bonaparte and all his glory really were. The second turning point in Bolkonsky's life is his love for Natasha Rostova. The new feeling helped the hero return to a full life, to believe that after the death of his wife and everything he had endured, he can continue to live fully. However, their happiness with Natasha was not destined to come true - Andrei was mortally wounded during the Battle of Borodino and soon died.

Natasha Rostova - a cheerful, kind, very emotional and loving girl: “black-eyed, with a big mouth, ugly, but alive”. An important feature of the image of the central heroine of "War and Peace" is her musical talent - a beautiful voice, which fascinated even people who were inexperienced in music. The reader meets Natasha on the girl's birthday, when she turns 12. Tolstoy depicts the heroine's moral maturation: love experiences, going out, Natasha's betrayal of Prince Andrei and her experiences because of this, her search for herself in religion and the turning point in the heroine's life - the death of Bolkonsky. In the epilogue of the novel, Natasha appears before the reader completely different - we are more likely to see the shadow of her husband, Pierre Bezukhov, rather than the bright, active Rostova, who a few years ago danced Russian dances and "won" carts for the wounded from her mother.

Pierre Bezukhov - "a massive, fat young man with a cropped head, glasses." "Pierre was somewhat larger than the other men in the room," he had "an intelligent and at the same time timid, observant and natural look that distinguished him from everyone in this living room." Pierre is a hero who is in constant search for himself through knowledge of the world around him. Each situation in his life, each life stage became a special life lesson for the hero. Marriage to Helene, passion for Freemasonry, love for Natasha Rostova, the presence on the battlefield of Borodino (which the hero sees through Pierre's eyes), the French captivity and acquaintance with Karataev completely change Pierre's personality - a purposeful and self-confident man with own views and goals.

Other important characters

In War and Peace, Tolstoy conventionally identifies several blocks of characters - the Rostov, Bolkonsky, Kuragin families, as well as the characters who are part of the social circle of one of these families. Rostovs and Bolkonskys as goodies, bearers of a truly Russian mentality, ideas and spirituality, are contrasted with the negative characters Kuragin, who had little interest in the spiritual aspect of life, preferring to shine in society, weave intrigues and choose friends according to their status and wealth. A brief description of the heroes of "War and Peace" will help to better understand the essence of each main character.

Graph Ilya Andreevich Rostov - a kind and generous man for whom the most important thing in his life was family. The count sincerely loved his wife and four children (Natasha, Vera, Nikolai and Petya), helped his wife in raising children and with all his might he maintained a warm atmosphere in the Rostovs' house. Ilya Andreevich cannot live without luxury, he liked to arrange magnificent balls, receptions and evenings, but his profligacy and inability to manage household affairs ultimately led to the critical financial situation of the Rostovs.
Countess Natalya Rostova is a 45-year-old woman with oriental features, who knows how to make an impression in high society, the wife of Count Rostov, and the mother of four children. The Countess, like her husband, was very fond of her family, trying to support the children and bring up the best qualities in them. Due to excessive love for children, after the death of Petya, the woman almost goes crazy. In the countess, kindness to those close to her was combined with prudence: wishing to improve the financial situation of the family, the woman was trying with all her might to upset Nikolai's marriage to the “unprofitable bride” Sonya.

Nikolay Rostov - "a short, curly-haired young man with an open expression." This is an innocent, open, honest and benevolent young man, brother of Natasha, the eldest son of the Rostovs. At the beginning of the novel, Nikolai appears as an admired young man who wants military glory and recognition, but after participating first in the Battle of Shengrabesk, and then in the Battle of Austerlitz and Patriotic War, Nicholas's illusions are dispelled and the hero realizes how absurd and wrong the very idea of \u200b\u200bwar is. Nikolay finds personal happiness in marriage with Marya Bolkonskaya, in which he felt a close-minded person even at the first meeting.

Sonya Rostova - "a thin, petite brunette with a soft, shaded long eyelashes look, a thick black braid, twice wrapped around her head, and a yellowish tint of skin on her face", the niece of Count Rostov. According to the plot of the novel, this is a quiet, reasonable, kind girl, who knows how to love and is prone to self-sacrifice. Sonya refuses Dolokhov, since she wants to be faithful only to Nikolai, whom she sincerely loves. When the girl finds out that Nikolai is in love with Marya, she resignedly lets him go, not wanting to hinder the happiness of her beloved.

Nikolay Andreevich Bolkonsky - prince, retired general-ashef. This is a proud, intelligent, stern man of short stature towards himself and others "with small dry hands and gray drooping eyebrows, sometimes, as he frowned, overshadowed the brilliance of intelligent and like young shiny eyes." Deep down, Bolkonsky loves his children very much, but does not dare to show it (only before his death he was able to show his love to his daughter). Nikolai Andreevich died from a second blow while in Bogucharovo.

