Why does Petya ask to join the reconnaissance team? War and Peace - description of the little drummer

Last Stand Petya Rostov - the hero of L. N. Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace”

In this excerpt from Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace,” we are introduced to Petya Rostov. Petya is still just a boy, so he has a special attitude towards the war. He does not understand that war is, first of all, death. For him, war is heroism, adventure, testing oneself. Tolstoy writes: “Petya was in a constantly happily excited state of joy at the fact that he was big, and in a constantly enthusiastic haste not to miss any occasion of real heroism.” This condition led to his death.

Petya's death is senseless. But using the example of this hero, Tolstoy shows not only the cruelty of war, but also the fact that even in war one can not lose human qualities.

Denisov is trying to save Petya from this war, remembering his “crazy act in the Battle of Vyazemsky.” But Petya doesn’t want to listen to anyone and does these “crazy things,” as if he were playing some kind of game of his own.

Petya wants to seem like an adult in everything and especially tries to imitate Denisov and Dolokhov, to be worthy of their company. The boy tries to be on an equal footing with them: “He can do it, so can I!” It is impossible not to notice that Denisov is especially worried about Petya, who does not even sleep the whole night, waiting for his return from the French camp. Denisov asks him only one thing: “... obey me and don’t interfere anywhere,” but Petya dreams of commanding!

The boy lives in his own world, “in a magical kingdom in which there was nothing like reality” and “everything was possible.” In this world he dreams of heroism, and a “solemnly sweet hymn” sounds to him.

When reading this passage, you always worry about Petya. And the lines about his death are especially difficult. Even for Denisov, who had seen more than one death in the war, this death was a special blow.

One can feel Tolstoy's great sympathy for this hero. Petya is a very kind, sincere person, a true patriot. Probably, if every person was like this, then there would be no wars. After all, war destroys the world, and in in this case she destroyed a special, magical, children's world.

Roman L.N. Tolstoy's "War and Peace" is a huge epoch-making canvas. The reader is shown the fates of individual heroes and entire families, for example, the Rostov, Bolkonsky, Kuragin families. Any novel consists of separate episodes connected by plot. Each episode is important for revealing a particular character, plot relationship, and the fate of the hero. Let us turn to the analysis of an episode from volume 4 of War and Peace, which tells about Petya’s first impressions in a partisan detachment.
Petya is the youngest in the Rostov family, his mother’s favorite. He goes to war very young, and his main goal is to accomplish a feat; to become a hero: “...Petya was in a constantly happily excited state of joy at the fact that he was big, and in a constantly enthusiastic haste not to miss any occasion of real heroism.”
He is a romantic, war through Petya’s eyes is just an adventure, an opportunity to test oneself.

