Tolstoy's war and peace year of writing. The history of the creation of the novel “War and Peace”

In literature lessons, students are required to study wonderful work"Dubrovsky", which touches on the topic of friendship and shows how thin the line between friendship and hatred can be. To make it easier to get acquainted with Dubrovsky’s work, we offer a brief summary. Summary Dubrovsky in 6th grade will help you get acquainted with the plot chapter by chapter and will give you the opportunity to continue working with the work, completing the assignments.

Dubrovsky summary by chapter

Chapter 1

So, the summary of the novel by Dubrovsky takes us to one of the estates. There we meet a noble landowner. This is a gentleman who has good connections. Everyone in the area is afraid of him and tries not to cross his path. Troekurov himself does not respect anyone, with the exception of his acquaintance Dubrovsky, who lives next door. Here he is, despite the fact that the neighbor is poor, he is, and they still know each other through work. Both were widowed early and were single fathers. Troekurov has a beautiful daughter, Dubrovsky has a good son. Everyone envied their friendship, but the unpredictable happened. Once, Troekurov boasted to his guests, where his friend-neighbor was also present, about his kennel, and here Dubrovsky noticed that Kiril Petrovich’s dogs lived better than the servants. And then the servant, the huntsman, could not resist. He contributed to the conversation by saying that many landowners live worse than Troekurov’s dogs. Dubrovsky realized that it was about him, he was offended and left. In response, he demanded that Troyekurov send a servant, whom Andrei Gavrilych Dubrovsky would punish in his own way. And then Troekurov’s people were cutting down Dubrovsky’s forest, he caught some of them, took away the horses, and beat the people with rods. But Troekurov could not tolerate this, only he has the right to punish his people. Completely furious, Troekurov decides to take away Dubrovsky’s estate, knowing that all his documents were burned, declares that Kistenevka belongs to him and goes to court.

Chapter 2

At the court hearing, Dubrovsky was unable to prove his right to own Kistenevka, so the court transferred the right of ownership of the estate to Troekurov, who gladly signed a document for Dubrovsky’s estate; he, unable to bear such a decision, goes crazy. Troekurov, having seen the result of his revenge, could not get enough of his victory.

Chapter 3

Dubrovsky on an estate that no longer belongs to him. Every day he gets worse and worse, so the nanny calls his son Vladimir from St. Petersburg, where he is studying at cadet corps. Vladimir heads to his village. A servant meets him and says that all the men will be faithful to the Dubrovskys to the end, since they do not want to serve Troekurov. Vladimir goes to his father and is left alone with him.

Chapter 4

The father cannot really explain what happened, and meanwhile the time for the appeal is running out. Troyekurov himself is tormented by remorse, if you can call it that. He decides to go to the Dubrovskys and make peace with Andrei and even give up ownership. But when Troekurov approached the house, Dubrovsky Sr. saw him and had a stroke, he was paralyzed. Vladimir does not allow Troekurov into the house and he, angry, leaves. The elder Dubrovsky dies.

Chapter 5

Vladimir buries his father, and after the funeral, when he returns home, he meets the judges who have arrived to transfer ownership of the estate to Troekurov. The Dubrovsky peasants are against it, they do not want to serve Troyekurov, but Vladimir himself is trying to calm the men down and says that he will ask for protection from the sovereign. The judges stay on the estate overnight.

Chapter 6

Vladimir cannot come to terms with the loss of his village, his father’s estate, and decides to desperate step. He orders the peasant Arkhip to burn down the house, and said that all the doors should remain open so that the officials could get out in the event of a fire, but Arkhip disobeyed. As a result, the judges die in a fire.

Chapter 7

The whole area was talking about the fire. Troekurov personally conducts an investigation and finds out who exactly the arsonist was, although suspicion also falls on Vladimir, but there is no direct evidence. Soon a gang began to operate in the area, attacking the estates of landowners, setting them on fire, but at the same time bypassing Troekurov’s estate for some reason. As Troekurov himself said, all thanks to his good security system. Vladimir Dubrovsky is considered the leader of the gang.

Chapter 8

In this chapter we meet Masha, Troekurov’s daughter. She was a beauty and her father indulged her in everything. Troyekurov also had a son, Sasha, from his governess, who needed a teacher. A certain Frenchman Deforge, who Troekurov liked, is invited to play this role. Masha does not notice the young teacher, because for her he is an ordinary servant, but one incident changed everything. Once Troekurov decided to make fun of the Frenchman and sent him into the room with a bear that was chained. There was only one salvation for people, this was the corner of the room where the hungry beast could not reach. However, Deforge was not at a loss and, using a pistol, killed the bear. Such an act only raised the Frenchman in the eyes of Troekurov, while Masha herself began to stare at Deforge like a woman and quickly falls in love with her younger brother’s teacher.