Marya Bolkonskaya - quiet, kind, meek, prone to self-sacrifice and sincerely loving her family. Tolstoy describes her as a heroine with “an ugly weak body and a thin face,” but “the princess’s eyes, large, deep and radiant (as if rays of warm light sometimes came out of them in sheaves), were so good that very often, despite the ugliness of everything faces, these eyes became more attractive than beauty. " The beauty of Marya's eyes afterwards struck Nikolai Rostov. The girl was very devout, devoted all of herself to caring for her father and nephew, then redirecting her love to her own family and husband.

Helen Kuragina - a bright, brilliantly beautiful woman with a "unchanging smile" and full white shoulders, who liked male company, Pierre's first wife. Helene was not distinguished by a special mind, however, thanks to her charm, ability to keep herself in society and establish the necessary connections, she set up her own salon in St. Petersburg, was personally acquainted with Napoleon. The woman died of severe sore throat (although there were rumors in society that Helene had committed suicide).

Anatol Kuragin - Helen's brother, as handsome in appearance and noticeable in high society as his sister. Anatole lived as he wanted, discarding all moral principles and foundations, arranged drunkenness and fights. Kuragin wanted to steal Natasha Rostova and marry her, although he was already married.

Fedor Dolokhov - "a man of average height, curly and with bright eyes", an officer of the Semenovsky regiment, one of the leaders of the partisan movement. Fyodor's personality surprisingly combined selfishness, cynicism and adventurism with the ability to love and take care of his loved ones. (Nikolai Rostov is very surprised that at home, with his mother and sister, Dolokhov is completely different - a loving and gentle son and brother).

Conclusion

Even short description heroes of "War and Peace" by Tolstoy allows you to see the close and inextricable relationship of the fate of the characters. Like all events in the novel, the characters' meetings and farewells take place according to the irrational, elusive law of historical mutual influences. It is these incomprehensible mutual influences that create the fate of the heroes and shape their views of the world.

Product test

Prince, father of Helene, Anatole and Hippolytus. This is a very famous and quite influential person in society, he holds an important court post. Prince V.'s attitude to everyone around him is condescending and patronizing. The author shows his hero "in a courtly, embroidered uniform, in stockings, shoes, with the stars, with a bright expression of a flat face", with a "perfumed and radiant bald head." But when he smiled, there was "something unexpectedly rude and unpleasant in his smile." Prince V. specially wishes no one harm. He simply uses people and circumstances to carry out his plans. V. always seeks to get closer to people who are richer and higher in status. The hero considers himself an exemplary father, he does everything possible to arrange the future of his children. He tries to marry his son Anatole to the rich princess Marya Bolkonskaya. After the death of the old prince Bezukhov and the receipt of a huge inheritance by Pierre, V. notices the rich groom and, by cunning, gives him his daughter Helene. Prince V. is a great intriguer who knows how to live in society and make acquaintances with the right people.

Anatol Kuragin

Son of Prince Vasily, brother of Helen and Hippolyta. Prince Vasily himself looks at his son as a "restless fool" who constantly needs to be rescued from various troubles. A. is very handsome, dandy, impudent. He is frankly stupid, not resourceful, but popular in society, because "he also had the ability of calmness, precious for the world, and unchangeable confidence." A. Dolokhov's friend, constantly participates in his revelry, looks at life as a constant stream of pleasures and pleasures. He doesn't care about other people, he is selfish. A. treats women with contempt, feeling his superiority. He is used to being liked by everyone, without experiencing anything serious in return. A. got carried away by Natasha Rostova and tried to take her away. After this incident, the hero was forced to flee from Moscow and hide from Prince Andrei, who wanted to challenge the seducer of his bride to a duel.

Kuragina Helen

Daughter of Prince Vasily, and then wife of Pierre Bezukhov. A brilliant Petersburg beauty with a "unchanging smile", full white shoulders, glossy hair and a beautiful figure. There was no noticeable coquetry in her, as if she was ashamed "for her undoubtedly and too strongly and victoriously acting beauty." E. is imperturbable, giving everyone the right to admire themselves, which makes her feel like a gloss from the multitude of other people's views. She knows how to be tacitly worthy in the world, giving the impression of being tactful and smart womenwe believe that in combination with beauty, it ensures its constant success. Having married Pierre Bezukhov, the heroine discovers in front of her husband not only the limitedness of the mind, the coarseness of thought and vulgarity, but also cynical depravity. After breaking up with Pierre and receiving from him by proxy a large part of the fortune, she lives in Petersburg, then abroad, then returns to her husband. Despite the family breakup, the constant change of lovers, including Dolokhov and Drubetskaya, E. continues to be one of the most famous and kindly ladies of St. Petersburg. In the light, she makes very great strides; living alone, she becomes the mistress of the diplomatic and political salon, gains a reputation for intelligent women

