Please answer 3 out of the following 6 questions and limit yourself to no more than 2 typed doubles-spaced pages per question.
War and Peace Response Questions I:
- Pick your favorite character so far in the novel and discuss what attracts you to him/her and the role the character plays (so far) in the development of the novel as well as his/her function in Tolstoy’s literary universe.
- Pick your favorite scene so far in the novel and explain why it is your favorite. What does this scene say about the characters involved? About life in Russia at the time? About Tolstoy’s depiction of society at war and/or at peace??
- Discuss Tolstoy’s depiction of women so far in the book. How are they presented and what role do they play in society? Based on what you have read so far, what virtues does Tolstoy favor in his female characters?
- In the scenes of war you’ve read so far, what for Tolstoy constitutes being a good commander, a good soldier? How should battles be approached and fought? Discuss Tolstoy’s views on the unpredictability of military engagement and his criticism of military strategy.
- Discuss Tolstoy’s critique of Russian aristocratic society. What does Tolstoy see as its evils? Are there any virtues? What makes certain aristocratic families/characters in the novel more appealing than others?
- Discuss the theme of fate/predestination as encountered so far in the novel.