Chapter 9

A holiday was on the agenda, during which many guests came to Troekurov’s estate; Spitsyn arrived belatedly, the same one who became a false witness, saying at the trial that Dubrovsky illegally owned his estate. He explained his lateness by saying that he was carrying a large sum and had to take detours so that Dubrovsky’s gang would not rob him. One of the guests said that Dubrovsky is fair and does not rob everyone, so he spared her and she was able to transfer the money to her son, who is now serving. Troekurov himself said that he was not afraid of the gang and in case of an attack, he would deal with them all, and then Troekurov told the guests about his joke on the French teacher and about his feat.

Chapter 10

Spitsyn constantly thinks about his money and that he might be robbed, so while staying overnight with Troekurov, he asks that the brave Deforge, who was not afraid of the hungry bear, stay overnight in the same room with him. Deforge agrees. At night it turned out that Deforge was the same Vladimir who tried to take the bag with the money. Spitsyn ordered him not to shout, threatening him in case Spitsyn wanted to hand him over.

Chapter 11

This chapter introduces us to how exactly Vladimir managed to become a French teacher. Vladimir met the real Deforge at the station, where he was waiting for the horses that were supposed to take him to the estate of the Troekurovs. Vladimir pays ten thousand and receives the Frenchman’s documents, as well as letters of recommendation. Thus, Vladimir manages to enter the house. There he began to enjoy respect, and when at Troekurov’s house he met one of the offenders, Spitsyn, he could not resist and took the money. Spitsyn himself leaves Troekurov’s estate with fear from the very morning.

Chapter 12

On French lesson, Deforge gives a letter to Masha, which talks about a date in the gazebo. There he reveals his real name and tells her of his love. He also said that he no longer holds a grudge against her father, but he needs to hide for a while. At this time, the police officer comes to the Troyekurovs to arrest the Frenchman, since according to Spitsyn’s testimony this is Dubrovsky, but there is no trace of him.

Chapter 13

A year passes summer period Prince Vareikin, who was fifty, although he looked even older, came to his village estate, which was next door to Troekurov’s estate. Troekurov was delighted with this neighborhood; the landowners began to visit each other often. While visiting the Troyekurovs, Vareikin liked Masha and begins to court her.

Chapter 14

Masha receives a letter, but she does not have time to read it, because her father calls her to him. As it turned out, Vareikin asked for her hand in marriage and her father agreed. Unhappy Masha is ordered to prepare for the wedding. Masha goes into the room and reads the letter there. It is from Dubrovsky Jr. Vladimir asks her to meet.

Chapter 15

Masha sees Vladimir, who found out about the upcoming wedding. He wants to take the girl away and get rid of Vareikin, but she hopes to convince her father peacefully. If her father is unshakable in his decision, then she took Vladimir’s word that he would save her from the crown. Vladimir gives a ring with which Masha can warn of trouble, leaving it in a hollow tree.

Chapter 16

Masha decides to write a letter to the prince, where she asks him to abandon the matchmaking and intentions to marry her, but the prince not only does not abandon the plan, but also shows the letter to Masha’s father. Troekurov speeds up the wedding and schedules it in two days. Masha threatens to turn to Dubrovsky for help, then her father locks her up.

Chapter 17

Masha is locked up and doesn’t know how to convey a sign to Dubrovsky, and then Sasha comes to her window - younger brother. She asks him to throw the ring into the hollow, which he does. However, he saw that an unfamiliar boy was taking the ring. Not knowing that this is Dubrovsky’s messenger, Sasha begins to fight with the boy; a servant comes to Sasha’s aid. An unfamiliar boy is taken to Troekurov, who finds out what's what. He understands that Masha and Vladimir corresponded with the ring. The master lets the boy go, but due to the delay, Vladimir does not have time.

Chapter 18

Masha was dressed up in Wedding Dress. She is taken to the church, where the groom is already waiting for her. The wedding procedure takes place, after which the newlyweds head to Vareikin’s house. On the way they are stopped by Dubrovsky's gang. Vareikin wounds Vladimir, but he intends to save Masha. The girl refuses help, because the wedding took place, and she cannot neglect the ceremony performed in the church.