Anna Pavlovna Sherer

Maid of honor, close to Empress Maria Feodorovna. Sh. Is the owner of a salon fashionable in St. Petersburg, the description of the evening in which the novel opens. A.P. 40 years old, she is artificial, like all high society. Her attitude to any person or event depends entirely on the latest political, court or secular considerations. She is friends with Prince Vasily. Sh. "Is full of animation and impulse", "being an enthusiast has become her social position." In 1812, her salon demonstrates false patriotismeating cabbage soup and fine for French speech.

Boris Drubetskoy

The son of Princess Anna Mikhailovna Drubetskaya. From childhood he was brought up and lived for a long time in the house of the Rostovs, to whom he was a relative. B. and Natasha were in love with each other. Outwardly, it is "a tall, blond youth with regular thin features of a calm and handsome face." Since his youth, B. dreams of a military career, allows his mother to humiliate herself in front of her superiors, if this helps him. So, Prince Vasily finds him a place in the guard. B. is going to make a brilliant career, makes many useful acquaintances. After a while, he becomes Helen's lover. B. manages to be in the right place at the right time, and his career and position are particularly firmly established. In 1809 he meets Natasha again and is fond of her, even thinks of marrying her. But that would have hindered his career. Therefore, B. begins to look for a rich bride. He eventually marries Julie Karagina.

Count Rostov

Rostov Ilya Andreevi - Count, father of Natasha, Nikolai, Vera and Petit. A very good-natured, generous person who loves life and does not know how to calculate his funds. R. is best able to make a reception, a ball, he is a hospitable host and an exemplary family man. The count is used to living on a grand scale, and when the means no longer allow it, he gradually ruins his family, from which he suffers greatly. When leaving Moscow, it was R. who began to give carts for the wounded. So he deals one of the last blows to the family's budget. The death of Petya's son finally broke the count, he comes to life only when he prepares a wedding for Natasha and Pierre.

Countess of Rostov

Count Rostov's wife, "a woman with an oriental type of thin face, forty-five years old, apparently exhausted by children ... The slowness of her movements and speech, which stemmed from the weakness of her strength, gave her a significant look that inspires respect." R. creates an atmosphere of love and kindness in his family, takes great care of the fate of his children. The news of the death of Petya's youngest and beloved son almost drives her crazy. She is used to luxury and the execution of the slightest whims, and requires this after the death of her husband.

Natasha Rostova

Daughter of Count and Countess Rostov. She is "black-eyed, with a big mouth, ugly, but alive ...". N.'s distinctive features are emotionality and sensitivity. She's not very smart, but she has an amazing ability to guess people. She is capable of noble deeds, can forget about her interests for the sake of other people. So, she calls on her family to take out the wounded by carts, leaving behind the property. N. takes care of his mother with all his dedication after the death of Petya. N. has a very beautiful voice, she is very musical. With her singing, she is able to awaken the best in a person. Tolstoy notes N.'s closeness to the common people. This is one of her best qualities. N. lives in an atmosphere of love and happiness. Changes in her life take place after meeting with Prince Andrey. N. becomes his bride, but later becomes fond of Anatol Kuragin. After a while, N. realizes the full force of his guilt before the prince, before his death, he forgives her, she remains with him until his death. N. feels true love for Pierre, they understand each other perfectly, they are very good together. She becomes his wife and completely surrenders to the role of wife and mother.

Nikolay Rostov

The son of Count Rostov. "A short, curly-haired young man with an open expression." The hero is distinguished by "swiftness and enthusiasm", he is cheerful, open, benevolent and emotional. N. participates in military campaigns and the Patriotic War of 1812. In the battle of Shengraben N. goes on the attack at first very bravely, but then he is wounded in the arm. This wound causes him to panic, he thinks about how he can die, "whom everyone loves so much." This event somewhat belittles the image of the hero. After N. becomes a brave officer, a real hussar who remains faithful to his duty. N. had a long affair with Sonya, and he was going to do a noble deed by marrying a homeless woman against his mother's will. But he receives a letter from Sonya in which she says that she is letting him go. After the death of his father, N. takes care of the family, retiring. She and Marya Bolkonskaya fall in love and get married.

