JI. N. Tolstoy. "War and Peace". “Family Thought” in the novel.

The Rostov and Bolkonsky, Berg and Kuragin families

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Target:

based on the novel JI. N. Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” to reveal the theme “Family Thought”, using elements of analysis of the means of creating images of heroes;

through a comparative description of families, to identify the author’s view on the topic of family;

improve students' research skills:

Ability to analyze, highlight the main points, compare, pose and solve problems;

to form students’ own family ideal.

Equipment: textbook, text of the novel “War and Peace”, handouts, tables.

Lesson type: a lesson in mastering new knowledge and developing skills.

Projected

results: students explore the topic “Family Thought” using the material from the novel JI. N. Tolstoy “War and Peace”, using elements of analysis of the means of creating images of heroes; through comparative characteristics of families, the author’s view on the topic of family is revealed; perform analytical work in groups; participate in a conversation or mini-discussion.

DURING THE CLASSES

I. Organizational stage

II. Updating of reference knowledge

Conversation

♦ How is the system of images grouped in an epic novel?

♦ As through the portrait characteristic of JI. N. Tolstoy reveals

the psychology of the hero and his inner world?

Teacher's word

In the novel "War and Peace" the theme of family occupies one of the key positions. For Tolstoy, the family is the soil for the formation of the human soul. The atmosphere of the house, the family nest, according to the writer, determines the psychology, views and even the fate of the heroes. The author tries to explain many of the features and patterns in the lives of his characters by their belonging to one or another family. Only in the family does a person receive everything that subsequently determines his character, habits, worldview and attitude.

That is why in the system of all the main images of the novel JI. N. Tolstoy singles out several families, the example of which clearly expresses the author’s attitude to the ideal of the home - these are the Bolkonskys, who preserve aristocratic traditions; and representatives of the Moscow nobility Rostov; the Kuragin family, deprived of mutual respect, sincerity and connections; the Berg family, which begins its existence by laying the “material foundation”. And in the epilogue of the novel JI. N. Tolstoy presents to the readers two new families - Pierre and Natasha, Nikolai and Marya, families based on sincere and deep feelings.

IV. Working on the lesson topic

1. Analytical work (in groups, based on the text of the novel)

1st group. The Berg family - ideals, the “foundation” of the family, the models that the Bergs follow, characteristics of Berg, Vera.

Which of the episodes indicate the prudence of Berg and Vera?

2nd group. The Kuragin family - the style of relations between family members. How do the Kuragins’ relationships develop outside their family? What kind of family members do they have in life? Characteristics of Prince Vasily, Anatoly, Helen.

What ethical principles are the members of the Kuragin family guided by?

Are there such concepts as honor, nobility, conscience, sacrifice in their value system?

3rd group. The Rostov family is the style of relationships in the family, the main feature of all Rostovs, unanimity in the family is the key to the happiness of all its members.

Which version of family, clan connections is acceptable for JI. N. Tolstoy?

What type of family do the Rostovs belong to?

What does parental home mean to them?

In what situations do we meet the Rostov family?

Pay attention to the ethics of this relationship. What will family mean in the life of Natasha the mother?

4th group. The Bolkonsky family - ideals, the foundation of the family, the style of relations between family members, the characteristics of the old Prince Bolkonsky, Andrei, Marya.

What are the relationships between members of the Bolkonsky family?

Do they form a breed like the Rostovs? What do they have in common?

What is hidden behind the external severity of old man Bolkonsky?

What are the most striking details, in your opinion, in the depiction of the internal and external appearance of the Bolkonskys?

How will Princess Marya embody her father’s ideal of a family?

How are the Bolkonskys’ house and the Rostovs’ house similar?

Indicative answers

The Berg family. Berg himself has much in common with Griboyedov’s Molchalin (moderation, diligence and accuracy). According to Tolstoy, Berg is not only a philistine, but also a part of the universal philistinism (the mania of acquisition takes over in any situation, drowning out the manifestation of normal feelings - the episode with the purchase of furniture during the evacuation of most residents from Moscow). Berg exploits the war of 1812 and squeezes maximum benefit out of it for himself. The Bergs are trying with all their might to resemble the models accepted in society: the evening that the Bergs throw is an exact copy of many other evenings with candles and tea. Vera (although she belongs to the Rostovs by birth and even as a girl, despite her pleasant appearance and development, good manners and correct judgments, repels people with her indifference to others and extreme selfishness.