Chapter 19

In this chapter, Dubrovsky learns that soldiers are heading towards their robber fortification. The robbers withstood the assault and drove the soldiers away, but Dubrovsky understands that the persecution will not stop there. He disbands the gang and himself also disappears in an unknown direction. Nobody saw him again.

Plan

1. Neighbors-friends
2. From friendship to hatred, one ridiculous incident
3. Troekurov is suing Dubrovsky for the estate. Dubrovsky loses the trial
4. Vladimir goes to his father. Death of Dubrovsky Sr.
5. Funeral Fire in Dubrovsky's house
6. The gang that operates in the village
7. French teacher for youngest son Troekurova
8. Deforge and the bear
9. Holiday in the Troyekurovs' house. Deforge is Vladimir
10. Vladimir confesses his love for Troekurov’s daughter.
11. Vladimir disappears to avoid falling into the hands of the police.
12. Masha's matchmaking
13. Vladimir volunteers to help, but Masha tries to sort everything out herself.
14. Wedding of Masha and Vareikin.
15. Vladimir was late. Masha stays with Vareikin.
16. Vladimir disbands the gang and disappears himself.

Pushkin, Summary Dubrovsky, Plan

Essay “Vladimir Dubrovsky and Masha Troekurova”

d2ddea18f00665ce8623e36bd4e3c7c5

The story tells the story of the life of two families - the Troekuovs and the Dubrovskys. Once upon a time, Kirilla Petrovich Troekurov and Andrei Gavrilovich Dubrovsky were colleagues, so Andrei Gavrilovich is the only one in the area who is not afraid of the domineering nature of his rich neighbor. Dubrovsky has a son, Vladimir, who works in St. Petersburg, and Troekurov has a daughter, Masha, and Troekurov himself dreams of getting his children married. But suddenly the neighbors quarrel and move away from each other. Moreover, Troekurov really doesn’t like Dubrovsky’s independent behavior, and he decides to take away his estate by any means, even illegal ones. Soon Dubrovsky is summoned to court and a court decision is read to him, according to which his Kistenevka now belongs to Troekurov.

After the trial, Dubrovsky becomes seriously ill, and the serf peasant woman writes a letter to Vladimir in St. Petersburg, in which she reports what happened. Vladimir arrives in Kistenevka and sees his father’s grave condition. Troekurov is tormented by his conscience, and he goes to Dubrovsky to make peace. But at the moment of the meeting of former friends, Dubrovsky’s hatred is so strong that he experiences paralysis. Vladimir kicks Troekurov out of the house, and his father dies.

Soon after the death of Andrei Gavrilovich, bailiffs arrive in Kistenevka, reporting that Troekurov wants to take possession of his property. The peasants want to kill the bailiffs, but Vladimir does not allow them to do this. At night, he stops the blacksmith Arkhip, who sneaked into the house with the same intentions. As a result of all these events, Vladimir decides that it will be better if he leaves the estate. He orders to gather all the people, take them out of the house and set the house on fire. The blacksmith Arkhip does everything as Vladimir says, except for one thing - he locks the doors of the house, and all the officials die in a fire. Vladimir, who has escaped, is accused of murdering the bailiffs.

And at this time a gang of robbers appears in the province and robs all the landowners, leaving only one untouched - Troekurov. Rumors appear that the leader of the robbers is Vladimir Dubrovsky.

The Frenchman Deforge comes to the Troekurovs' house, whom Troekurov invites as a teacher for his son Sasha. Deforge is captivated by Masha's beauty, but she does not pay attention to him. Troekurov decides to “test” the Frenchman in the same way he usually has fun with guests - he takes the teacher into the room where the hungry bear is. Deforge kills the bear. Masha is impressed by such courage, and friendship is established between the young people, gradually turning into a more tender feeling.

There are guests in Troekurov's house. Sitting at the table, one of the landowners, Spitsyn, talks about how he lied at the trial against Dubrovsky. After dinner, Spitsyn, who had a lot of money with him, decides to spend the night in the Frenchman’s room, having heard about his bravery. At night, he wakes up to someone trying to take his money and sees Deforge with a gun near his bed. Deforge tells him that he is Dubrovsky. In the morning, Spitsyn leaves home without telling anyone anything. Masha secretly meets with Deforge, and he confesses to her that in fact he is Vladimir Dubrovsky. After this, the Frenchman disappears from the house. And just in time - a police officer arrives at the house and says that he is the missing Dubrovsky.