Petya Rostov

The youngest son of the Rostovs. At the beginning of the novel, we see P. as a young boy. He is a typical representative of his family, kind, cheerful, musical. He wants to imitate his older brother and go along the military line in life. In 1812, he was full of patriotic impulses and went into the army. During the war, the young man accidentally ends up with an assignment in Denisov's detachment, where he remains, wanting to take part in the present case. He accidentally dies, on the eve of showing all his best qualities in relation to his comrades. His death is the greatest tragedy for his family.

Pierre Bezukhov

Illegal son of Count Bezukhov, a wealthy and famous in society. He appears almost before the death of his father and becomes the heir to the entire fortune. P. is very different from people belonging to high society, even outwardly. This is a "massive, fat young man with a bobbed head, glasses" with an "observant and natural" look. He was brought up abroad, received a good education there. P. is smart, has a penchant for philosophical reasoning, he has a very kind and gentle disposition, he is completely impractical. Andrei Bolkonsky loves him very much, considers him his friend and the only "living person" among the entire high world.
In pursuit of money, P. entangles the Kuragin family and, taking advantage of P.'s naivete, force him to marry Helen. He is unhappy with her, realizes that this is a terrible woman and breaks off relations with her.
At the beginning of the novel, we see that P. considers Napoleon his idol. After that, he is terribly disappointed in him and even wants to kill. P. is characterized by a search for the meaning of life. This is how he is fond of Freemasonry, but, seeing their falsity, he leaves there. P. is trying to reorganize the lives of his peasants, but he does not succeed because of his gullibility and impracticality. P. participates in the war, not yet fully understanding what it is. Remaining in burning Moscow to kill Napoleon, P. is taken prisoner. He is going through great moral torment during the execution of prisoners. There P. meets with the spokesman for "people's thought" Platon Karataev. Thanks to this meeting, P. learned to see "the eternal and infinite in everything." Pierre loves Natasha Rostova, but she is married to his friend. After the death of Andrei Bolkonsky and Natasha's revival to life, Tolstoy's best heroes get married. In the epilogue we see P. as a happy husband and father. In a dispute with Nikolai Rostov, P. expresses his convictions, and we understand that we are facing a future Decembrist.

Sonya

She is “a slender, petite brunette with a soft, shaded long eyelashes look, a thick black braid, twice wrapped around her head, and a yellowish tint of skin on her face and especially on her naked, thin, but graceful arms and neck. With the smoothness of movements, the softness and flexibility of small members and a somewhat cunning and restrained manner, she resembles a beautiful, but not yet formed kitten, which will be a lovely kitty. "
S. - the niece of the old Count Rostov, is brought up in this house. Since childhood, the heroine has been in love with Nikolai Rostov, is very friendly with Natasha. S. is restrained, silent, reasonable, capable of sacrificing herself. The feeling for Nikolai is so strong that she wants to "always love, and let him be free." Because of this, she refuses Dolokhov, who wanted to marry her. S. and Nikolai are linked by word, he promised to marry her. But the old Countess of Rostov is against this wedding, he reproaches S. ... She, not wanting to pay with ingratitude, refuses to marry, freeing Nikolai from this promise... After the death of the old count, he lives with the countess in the care of Nicholas.

Dolokhov

“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 of his face, was all visible. The lines of this mouth were remarkably finely curved. In the middle, the upper lip energetically descended onto 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, made the impression that it was impossible not to notice this face. This hero is not rich, but he knows how to present himself in such a way that everyone around him respects and is afraid of him. He loves to have fun, and in a rather strange and sometimes cruel way. For one case of mockery of the quarter, D. was demoted to the soldier. But during the hostilities he regained his rank of officer. He is an intelligent, brave and cold-blooded person. He is not afraid of death, is reputed to be an evil person, hides his tender love for his mother. In fact, D. does not want to know anyone except those he really loves. He divides people into harmful and useful, sees around him mostly harmful and is ready to get rid of them if they suddenly get in his way. D. was Helene's lover, he provokes Pierre to a duel, dishonestly beats Nikolai Rostov at cards, helps Anatol arrange an escape with Natasha.

Nikolay Bolkonsky

The prince, general-in-chief, was dismissed from service under Paul I and exiled to the countryside. He is the father of Andrei Bolkonsky and Princess Marya. He is a very pedantic, dry, active person, who cannot stand idleness, stupidity, and superstition. Everything in his house is scheduled by the clock, he must be busy all the time. The old prince did not have the slightest change in order and schedule.
ON. short in stature, "in a powdered wig ... with small dry hands and gray drooping eyebrows, sometimes, as he frowned, overshadowed the brilliance of intelligent and like young shiny eyes." The prince is very restrained in showing feelings. He constantly harasses his daughter with nagging, although in fact he loves her very much. ON. a proud, intelligent person, constantly cares about the preservation of family honor and dignity. In his son, he brought up a sense of pride, honesty, duty, patriotism. Despite leaving public life, the prince is constantly interested in political and military events taking place in Russia. Only before his death, he loses the idea of \u200b\u200bthe scale of the tragedy that happened to his homeland.