Such a family, according to Tolstoy, cannot become the basis of society, because the foundation laid on its basis is material acquisitions, which are more likely to devastate the soul and contribute to the destruction of human relationships, rather than unification.

Kuragin family: Prince Vasily, Ippolit, Anatole, Helen. Family members are connected only by external relations. Prince Vasily does not have a fatherly feeling for children, all Kuragins are disunited. And in independent life, the children of Prince Vasily are doomed to loneliness: Helen and Pierre have no family, despite their official marriage; Anatole, being married to a Polish woman, enters into new relationships and is looking for a rich wife. Kuragins organically fit into the society of the regulars of Anna Pavlovna Scherer’s salon with its falseness and artificiality! false patriotism, intrigue. The true face of Prince Vasily is revealed in the episode of dividing the inheritance of Kirila Bezukhov, which he does not intend to refuse under any circumstances. He actually sells his daughter, marrying her to Pierre. The animal immoral principle inherent in Anatota Kuragin is especially clearly manifested when his father brings him to the Volkovsky house to marry Princess Marya to him (episode with Mademoiselle Burien). And his attitude towards Natasha Rostova is so low and immoral that it does not need any comments. Helene completes the family gallery with dignity - she is a predatory woman, ready to marry for convenience for the sake of money and position in society, and then treat her husband cruelly. The lack of connections and spiritual closeness makes this family formal, that is, people living in it are related only by blood, but there is no spiritual kinship or human closeness in this house, and therefore it can be assumed that such a family can instill a moral attitude towards life.

Bolkonsky family. The head of the family, old Prince Bolkonsky, established a meaningful life in Bald Mountains. He is a true aristocrat and carefully preserves all the traditions of the aristocracy.

The old prince's awareness of modern events surprises even his son. An ironic attitude towards religion and sentimentality brings father and son closer together. The death of the prince, according to Tolstoy, is retribution for his despotism. Bolkonsky lives by his mind; an intellectual atmosphere reigns in the house. The old prince even teaches his daughter the exact and historical sciences. But, despite a number of the prince’s eccentricities, his children - Prince Andrei and Princess Marya - love and respect their father, forgiving him some tactlessness and harshness. Maybe this is the phenomenon of the Bolkonsky family - unconditional respect and acceptance of all senior family members, unaccountable, sincere, in some ways even sacrificial love of family members for each other (Princess Marya decided for herself that she would not think about personal happiness , so as not to leave the father alone).

The relationships that have developed in this family, according to Tolstoy, contribute to the education of such feelings as respect, devotion, human dignity, and patriotism.

Rostov family . Using the example of the Rostov family, Tolstoy presents his ideal of family life, good relations between all family members. The Rostovs live the “life of the heart”, without demanding special intelligence from each other, treating life’s troubles with ease and ease. They are characterized by a truly Russian desire for breadth and scope. All members of the Rostov family are characterized by liveliness and spontaneity. The turning point in the life of the family was the departure from Moscow in 1812, the decision to give the carts intended for the removal of property to transport the wounded, which in fact was the ruin of the Rostovs. Dying, old Rostov feels not only guilt for the ruin of his children, but is also proud of his patriotic duty. Children in the Rostov family inherit from their parents sincerity, openness, selflessness, and the desire to love the whole world, all of humanity.

2. Teacher's summary

- “Epilogue” is the apotheosis of family happiness and harmony. There are no signs of serious dramatic conflicts here. Everything is simple and reliable in the young families of the Rostovs and Bezukhovs: an established way of life, the deep affection of the spouses for each other, love for children, understanding, participation.

Nikolai Rostov and Marya Bolkonskaya. The love of these people arises at a time of trouble looming over the fatherland. Nikolai and Marya are characterized by a commonality in the perception of people. This is a union in which husband and wife mutually enrich themselves spiritually. Nikolai makes Marya happy, and she brings kindness and tenderness into the family.

Natasha Rostova and Pierre Bezukhov. The purpose of their love is marriage, family and children. Here Tolstoy describes an idyll - an intuitive understanding of a loved one. The charm of Natasha the girl is clear to everyone, the charm of Natasha the woman is clear only to her husband. Each of them finds in love and family exactly what he has been striving for all his life, the meaning of his life, which, according to Tolstoy, for a woman lies in motherhood, and for a man in realizing himself as a support for a weaker person, his necessity.