Troekurov is going to marry Masha to Prince Vereisky. Masha asks her father not to do this, but he is implacable. Then Masha asks Dubrovsky for help, giving him and Sasha a ring, which the boy must hide in the hollow of an oak tree. But Dubrovsky does not come for Masha either to his father’s house or to the church where the wedding took place. Only when the carriage with the newlyweds is leaving the church, it is stopped by a group of people led by Dubrovsky, who tells Masha that she is free. The prince shoots and wounds him, Dubrovsky’s people want to kill the prince, but he does not order them to do this. Masha tells Dubrovsky that he is late. Dubrovsky loses consciousness and is taken away. Soon the place where the robbers are located is surrounded by soldiers. During the battle, the robbers win. But a few days after this, Dubrovsky announces to his associates that he is leaving. After that, no one sees him anymore - they say that he went abroad.

"War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy - not just classic novel, but the real one heroic epic, literary value which is incomparable to any other work. The writer himself considered it a poem where private life of a person is inseparable from the history of an entire country.

It took Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy seven years to perfect his novel. Back in 1863, the writer more than once discussed plans to create a large-scale literary canvas with his father-in-law A.E. Bersom. In September of the same year, the father of Tolstoy’s wife sent a letter from Moscow, where he mentioned the writer’s idea. Historians consider this date to be the official beginning of work on the epic. A month later, Tolstoy writes to his relative that all his time and attention is occupied by new novel, which he thinks about like never before.

History of creation

The writer's original idea was to create a work about the Decembrists, who spent 30 years in exile and returned home. Starting point The year described in the novel was supposed to be 1856. But then Tolstoy changed his plans, deciding to depict everything from the beginning of the Decembrist uprising of 1825. And this was not destined to come true: the writer’s third idea was the desire to describe the hero’s young years, which coincided with large-scale historical events: the War of 1812. The final version was the period from 1805. The circle of heroes was also expanded: the events in the novel cover the history of many individuals who went through all the hardships of different historical periods in the life of the country.

The title of the novel had several variations. “Workers” was the name “Three Times”: the youth of the Decembrists during the period Patriotic War 1812; The Decembrist uprising of 1825 and the 50s of the 19th century, when several events occurred at once important events in the history of Russia - the Crimean War, the passing of Nicholas I, the return of the amnestied Decembrists from Siberia. In the final version, the writer decided to focus on the first stage, since writing a novel, even on such a scale, required a lot of effort and time. So, instead of an ordinary work, a whole epic was born, which has no analogues in world literature.

Tolstoy devoted the entire autumn and early winter of 1856 to writing the beginning of War and Peace. Already at this time, he tried more than once to quit his job, because in his opinion it was impossible to convey the entire plan on paper. Historians say that in the writer’s archive there were fifteen versions of the beginning of the epic. In the process of his work, Lev Nikolaevich tried to find answers for himself to questions about the role of man in history. He had to study many chronicles, documents, materials describing the events of 1812. The confusion in the writer's head was caused by the fact that everything information sources they assessed both Napoleon and Alexander I differently. Then Tolstoy decided to move away from the subjective statements of strangers and reflect in the novel his own assessment of events, based on true facts. From diverse sources he borrowed documentary materials, notes from contemporaries, newspaper and magazine articles, letters from generals, archival documents Rumyantsev Museum.

(Prince Rostov and Akhrosimova Marya Dmitrievna)

Considering it necessary to visit the scene of events, Tolstoy spent two days in Borodino. It was important for him to personally tour the place where large-scale and tragic events. He even personally made sketches of the sun on the field during different periods days.

The trip gave the writer the opportunity to experience the spirit of history in a new way; became a kind of inspiration for further work. For seven years, the work proceeded with elation and “burning.” The manuscripts consisted of more than 5,200 sheets. Therefore, War and Peace is easy to read even after a century and a half.

Analysis of the novel

Description

(Napoleon is thoughtful before the battle)

The novel “War and Peace” touches on a sixteen-year period in Russian history. The starting date is 1805, the final date is 1821. The work contains more than 500 characters. It's like real existing people, and fictitious by the writer to make the description colorful.

(Kutuzov, before the Battle of Borodino, considers a plan)

The novel intertwines two main storylines: historical events in Russia and the personal lives of the characters. Real historical figures are mentioned in the description of the Austerlitz, Shengraben, Borodino battles; capture of Smolensk and surrender of Moscow. More than 20 chapters are devoted specifically to the Battle of Borodino, as the main decisive event of 1812.

(The illustration shows an episode of Natasha Rostova's Ball from their film "War and Peace" 1967.)