Andrey Bolkonsky

The son of Prince Bolkonsky, brother of Princess Marya. At the beginning of the novel, we see B. as an intelligent, proud, but rather arrogant person. He despises high society people, is unhappy in marriage and does not respect his pretty wife. B. is very restrained, well educated, he has a strong will. This hero is going through great spiritual changes. First we see that his idol is Napoleon, whom he considers a great man. B. ends up in the war, sent to the army. There he fights on a par with all the soldiers, shows great courage, composure, prudence. Participates in the Battle of Shengraben. B. was seriously wounded in the battle of Austerlitz. This moment is extremely important, because it was then that the hero's spiritual rebirth began. Lying motionless and seeing above him the calm and eternal sky of Austerlitz, B. understands all the pettiness and stupidity of everything that happens in the war. He realized that in reality there should be completely different values \u200b\u200bin life than those that he had until now. All feats, glory do not matter. There is only this vast and eternal sky. In the same episode B. sees Napoleon and understands all the insignificance of this person. B. returns home, where everyone believed him dead. His wife dies in childbirth, but the child survives. The hero is shocked by the death of his wife and feels his guilt before her. He decides not to serve anymore, settles in Bogucharovo, is engaged in housekeeping, raising his son, reads many books. During a trip to Petersburg B. meets with Natasha Rostova for the second time. A deep feeling awakens in him, the heroes decide to get married. B.'s father does not agree with the choice of his son, they postpone the wedding for a year, the hero goes abroad. After the betrayal of the bride, he returns to the army under the leadership of Kutuzov. During the Borodino battle he was mortally wounded. By chance he leaves Moscow in the Rostovs' wagon train. Before his death, he forgives Natasha and understands the true meaning of love.

Liza Bolkonskaya

The wife of Prince Andrew. She is the favorite of the whole world, an attractive young woman, whom everyone calls "the little princess." “Her pretty, with a slightly blackened mustache, the upper lip was short across the teeth, but the lovelier it opened and the lovelier it sometimes stretched out and sank onto the lower one. As is always the case with quite attractive women, her lack - the shortness of her lips and a half-open mouth - seemed to be her special, her own beauty. It was fun for everyone to look at this pretty mother-to-be, full of health and liveliness, who so easily endured her position. " L. was a universal favorite due to her everlasting liveliness and courtesy of a secular woman, she could not imagine her life without the upper light. But Prince Andrew did not love his wife and felt unhappy in marriage. L. does not understand her husband, his aspirations and ideals. After Andrei left for the war, L. lives in the Bald Hills with the old prince Bolkonsky, to whom he feels fear and dislike. L. has a presentiment of his imminent death and actually dies during childbirth.

Princess Marya

D the eyes of the old prince Bolkonsky and the sister of Andrei Bolkonsky. M. is ugly, painful, but her whole face is transformed by beautiful eyes: "... the eyes of the princess, large, deep and radiant (as if rays of warm light sometimes came out of them in sheaves), were so good that very often, despite the ugliness of the whole face , these eyes became more attractive than beauty. " Princess M. is very religious. She often receives all kinds of pilgrims and pilgrims. She has no close friends, she lives under the yoke of her father, whom she loves, but is incredibly afraid. The old prince Bolkonsky had a bad character, M. was absolutely crushed by him and did not believe in her personal happiness at all. She gives all her love to her father, brother Andrei and his son, trying to replace little Nikolenka's dead mother. M.'s life changes after meeting with Nikolai Rostov. It was he who saw all the wealth and beauty of her soul. They marry, M. becomes a devoted wife, fully sharing all the views of her husband.

Kutuzov

A real historical person, the commander-in-chief of the Russian army. For Tolstoy, he is the ideal of a historical figure and the ideal of a person. “He will listen to everything, remember everything, put everything in its place, will not interfere with anything useful and will not allow anything harmful. He understands that there is something stronger and more significant than his will - this is an inevitable course of events, and he knows how to see them, knows how to understand their meaning and, in view of this meaning, knows how to renounce participation in these events, from his personal will directed to something else. " K. knew that “the fate of the battle is not decided by the orders of the commander-in-chief, not by the place where the troops are stationed, not by the number of guns and killed people, but by that elusive force called the spirit of the army, and he watched this force and led it as far as it was. in his power. " K. merges with the people, he is always modest and simple. His behavior is natural, the author constantly emphasizes his overweight, senile weakness. K. is the spokesman for popular wisdom in the novel. His strength lies in the fact that he understands and knows well what worries the people, and acts in accordance with this. K. dies when he has done his duty. The enemy has been driven out of the borders of Russia, there is nothing more for this national hero to do.