He is not afraid: in war, Petya must necessarily be in the center of events, on the front line, in order to carry out his cherished dream- to accomplish a feat, heroic deed. But “the general specifically forbade Petya to participate in any of Denisov’s actions.” Can a romantic agree with this? And yet, an order for a military man is law.
The kindness that surrounded the boy in his family made him sensitive, responsive, and capable of compassion. “Petya was in an enthusiastic childish state of tender love for all people and, as a result, confidence in the same love of other people for himself.” And this feeling is sincere. He loves all his fellow soldiers, tries to do something nice for them: he offers his knife, treats them with raisins. In the partisan detachment, the fighters love Petya and treat him like a father. But Rostov strives to look older than his years, to prove to others that he is already an adult and independent. And at the same time, in this episode he is childishly naive, although he is embarrassed about it.
Petya is worried about the fate of the French boy who was captured. He is the same age as Rostov, just as young and inexperienced. “It’s great for us, but what about him? Where did they take him? Did you feed him? Did you offend me?" – the internal monologue shows Petya’s friendly attitude towards the prisoner. For him, Vincent Boss is not an enemy, but a very young soldier in trouble, and he simply needs help. Petya asks Denisov to invite Vincent to have dinner with the partisans. After all, even prisoners must be treated humanely. A French boy sees a friend in Rostov, ready to help anyone in Hard time.
Petya's nobility comes from the heart, but he is ashamed of his action. Perhaps it will seem cowardly to some of the fighters that Petya Rostov took pity on the enemy: “When the drummer entered the hut, Petya sat away from him, considering it humiliating for himself to pay attention to him. He just felt the money in his pocket and was in doubt whether it would be a shame to give it to the drummer.” The author is ironic about his hero. To be so sensitive, sincere, and friendly towards the enemy is real kindness and love for people.
To reveal the character of the hero, the author uses the technique of internal dialogue. It is through Petya’s internal reflections that the reader sees how great his desire to accomplish a feat at any cost is, and how enormous his love for people was. Great place This episode is dominated by dialogue. Through speech characteristics we get to know the hero better. Petya’s phrases are abrupt, he quickly switches from one thing to another. Surrounded by experienced fighters, Rostov feels awkward and shy. Petya tries to appear older than his age, and when he fails, he blushes. Those around him should accept him as Petya was raised in his family: timid, trusting, shy, kind, romantic. This spontaneity is his charm, for which the fighters love Petya, although sometimes they laugh at his actions in their hearts.
I think that after reading this episode, any reader will fall in love with Petya for his warmth, philanthropy, childish naivety, and romantic dreams. This is characteristic not only of him, but of all Rostovs. Let us remember the fates of Natasha and Nikolai. They are the same open, sensitive, sweet, compassionate people as theirs. younger brother. Parents were able to instill in their children best qualities, this is exactly what Tolstoy appreciates in the Rostov family. And it’s a pity that dear Petya, following his romantic dream- to accomplish a feat, then dies. And it is very painful for the reader to read about this. I think that Petya would have grown into a noble officer and a wonderful person.

The huge epic canvas of Leo Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace” is inhabited by dozens of a wide variety of heroes. Some of them appear only occasionally, in episodes, while others are devoted to entire chapters and parts. This, of course, is nothing unusual: the larger the action of the work, the more characters it contains. But Tolstoy’s heroes are all wonderful and interesting. How can you determine who your favorite hero is in such a variety? What is important here is the impression of what you read, the reader’s value system and... probably, chance. Because many people reread this wonderful novel several times, and it is human nature to change.

What did the fat boy dream about?

I have always been inspired by the image of Petya Rostov. Yes, my favorite hero of the novel “War and Peace” is an incorrigible romantic who paid for it with his life. Yes, he is a child who experienced the horrors of war and never had time to grow up. But it is so bright and so beautiful in its purity...

The reader meets Petya Rostov at the very beginning of the epic novel. This one is fat a little boy starts an argument with Natasha about what he will ask at the birthday dinner, which is funny, but completely incompatible with good upbringing question about the cake. He hovered under the feet of Nikolai and Denisov when they arrived on vacation. Cute, small and yet unnoticeable.

However, children tend to grow. Growing up, my favorite hero of “War and Peace” enthusiastically indulged in playing at being an adult man: from childhood he wanted to become a hero, he wanted to go to war. The war seemed like something to Petya adult game, an adventure, a test of masculinity. Until the very end, this pure-hearted boy did not understand that war is, first of all, death, dirt and grief.

Young Defender of the Motherland

Having reached suitable age, Petya declared to his parents with delight and anticipation: “Well, now, daddy, I will decisively say - and mummy too, whatever you want - I will decisively say that you will let me into military service, because I can’t... that’s all... ” – and went to the active army.

And now the dream of the young defender of the Motherland came true: he went to the front. Petya knows absolutely nothing about the war. He rushes into the thick of the fight, as if they were handing out ice cream. It seems to him that somewhere there, very close, that very heroic thing is happening that he, Petya, so lacks for happiness.

Older soldiers and officers, battered by life, try as best they can to protect Petya from danger. The general, for whom the boy serves as an orderly, sending him to Denisov, forbade Petya to participate in any of the latter’s forays. But what kind of sixteen-year-old boy listens to reasonable and boring adults when this happens around him?

Personality of Petya Rostov

Once in partisan detachment, Petya reveals himself as a person. Telling Denisov about his participation in the battle near Vyazma, Petya mentions “how one hussar distinguished himself there,” keeping silent about his (real or fictitious, but his) exploits. And this is not quite usual for sixteen year old, would you agree?