In opposition to “wartime,” the writer describes the personal world of people and everything that surrounds them. Heroes fall in love, quarrel, make peace, hate, suffer... In the confrontation between different characters, Tolstoy shows the difference in moral principles individuals. The writer is trying to tell that various events can change one’s worldview. One complete picture of the work consists of three hundred thirty-three chapters of 4 volumes and another twenty-eight chapters located in the epilogue.

First volume

The events of 1805 are described. The “peaceful” part touches on life in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The writer introduces the reader to the society of the main characters. The “military” part is the Battle of Austerlitz and Shengraben. Tolstoy concludes the first volume with a description of how military defeats affected peaceful life characters.

Second volume

(Natasha Rostova's first ball)

This is a completely “peaceful” part of the novel, which affected the lives of the heroes in the period 1806-1811: the birth of Andrei Bolkonsky’s love for Natasha Rostova; Freemasonry of Pierre Bezukhov, Karagin's kidnapping of Natasha Rostova, Bolkonsky's refusal to marry Natasha. The volume concludes with a description of a formidable omen: the appearance of a comet, which is a symbol of great upheaval.

Third volume

(The illustration shows an episode of Borodinsky's battle in the film "War and Peace" 1967.)

In this part of the epic, the writer turns to wartime: Napoleon’s invasion, the surrender of Moscow, battle of Borodino. On the battlefield the main male characters novel: Bolkonsky, Kuragin, Bezukhov, Dolokhov... The end of the volume is the capture of Pierre Bezukhov, who staged an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Napoleon.

Volume four

(After the battle, the wounded arrive in Moscow)

The “military” part is a description of the victory over Napoleon and the shameful retreat of the French army. Affects writer and period guerrilla warfare after 1812. All this is intertwined with the “peaceful” destinies of the heroes: Andrei Bolkonsky and Helen pass away; love arises between Nikolai and Marya; think about life together Natasha Rostova and Pierre Bezukhov. And the main character of the volume is the Russian soldier Platon Karataev, through whose words Tolstoy tries to convey all the wisdom of the common people.

Epilogue

This part is devoted to describing the changes in the lives of the heroes seven years after 1812. Natasha Rostova is married to Pierre Bezukhov; Nikolai and Marya found their happiness; Bolkonsky’s son Nikolenka has matured. In the epilogue, the author reflects on the role of individuals in the history of an entire country, and tries to show historical relationships events and human destinies.

The main characters of the novel

More than 500 characters are mentioned in the novel. The author tried to describe the most important of them as accurately as possible, endowing them with special features not only of character, but also of appearance:

Andrei Bolkonsky is a prince, the son of Nikolai Bolkonsky. Constantly searching for the meaning of life. Tolstoy describes him as handsome, reserved and with “dry” features. He has strong will. Dies as a result of a wound received at Borodino.

Marya Bolkonskaya - princess, sister of Andrei Bolkonsky. Inconspicuous appearance and radiant eyes; piety and concern for relatives. In the novel, she marries Nikolai Rostov.

Natasha Rostova is the daughter of Count Rostov. In the first volume of the novel she is only 12 years old. Tolstoy describes her as not quite a girl beautiful appearance(black eyes, big mouth), but at the same time “alive”. Her inner beauty attracts men. Even Andrei Bolkonsky is ready to fight for your hand and heart. At the end of the novel she marries Pierre Bezukhov.

Sonya

Sonya is the niece of Count Rostov. In contrast to her cousin Natasha, she is beautiful in appearance, but much poorer mentally.

Pierre Bezukhov is the son of Count Kirill Bezukhov. An awkward, massive figure, kind and at the same time a strong character. He can be stern, or he can become a child. He is interested in Freemasonry. Tries to change the lives of peasants and influence large-scale events. Initially married to Helen Kuragina. At the end of the novel he takes Natasha Rostova as his wife.

Helen Kuragina is the daughter of Prince Kuragin. A beauty, a prominent socialite. She married Pierre Bezukhov. Changeable, cold. Died as a result of an abortion.

Nikolai Rostov is the son of Count Rostov and Natasha's brother. Successor of the family and defender of the Fatherland. He took part in military campaigns. He married Marya Bolkonskaya.

Fyodor Dolokhov is an officer, a participant in the partisan movement, as well as a big reveler and lover of ladies.

Countess of Rostov

Countess Rostov - parents of Nikolai, Natasha, Vera, Petya. A revered married couple, an example to follow.

Nikolai Bolkonsky is a prince, the father of Marya and Andrei. In Catherine's time, a significant personality.