The diverse world of a work of fiction is not only difficult, but even impossible to "squeeze" into some definite framework, "put on shelves", explain with the help of logical formulas, concepts, graphs or diagrams. The richness of the artistic content actively resists such analysis. But it is still possible to try to discover some system, provided that it is necessary, of course, that it does not contradict the author's intention.

What was the most important thing for Tolstoy during the co-creation of War and Peace? Let us open the beginning of the third part of the second volume: “Meanwhile, the real life of people with their essential interests of health, illness, work, rest, with their interests of thought, science, poetry, music, love, friendship, hatred, passions, went, as always, independently and outside of political closeness or enmity with Napoleon Bonaparte, and outside all possible transformations.

As you can see, the most important thing for a writer is real life, understood as a powerful and un-tame element, opposed to any phenomena, events, established laws, if they do not coincide with the interests of ordinary, ordinary people. This is the basis of the system of images in War and Peace.

There are people who live a normal, natural life. This is one world. There is another, built on other, unnatural interests (career, power, wealth, pride, etc.). This is a doomed world, devoid of movement and development, a world subject to predetermined rules, rituals, regulations, all kinds of conventions, abstract theories, a world that is basically dead.

Tolstoy, in principle, does not accept any theoretical scholasticism that separates itself from real, simple, normal life. So, about General Pfula in the novel it is said that he, out of love for theory, "hated any practice and did not want to know it." It is for this reason that Prince Andrew does not like Speransky with his "unshakable faith in the power of the mind." And even Sonya turns out to be a "dummy" in the end, because in her virtue there is an element of rationality, calculation. Any artificiality, role, which a person tries to play, willingly or unwittingly, programmedness (as we would say today) is rejected by Tolstoy and his beloved heroes. Natasha Rostova says about Dolokhov: "He has everything assigned, but I don't like that."

The idea of \u200b\u200btwo principles in life arises: war and peace, evil and good, death and life. And all characters one way or another gravitate towards one of these poles. Some choose the goal of life at once and do not experience any hesitation - Kuragin, Berg. Others go through long way painful hesitation, mistakes, searches, but ultimately "nailed" to one of the two banks. It was not so easy, for example, for Boris Drubetskoy to overcome himself, his normal human feelings, before he decided to propose to the rich Julie, whom he not only dislikes, but, it seems, generally hates. Material from the site

The system of images in the novel is based on a fairly clear and consistent antithesis (opposition) of nationality and anti-nationality (or pseudo-nationality), natural and artificial, human and inhuman, finally, "Kutuzov" and "Napoleonic".

Kutuzov and Napoleon form two peculiar moral poles in the novel, towards which various characters gravitate or repel. As for the favorite Tolstoyan heroes, they are shown in the process of constant change, overcoming isolation and selfish one-sidedness. They are on the road, on the way, and this alone makes them dear and close to the author.

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Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy, with his pure Russian pen, gave life to a whole world of characters in the novel War and Peace. His fictional characters, which are intertwined in whole noble families or family ties between families, are a real reflection of those people who lived in the times described by the author to the modern reader. One of the greatest books of world significance "War and Peace" with the confidence of a professional historian, but at the same time, as in a mirror, presents to the whole world that Russian spirit, those characters of secular society, those historical events, which were invariably present in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
And against the background of these events it is shown in all its power and diversity.

Leo Tolstoy and the heroes of the novel "War and Peace" are going through the events of the last nineteenth century, but Lev Nikolaevich begins to describe the events of 1805. The impending war with the French, the decisively approaching world and the growing greatness of Napoleon, the confusion in Moscow secular circles and the clear calm in the St. Petersburg secular society - all this can be called a kind of background on which, as a brilliant artist, the author painted his characters. There are quite a lot of heroes - about 550 or 600. There are both main and central figures, and there are others or simply mentioned ones. In total, the heroes of "War and Peace" can be divided into three groups: central, secondary and mentioned characters. Among all of them, there are both fictional characters, as prototypes of the people who surrounded the writer at that time, and real-life historical figures. Consider the main characters in the novel.

Quotes from the novel "War and Peace"

“… I often think about how the happiness of life is sometimes unfairly distributed.