Petya desperately wants to look older, stronger and tougher, but cannot cope with his own kind hearted and a heightened love for truth. Handing his saber to the Cossack so that he could sharpen it, the boy wanted to say “it was dull,” but he could not lie and squeezed out: “it was never sharpened.” And when a French boy, the same age as young Rostov, is captured by them, Petya takes pity on him and, stepping over own wish to seem strong and tough, asks if it is possible to feed the prisoner...

Having gotten to know this hero of the novel “War and Peace” better, you begin to believe that this world still has a future. Petya is so kind, so open and pure! He believes everyone, considers everyone his friends; He even considers the sutler, who charges exorbitant prices, to be very, very honest.

To fully reveal the personality of the hero, Lev Nikolaevich uses the technique of internal monologue. It is from Petya’s thoughts that the reader learns how great his love is for the whole world and for people, how much this boy wants to serve his country and become a hero. The same one greatly reveals the hero’s “external” dialogue. Speech characteristics Petya displays the impetuosity and romanticism characteristic of all teenagers: the guy speaks in short, succinct phrases, often switches from one to another.

Senseless death...

Petya does not stop playing the hero until the very moment of his death. This boy lives in an imaginary world where there are no horrors of war, but only a “sweet solemn hymn” that sounds for him, for the hero. But, despite all his romanticism, the kid fights like a man: he copes well with the foray into the French camp.

I would like to finish my essay on the topic “My favorite hero of the novel “War and Peace” with a description of the episode of the death of Petya Rostov. Death of Petya - bright illustration the senseless cruelty of any war. It was a foggy morning, the horses seemed to be gliding in a haze. Denisov rode in silence - and then he saw a Frenchman rush at the feet of Petya’s horse. And then Petya himself fell to the ground, and his limbs twitched quickly, quickly, but his head remained motionless. Forever. Denisov was taken aback: he immediately understood what had happened, but still exclaimed: “Killed?” But this old soldier has seen many deaths! But maybe it was only when I stood over the body of the boy Rostov that I realized that every death closes one small world forever...

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While most works demonstrate the decline of the aristocracy, the novel by L.N. Tolstoy actively paints us a different picture - in the world high society It’s not so sad - there are still true aristocrats who reject pretentious appearances and playing to the public. In the mosaic of all the images of the epic novel, the Rostov family stands out noticeably - almost all family members (with the exception of eldest daughter Rostov - Vera) can serve as an example to follow. True, they do not always manage to fully correspond to the status of the ideal, but still, in many things, members of the Rostov family can serve as role models.

Family and relationships within the family

One of bright characters both the novel as a whole and the Rostov family is younger son Count Ilya Andreevich and Countess Natalya.

In addition to Peter, the family raised his five children. Peter is closely related by blood to three others - Vera, Nikolai and Natalya. Three more children were taken into care by the Rostovs. Sonya was a distant relative of the Rostovs; she moved into the Rostovs’ house after she became a complete orphan. Two more boys, Boris and Mitya, were not related to the Rostovs; they were taken into care due to the difficult situation in their families.

We invite you to get acquainted with the characteristics of the members of the Kuragin family in Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace”.

Relations within the family were not tense. In general, a calm and positive atmosphere prevailed. The children often spent time together; they were very friendly with each other. The only exception was Vera - the eldest of the Rostov children, who was the absolute opposite - rude and tough, she did not attract anyone. Because of this, the children made fun of her and even came up with ideas for her. offensive nickname.

On our website you can familiarize yourself with the characterization of Dolokhov in Leo Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace”.

Since Peter was the youngest in the family, everyone turned a blind eye to his childhood pranks - his family understood that he was playing pranks without the intention of harming anyone - he was driven by curiosity. Despite the fact that many of his pranks were forgiven with impunity, Petya did not grow up spoiled or selfish. The Rostovs turned out to be talented educators and were able to protect their son from the appearance of such unattractive qualities in his character.

Appearance of Petya Rostov

Since Tolstoy’s novel covers a significant period of time, the reader has the opportunity to trace the features age-related changes heroes. This trend can be traced in the case of the image of Peter Rostov.

At the beginning of the novel, Petya is 9 years old. Little is known about his appearance at that time. Tolstoy links the only mention to the boy’s build, pointing out that at the age of 9 Petya was overweight.