The author pays much attention to the description of Kutuzov and Napoleon. The commander appears before us as smart, unfeigned, kind and philosophical. Napoleon is described as a small, fat man with an unpleasantly fake smile. At the same time, it is somewhat mysterious and theatrical.

Analysis and conclusion

In the novel “War and Peace” the writer tries to convey to the reader “ popular thought" Its essence is that everyone positive hero has its own connection with the nation.

Tolstoy moved away from the principle of telling a novel in the first person. Character evaluation and events are going on through monologues and author's digressions. At the same time, the writer leaves the right to the reader to evaluate what is happening. A striking example The scene of the Battle of Borodino, shown both from the side, can serve as a similar example. historical facts, and the subjective opinion of the hero of the novel Pierre Bezukhov. The writer does not forget about the bright historical figure - General Kutuzov.

The main idea of ​​the novel lies not only in the disclosure of historical events, but also in the opportunity to understand that one must love, believe and live under any circumstances.

Tolstoy's "War and Peace" as an epic novel

Tolstoy began work on the novel in 1863, immediately after the fiftieth anniversary of the victory over the French in the Patriotic War of 1812, and finished it in 1869.

Tolstoy spent quite a long time coming up with the idea of ​​“War and Peace.” At first he conceived a work called “Decembrists”, the main character of which was to be the Decembrist Volkhonsky-Lobazov, returning from Siberian exile. According to the author, this energetic man old age had to stand out very strongly against the background of his compatriots who had lost their “high aspirations” and were incapable of decisive action. Considering that the center of the work would be a description of Russian social and everyday life of that time, and the basis of the novel was such a satirical opposition, “The Decembrists” could be called a socio-psychological novel.

But the events of 1825 led the author to 1812, because it was the social upsurge after the victory over Napoleon that gave birth to the Decembrist uprising. Thus, Tolstoy comes to the idea of ​​a new work - historical novel“Three Times”, in which the process of formation and development of the protagonist’s character took place against the backdrop of historical events early XIX century.

Tolstoy, while working on this work, became interested in depicting sketches of the Patriotic War, and the novel began to look more and more like a historical chronicle, where the facts were arranged in a strict chronological sequence. So the author understands that history has already become an independent subject of narration, and the work is increasingly reminiscent of a heroic poem. This is how the idea for a work called “All’s well that ends well” appears. This novel already includes not only a description of life noble society, but also sketches peasant life. Familiar heroes already meet there - the Rostovs, Bezukhov and Bolkonsky. This is the penultimate version of Tolstoy's novel, and after abandoning this version, the author begins work on War and Peace. Thus, the work retains the features of the genres of all previous plans: novel, heroic poem, as well as historical chronicles, where the people - main character history, and the Patriotic War is not a background, but an ideological and composition center works.

“The epic kind is becoming natural to me,” Tolstoy writes in his diary on January 3, 1863, shortly before he began writing the novel. Two and a half years later (September 30, 1865) Tolstoy wrote in his diary: “There is poetry of the novelist: 1) […] 2) in the picture of morals built on historical event- Odyssey, Iliad, 1805,” that is, he drew a parallel between the works of Homer and his novel.

Tolstoy appreciated the epic because at its center are the destinies of not one or several heroes, but of the entire people and even nations. In 1868, Tolstoy wrote an article “A few words about the book “War and Peace”,” where he tried to answer the question of what exactly his novel was. Reflecting on the genre, he wrote: “This is not a novel, still less a poem, even less a historical chronicle. “War and Peace” is what the author wanted and could express in the form in which it was expressed.” And further Tolstoy writes that the problem with defining the genre that “War and Peace” faced is characteristic of many other works: “The history of Russian literature since the time of Pushkin not only presents many examples of such a departure from the European form, but does not even give a single example of the opposite. Starting from " Dead souls"Gogol and before" House of the Dead"Dostoevsky, in the new period of Russian literature there is not a single artistic prose work, a little out of mediocrity, which would fit well into the form of a novel, poem or story.” That is, according to Tolstoy, all the great works of Russian literature do not fit into traditional ideas about the European novel.

In the twentieth century, literary scholars still managed to agree on the question genre definition novel: they called the work an epic novel, primarily because “War and Peace” is a solid work of fiction, but many features of many novels can be seen in it.