A person cannot own anything while he is afraid of death. And whoever is not afraid of her owns everything.

Until now, thank God, I have been a friend of my children and I enjoy their full confidence, ”said the countess, repeating the delusion of many parents who believe that their children have no secrets from them.

Everything, from napkins to silver, earthenware and crystal, bore that special imprint of novelty that occurs in the household of young spouses.

If everyone fought only for their own convictions, there would be no war.

To be an enthusiast became her social position, and sometimes, when she did not even want to, she, in order not to deceive the expectations of people who knew her, became an enthusiast.

To love everything, to always sacrifice oneself for love, meant not to love anyone, meant not living this earthly life.

Never, never marry, my friend; here's my advice: don't get married until you tell yourself that you have done everything you could, and until you stop loving the woman you have chosen, until you see her clearly; otherwise you will be mistaken cruelly and irreparably. Marry an old man, worthless ...

Central figures of the novel "War and Peace"

Rostovs - Counts and Countesses

Rostov Ilya Andreevich

Count, father of four children: Natasha, Vera, Nikolai and Petit. A very kind and generous person who loved life very much. His excessive generosity ultimately led him to extravagance. A loving husband and father. A very good organizer of various balls and receptions. However, his life is on a grand scale, and selfless help wounded during the war with the French and the departure of the Russians from Moscow, they inflicted fatal blows on his condition. His conscience tormented him constantly because of the impending poverty of his family, but he could not help himself. After the death of the youngest son Petya, the count was broken, but, however, revived during the preparation for the wedding of Natasha and Pierre Bezukhov. Just a few months after the wedding of the Bezukhovs, Count Rostov dies.

Rostova Natalia (wife of Ilya Andreevich Rostov)

The wife of Count Rostov and the mother of four children, this woman at the age of forty-five had oriental features. The focus of slowness and gravity in her was regarded by those around her as the solidity and high importance of her personality for the family. But real reason her manner, perhaps, lies in the emaciated and weak physical condition thanks to the birth and upbringing of four children. She loves her family and children very much, so the news of the death of Petya's youngest son almost drove her crazy. Just like Ilya Andreevich, Countess Rostova was very fond of luxury and the execution of any of her orders.

Leo Tolstoy and the heroes of the novel "War and Peace" in Countess Rostova helped to reveal the prototype of the author's grandmother - Pelageya Nikolaevna Tolstoy.

Rostov Nikolay

Son of Count Rostov Ilya Andreevich. A loving brother and son who honors his family, at the same time loves to serve in the Russian army, which is very significant and important for his dignity. Even in his fellow soldiers, he often saw his second family. Although he was in love with his cousin Sonya for a long time, he nevertheless marries Princess Marya Bolkonskaya at the end of the novel. A very energetic young man, with curly hair and an "open face". His patriotism and love for the emperor of Russia never dried up. Having gone through many hardships of the war, he becomes a brave and brave hussar. After the death of Father Ilya Andreyevich, Nikolai retires in order to improve the financial affairs of the family, pay debts and, finally, become a good husband for Marya Bolkonskaya.

It appears to Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy as a prototype of his father.

Rostova Natasha

Daughter of Count and Countess Rostov. A very energetic and emotional girl, who was considered ugly, but lively and attractive, she is not very smart, but intuitive, because she knew how to perfectly "guess people", their mood and some character traits. She is very impulsive to nobility and self-sacrifice. She sings and dances very beautifully, which at that time was an important characterizing quality for a girl from a secular society. The most important quality of Natasha, which Leo Tolstoy, like his characters, repeatedly emphasizes in the novel "War and Peace" - is closeness to the common Russian people. And she herself has all absorbed the Russianness of culture and the strength of the nation's spirit. Nevertheless, this girl lives in her illusion of goodness, happiness and love, which, after some time, brings Natasha into reality. It is these blows of fate and her heartfelt experiences that make Natasha Rostova an adult and give her, as a result, a mature true love for Pierre Bezukhov. The story of the rebirth of her soul deserves special respect, as Natasha began to attend church after succumbing to the temptation of a deceitful seducer. If you are interested in the works of Tolstoy in which the Christian heritage of our people is more deeply considered, then you need to read about how he fought with temptation.

A collective prototype of the writer's daughter-in-law Tatyana Andreevna Kuzminskaya, as well as her sister - the wife of Lev Nikolaevich - Sofia Andreevna.

Rostova Vera

Daughter of Count and Countess Rostov. She was famous for her strict disposition and inappropriate, albeit fair, remarks in society. It is not known why, but her mother did not really love her and Vera felt it acutely, apparently, therefore, she often went against everyone around her. Later she became the wife of Boris Drubetskoy.