The following mention is for 13 years of age. At that time Perth Rostov was handsome teenager, who began to enter the pubertal period of his physiological development.

At the age of 15, Petya became very similar to his sister Natasha. Petya had a snub nose, he had expressive black eyes and blush on his cheeks.

His puberty had not yet ended - his voice had not yet completely changed, so from time to time Petya spoke in a squeaky childish voice.
Military life invariably displayed on appearance Petit - he finally left adolescence and matured. Despite the fact that Petya had to face the most unsightly reality and cruelty on the battlefield, his eyes did not lose their childish gaiety, and his cheeks did not lose their blush.

Childhood

Peter Rostov is one of central characters novel, but still its effect is short-lived - premature death was the reason. Based on this, there are not too many episodes in the novel with detailed descriptions of situations that make it possible to deeply characterize his image.

Most of the memories of Petya are persistently connected with his childhood.
When Petya was a child, his every day began and ended with a prank - Petya constantly broke something. However, he always managed to escape punishment. He was a very active child and tormented all family members with his antics. Naturally, like all children, Petya loved sweets and never deprived himself of the opportunity to enjoy something tasty.

Of all the family members, Petya became best friends with Natalya - the reason for this was most likely her patient nature and insignificant (compared to other children) age difference.

Personality characteristics

Petya was always cheerful and cheerful. Even in the most difficult situations he managed to maintain these qualities.

He is a kind and sympathetic person. Petya has always been sensitive to the grief of others; he is ready to support a person who finds himself in difficult situation.

Like all children, he wants to become an adult as soon as possible. It is then, according to Petya, that his life will become easier, because those around him will not laugh at his actions, attributing them to childishness.

Rostov was always sincere, he did not know how to dissemble or lie. Petya was always filled with the desire to make the world a kinder place. A wealthy and comfortable life did not cause him to have negative qualities: Petya never treated people with prejudice because of their financial situation or social status. For him, the essence of a person is important, his inner world.

Petya had no desire for science, but at the same time he was not stupid. Rostov was too restless - the need to work intently on books for a long time was an unthinkable activity for him.

He was always patriotic and treated Alexander I with special reverence. It was the feeling of patriotism, incited by youthful maximalism, that became the cause of his death.

Military service of Peter Rostov

Public position father and brother became the reason for the emergence of a fanatical sense of patriotism in Petya. That is why, on the eve of military events, he decides to begin military service.

This decision was a blow to the whole family - his relatives believed that this type of activity was not suitable for Petya and could even become disastrous for him - according to his relatives, he was still too young for such a thing, but Peter was too stubborn and adamant - in the end, his family I had to come to terms with his choice - Petya gave an ultimatum - he was going to run away from home if his relatives interfered with his intentions. The relatives, having tried all attempts to dissuade Petya, agreed that the only way out of this situation would be to accept Petya’s position and allow him to go to serve in defense of the Fatherland and watch his first successes in the field with undisguised fear military service.

Of course, the Rostovs did not completely indulge Petya’s whims and found him the most safe place for service.

However, Petya’s soul was eager to go to the battlefield - he needed to accomplish the feat at all costs. He set this as a goal, but it was difficult to achieve if you did not take part in military battles.

Participation in military events of 1812

The desire to perform a heroic act did not leave Peter Rostov and, in the end, became an obsessive thought. Therefore, he always strives to be on the front line - in the very center of military battles. Soon such an opportunity arises for him.

Pyotr Rostov finds himself in Denisov’s detachment. The young man perceives everything around him with enthusiasm. It seems to him that he has found himself in a place where people’s destinies are decided and the most insane feats are performed.

Petya is still just a child at heart and those around him notice this; they do not ridicule his childishness and childish impulses - for people hardened by battles, such an emotional perception seems unusually sweet.

And now Petya’s dream has come true - he takes part in a military battle near Vyazma, but he acts extremely recklessly: he violates the order and gallops in the wrong place, but under the fire of the French, firing several times from a pistol towards the enemy. After this incident, he is prohibited from taking part in hostilities.

How does this analysis of an episode differ from a retelling? What problem did the author of the essay set, was it solved and how?