1. Historical novel. The reader understands that this historical work when he sees a link to the past, and also meets real people in the novel historical figures, such as Kutuzov, Napoleon, Alexander I. Tolstoy used many historical sources while working on the novel. For example, the author turned to books about Freemasonry, to the works of war historians (both Russian and French) and to historical chronicles. But Tolstoy’s interaction with historians is more reminiscent of an argument than full-fledged cooperation, which is why the author often turns to the memoirs of his contemporaries - to the works of Russian and French memoirists.
2. Psychological novel. Contemporaries thought the combination of historical and psychological works. A. S. Pushkin followed this path in the novel “ Captain's daughter"and in the drama "Boris Godunov". There is a lot in Tolstoy's novel fictional characters, but there were prototypes for them: Denisov - Denis Davydov; the prototype of the old Prince Bolkonsky is Tolstoy's maternal grandfather - Volkonsky, etc. Tolstoy built the heroes so that their actions and way of thinking did not conflict with the real heroes of the era, that is, there is no contradiction between the actions real heroes and fictional. N. G. Chernyshevsky very accurately defined the features of Tolstoy’s psychologism. According to him, the author of War and Peace is interested in “himself mental process, its forms, its laws, the dialectic of the soul." The critic called the detailed reproduction in work of art feelings in motion: the process of the origin of feelings, then development, then transfer to another character. Readers will go through the stages of spiritual quest of the main characters, such as Pierre Bezukhov, Andrei Bolkonsky and Natasha Rostova.
3. The novel also has features of a battle novel. Tolstoy describes in great detail the Shengraben, Austerlitz and Borodino battles, the number of soldiers, the location of troops, losses in killed and prisoners, and so on.
4. Traits of a lover or family romance are also present in "War and Peace" in large numbers. There are more than ten in the novel love lines, each of which is described in sufficient detail.

In War and Peace one can also see features of many other novels, for example educational novel, secular, Moscow, St. Petersburg and so on. Variety of plot directions a large number of characters and storylines, coverage of a large time period, appeal to historical sources and the presence of real historical figures in the work allow us to confidently call “War and Peace” an epic novel.

The novel "War and Peace" L.N. Tolstoy devoted seven years of intense and persistent work. September 5, 1863 A.E. Bers, father of Sofia Andreevna, wife of L.N. Tolstoy, sent from Moscow to Yasnaya Polyana a letter with the following remark: “Yesterday we talked a lot about 1812 on the occasion of your intention to write a novel relating to this era.” It is this letter that researchers consider “the first accurate evidence” dating the beginning of L.N.’s work. Tolstoy's "War and Peace". In October of the same year, Tolstoy wrote to his relative: “I have never felt my mental and even all moral forces so much free and so much capable of work. And I have this job. This work is a novel from the time of 1810 and 20s, which has been occupying me completely since the fall... I am now a writer with all the strength of my soul, and I write and think about it as I have never written or thought about it before.”

The manuscripts of “War and Peace” testify to how one of the world’s largest works was created: over 5,200 finely written sheets have been preserved in the writer’s archive. From them you can trace the entire history of the creation of the novel.

Initially, Tolstoy conceived a novel about a Decembrist who returned after a 30-year exile in Siberia. The novel began in 1856, shortly before the abolition of serfdom. But then the writer revised his plan and moved on to 1825 - the era of the Decembrist uprising. But soon the writer abandoned this beginning and decided to show the youth of his hero, which coincided with the formidable and glorious times of the Patriotic War of 1812. But Tolstoy did not stop there, and since the war of 1812 was in unbreakable connection since 1805, then he began the entire composition from that time. Having moved the beginning of the action of his novel half a century into the depths of history, Tolstoy decided to take not one, but many heroes through the most important events for Russia.

Tolstoy called his plan - to capture in artistic form the half-century history of the country - “Three Times”. The first time is the beginning of the century, its first decade and a half, the time of youth of the first Decembrists who went through the Patriotic War of 1812. The second time is the 20s with their main event - the uprising of December 14, 1825. The third time - the 50s, an unfortunate end for the Russian army Crimean War, sudden death Nicholas I, the amnesty of the Decembrists, their return from exile and the time of waiting for changes in the life of Russia.

However, in the process of working on the work, the writer narrowed the scope of his initial plan and focused on the first period, touching only on the beginning of the second period in the epilogue of the novel. But even in this form, the concept of the work remained global in scope and required the writer to exert all his strength. At the beginning of his work, Tolstoy realized that the usual framework of the novel and historical story would not be able to accommodate all the richness of the content he had planned, and began to persistently look for a new one. art form, he wanted to create literary work completely unusual type. And he succeeded. “War and Peace”, according to L.N. Tolstoy is not a novel, not a poem, not a historical chronicle, this is an epic novel, new genre prose, which after Tolstoy became widespread in Russian and world literature.