It is the prototype of Tolstoy's sister Sophia - the wife of Lev Nikolaevich, whose name was Elizaveta Bers.

Rostov Peter

Still a boy, the son of Count and Countess Rostovs. Growing up, Petya, as a young man, was eager to go to war, and in such a way that his parents absolutely could not hold him back. Having escaped all the same from parental care and decided to join Denisov's hussar regiment. Petya dies in the first battle, without having had time to fight. His death severely crippled his family.

Sonya

The diminutive, glorious girl Sonya was the native niece of Count Rostov and spent her whole life under his roof. Her long-term love for Nikolai Rostov became fatal for her, because she never managed to unite with him in marriage. In addition, the old county Natalya Rostova was very against their marriage, because they were cousins. Sonya acts nobly, refusing Dolokhov and agreeing to love only Nicholas for the rest of her life, while freeing him from his promise to marry her. The rest of her life she lives with the old countess in the care of Nikolai Rostov.

The prototype of this seemingly insignificant character was Lev Nikolaevich's second cousin, Tatiana Aleksandrovna Ergolskaya.

Bolkonsky - princes and princesses

Bolkonsky Nikolay Andreevich

Father of the protagonist, Prince Andrei Bolkonsky. In the past, the acting general-in-chief, in the present prince, who has earned himself the nickname "the Prussian king" in Russian secular society. Socially active, strict as a father, tough, pedantic, but wise owner of his estate. Outwardly, it was a thin old man in a powdered white wig, thick eyebrows hanging over shrewd and intelligent eyes. She does not like to show feelings even for her beloved son and daughter. Constantly harassing his daughter Marya with nagging, sharp words. Sitting on his estate, Prince Nicholas is constantly on the alert for the events taking place in Russia, and only before his death he loses a full understanding of the scale of the tragedy of the Russian war with Napoleon.

The prototype of Prince Nikolai Andreevich was the writer's grandfather Nikolai Sergeevich Volkonsky.

Bolkonsky Andrey

Prince, son of Nikolai Andreevich. Ambitious, like his father, he is restrained in the manifestation of sensual impulses, but he loves his father and sister very much. He is married to the "little princess" Liza. Made a good military career. He philosophizes a lot about life, the meaning and state of his spirit. From which it is clear that he is in some kind of constant search. After the death of his wife in Natasha Rostova saw hope for himself, a real girl, and not a fake one as in a secular society and a certain light of future happiness, so he was in love with her. Having made an offer to Natasha, he was forced to go abroad for treatment, which served both as a real test of their feelings. As a result, their wedding fell through. Prince Andrew went to war with Napoleon and was seriously wounded, after which he did not survive and died of a serious wound. Until the end of his death, Natasha devotedly looked after him.

Bolkonskaya Marya

Daughter of Prince Nikolay and sister of Andrey Bolkonsky. A very meek girl, not beautiful, but kind in soul and very rich as a bride. Her inspiration and devotion to religion serve as an example of kindness and meekness to many. She unforgettably loves her father, who often scoffed at her with his ridicule, reproaches and injections. He also loves his brother, Prince Andrew. She did not immediately accept Natasha Rostova as a future daughter-in-law, because she seemed to her too frivolous for her brother Andrei. After all the hardships she experienced, she marries Nikolai Rostov.

The prototype of Marya is the mother of Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy - Volkonskaya Maria Nikolaevna.

Bezukhovs - Counts and Countesses

Pierre Bezukhov (Peter Kirillovich)

One of the main characters who deserves close attention and the most positive assessment. This character has gone through a lot of mental trauma and pain, possessing in itself a kind and highly noble disposition. Tolstoy and the heroes of the novel "War and Peace" very often express their love and acceptance of Pierre Bezukhov as a man of very high morals, complacent and a man of a philosophical mind. Lev Nikolaevich is very fond of his hero, Pierre. As a friend of Andrei Bolkonsky, young Count Pierre Bezukhov is very loyal and sympathetic. Despite the various intrigues weaving under his nose, Pierre did not become embittered and did not lose his good nature to people. And by marrying Natalya Rostova, he finally found that grace and happiness that he so lacked in his first wife, Helen. At the end of the novel, one can trace his desire to change the political foundations in Russia and from afar one can even guess his Decembrist sentiments.

Character prototypes
Most of the heroes are so complex in their structure of the novel, they always reflect some people who, in one way or another, met on the way of Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy.

The writer successfully created a whole panorama of the epic history of the events of that time and the private life of secular people. In addition, the author managed to very brightly color the psychological traits and characters of his characters so that they can learn worldly wisdom and modern man.