The role of the episode of the death of Petya Rostov
in the novel by L.N. Tolstoy "War and Peace"

The episode of Petya Rostov's death is located at the end of the third part last volume the epic is, in fact, the last, since in the fourth part Tolstoy sums up the narrative. The death of Petya Rostov on one of the last pages of the novel emphasizes Tolstoy’s thought about the meaninglessness and inhumanity of war, which kills a young, charming, cheerful young man. At the same time, in this episode the idea of people's patriotism in this war, thanks to the image of a heroic youth who voluntarily left at the age of sixteen to fight for his homeland.

The episode of Petya’s death is preceded by a number of events that help to understand the young man’s state before the battle. At first, Petya, together with Dolokhov, goes on reconnaissance to the French camp and returns already in an excited state. This is manifested in the way he behaves with Dolokhov (“let’s kiss”). Having never fallen asleep, Petya goes for a walk around the camp, on the way he meets a Cossack and enters into a conversation with him, in which he strives to show himself not as a youth, but as an experienced warrior: “Why are the flints in the pistols misaligned... That’s why I’m used to doing everything carefully. Others, somehow, are not prepared and regret it. I don’t like it that way.” Tolstoy with great skill depicts the state of Petya, who wants to look older, but in fact is still just a child. Therefore, everything real around him seems magical to him: “No matter what Petya saw, nothing would surprise him. He was in a magical kingdom where everything was possible."

The most important ideological and compositional role is played by Petya’s dream, “Petya’s Music.” He hears the sound of a harmonious choir, in which each instrument merges with the other “in a sweet solemn hymn,” and even everything that surrounded the boy during sleep (“drops dripped, and the saber whistled, and the saber whistled, and again they fought and neighed horses") - did not disturb the chorus, but entered into it.

This dream reflects not only Petya’s tense state, but also contains deep philosophical meaning is a hymn to the beauty and harmony of life. He anticipates the appearance of a “ball of drops” in Pierre’s dream.

The next morning, during the detachment’s performance, Petya’s condition and behavior contrasts sharply with environment. While the infantry, “splashing with a hundred feet, walked forward along the road... his face, especially his eyes, burned with fire, a chill ran down his back, and something in his whole body was trembling quickly and evenly.”

The author emphasizes that during the move this trembling intensifies, and it seems to Petya that at the moment of the shot, the signal for the attack, everything blossomed, “like the middle of the day.” He rushes forward, not seeing the surrounding reality. Petya himself is looking for his own death, fearing to be late, he strives to be in the thick of things. On the one hand, his action can be explained by his youth, on the other hand, we see in his actions irresponsible courage, which Tolstoy does not consider real heroism. Therefore, the picture of death is described casually and simply: “Petya fell heavily on the wet ground. The Cossacks saw how quickly his arms and legs twitched, despite the fact that his head did not move. The bullet went through his head.”

Tolstoy perfectly depicts the denouement of the episode. We see how seasoned warriors take the boy’s death seriously. Despite the fact that they hide their feelings, it is clear how deeply shocked Dolokhov and Denisov are. The first orders “take no prisoners,” expressing shock with these words. Denisov was simply knocked down by this death: “And the Cossacks looked back in surprise at the dog’s barking, with which Denisov quickly turned away.”

Anticipating the news of Petya’s death in the Rostov house, Tolstoy talks about the bitterness of the loss of a loved one: “... but when there is a dying person close person, and a loved one... then there is a gap and a mental wound that sometimes heals. But it always hurts." The writer describes very touchingly soul feelings loved ones about the loss of Petya. “Pe.. Petya... Come, come, she, she’s calling... - he, sobbing like a child, quickly mincing with weakened legs, walked up to the chair and fell almost on it, covering his face with his hands.” Something terrible hit her in the heart, and it seemed to her... that she was dying.” There is no consolation for parents who have lost their son.

The episode of Petya's death is very important in the novel and is closely connected with ideological meaning the entire work. This episode reflected one of the most important ideas - the idea of ​​family. And also a popular thought, since Petya is a participant guerrilla warfare, and the partisan movement, according to Tolstoy, is a vivid manifestation of patriotism.