During the first year of work, Tolstoy worked hard on the beginning of the novel. According to the author himself, many times he started and gave up writing his book, losing and gaining hope of expressing in it everything that he wanted to express. Fifteen versions of the beginning of the novel have been preserved in the writer’s archive. The concept of the work was based on Tolstoy’s deep interest in history, philosophical and socio-political issues. The work was created in an atmosphere of boiling passions around the main issue of that era - the role of the people in the history of the country, about their destinies. While working on the novel, Tolstoy sought to find the answer to these questions.

In order to truthfully describe the events of the Patriotic War of 1812, the writer studied great amount materials: books, historical documents, memoirs, letters. “When I write history,” Tolstoy pointed out in the article “A few words about the book “War and Peace,” “I like to be, down to the smallest detail, true to reality" While working on the work, he collected a whole library of books about the events of 1812. In the books of Russian and foreign historians, he found neither a truthful description of events nor a fair assessment historical figures. Some of them uncontrollably praised Alexander I, considering him the conqueror of Napoleon, others exalted Napoleon, considering him invincible.

Having rejected all the works of historians who depicted the war of 1812 as a war of two emperors, Tolstoy set himself the goal of truthfully covering the events great era and showed liberation war, which was led by the Russian people against foreign invaders. From the books of Russian and foreign historians, Tolstoy borrowed only genuine historical documents: orders, instructions, dispositions, battle plans, letters, etc. He introduced letters from Alexander I and Napoleon into the text of the novel, which Russian and french emperors exchanged before the start of the war of 1812; disposition Battle of Austerlitz, developed by General Weyrother, as well as the disposition of the Battle of Borodino, compiled by Napoleon. The chapters of the work also include letters from Kutuzov, which serve as confirmation of the characteristics given to the field marshal by the author.

When creating the novel, Tolstoy used the memoirs of his contemporaries and participants in the Patriotic War of 1812. Thus, from “Notes about 1812 by Sergei Glinka, the first warrior of the Moscow militia,” the writer borrowed materials for scenes depicting Moscow during the war; in “The Works of Denis Vasilyevich Davydov” Tolstoy found materials that served as the basis for the partisan scenes of “War and Peace”; in “The Notes of Alexei Petrovich Ermolov” the writer found a lot important information about the actions of Russian troops during their foreign campaigns of 1805-1806. Tolstoy also discovered a lot of valuable information in the notes of V.A. Perovsky about his time in captivity by the French, and in S. Zhikharev’s diary “Notes of a Contemporary from 1805 to 1819,” on the basis of which the novel describes Moscow life at that time.

While working on the work, Tolstoy also used materials from newspapers and magazines from the era of the Patriotic War of 1812. He spent a lot of time in the manuscript department of the Rumyantsev Museum and in the archives of the palace department, where he carefully studied unpublished documents (orders and instructions, reports and reports, Masonic manuscripts and letters historical figures). Here he became acquainted with the letters of the maid of honor imperial palace M.A. Volkova to V.A. Lanskaya, letters from General F.P. Uvarov and other persons. In letters not intended for publication, the writer found precious details depicting the life and characters of his contemporaries in 1812.

Tolstoy stayed in Borodino for two days. Having traveled around the battlefield, he wrote to his wife: “I am very pleased, very pleased with my trip... If only God grants health and peace, and I will write a Battle of Borodino that has never happened before.” Between the manuscripts of “War and Peace” there is a piece of paper with notes made by Tolstoy while he was on the Borodino field. “The distance is visible for 25 miles,” he wrote, sketching the horizon line and noting where the villages of Borodino, Gorki, Psarevo, Semenovskoye, Tatarinovo are located. On this sheet he noted the movement of the sun during the battle. While working on the piece, these short notes Tolstoy developed unique pictures of the Borodino battle, full of movement, colors and sounds.

Throughout the seven years of intense work that writing “War and Peace” required, Tolstoy’s elation and creative fire never left him, and that is why the work has not lost its significance to this day. More than a century has passed since the first part of the novel appeared in print, and War and Peace is invariably read by people of all ages - from young men to old people. During the years of work on the epic novel, Tolstoy stated that “the artist’s goal is not to undeniably resolve the issue, but to make one love life in its countless, never-exhaustible manifestations.” Then he admitted: “If they told me that what I write would be read by today’s children in twenty years and would cry and laugh over it and love life, I would devote my whole life and all my strength to it.” Many such works were created by Tolstoy. “War and Peace,” dedicated to one of the bloodiest wars of the 19th century, but affirming the idea of ​​the triumph of life over death, occupies an honorable place among them.