To summarize the discussion, it should be noted that the theme of family, its importance in the development of a person’s character for Tolstoy in the novel “War and Peace” is one of the most important. The author tries to explain many of the features and patterns in the lives of his characters by their belonging to one or another family. At the same time, he emphasizes the great importance of the family in the formation of both a young person and his character, and an adult. Only in the family does a person receive everything that subsequently determines his character, habits, worldview and attitude.

And with its ending, “War and Peace” resembles an open book: the last words of the story are the dreams of a child, plans for the life that lies ahead. The fate of the novel’s heroes is only a link in the endless experience of humanity, of all people, both past and future, and among them that person who today, at the beginning of the 21st century, reads “War and Peace” with the hope of finding in it answers to “ eternal" questions. And now “the young man, clenching his mouth, redefines: for what does he live, for what does he suffer? What is love? Where does conscience live? And everything - not to the eye, but to the eyebrow, to the very soul, that is,” says A. Yashin.

Our time is special, many values ​​have been lost, often the material, rather than the spiritual, comes first (remember the union of Pierre and Helen), but can such a union be called a family? I think you and I have come to the same conclusion that a happy family is a family based on the moral principles that we have defined today, and I hope that when creating your own family, you will remember today’s lesson.

Each family is a big, complex world with its own traditions, relationships and habits, even its own view of raising children. They say that children are an echo of their parents. However, in order for this echo to sound not only due to natural affection, but also, mainly, due to conviction, it is necessary that in the home, in the family circle, customs, orders, and rules of life are strengthened, which cannot be crossed not out of fear of punishment, but out of respect for the foundations of the family, for its traditions. Do everything to ensure that your children’s childhood and future are wonderful, that the family is strong and friendly, that family traditions are preserved and passed on from generation to generation. I wish you happiness in your family, in the one in which you live today, which you yourself will create in the future. May mutual assistance and understanding always reign under the roof of your home, may your life be rich both spiritually and materially!

V. Reflection. Summing up the lesson

“Learning to debate”: mini-discussion

Which upbringing is closer to you: upbringing in the Rostov family or upbringing in the Bolkonsky family? Why?

What kind of family is the ideal for Tolstoy, what kind of family life does he consider “real”?

VI. Homework

2. Leading tasks

1- Prepare a brief retelling of the episode “View at Braunau” (vol. 1, part 2, chapter 1. 2, 3) and an expressive reading of an excerpt from volume 1, part 2, chapter. 2 from the words “As they said, Kutuzov is crooked...” and to “It’s clear that you’re a fool, you listen more...”.

2- Prepare a brief retelling of the episode “On the Bridge over the Danube” (vol. 1, part 2, chapters 7-8), paying attention to how the colonel assessed the losses and to whom he attributed the honor of setting the bridge on fire.

On the pages of Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy’s epic novel “War and Peace” there appear two minor characters who are called upon to play their assigned role in the work. This is Berg and Vera. Such a couple is not too built on boundless love for each other. Let's start with each family member in order.

Berg himself is a simple officer, whose origin is not particularly considered noble in the existing world. In life, the character seeks benefits for his loved one. Sitting calmly in the headquarters, not knowing stress and overwork, Berg tries to appear where it really suits him. To build a successful career, he makes acquaintances that are very beneficial for achieving his own goals. He likes to talk about himself in society only in bright light, forgetting and keeping silent about a certain amount of the truth. He always talks about his participation in the Battle of Austerlitz, where he himself was wounded, for which he eventually received two, deserved or swindled, awards. He constantly stands out to the readers because of his dark thoughts and immoral behavior.

According to Lev Nikolaevich, Berg belongs to the type of “little Napoleons” who live only by envy, hypocrisy and greed. The author does not provide the hero with honor and success. No, because the character completely lacks patriotic qualities and true love for his homeland. Berg has no warmth for his own lands in his soul... This is proven by an incident during the Patriotic War, when most people did not know where to go. During such a period, it was scary to go out and leave children unattended. Constant separations, unfortunate deaths, only bloody hostilities... At this time, when the world needed help, Berg was purchasing furniture products at a low cost...

Vera Rostova... She is the first daughter in the family. The heroine at that time was considered the only child whom her parents dared to send to be raised by other representatives according to the then existing principles. Namely, to French teachers, who differ in the way of life of Russian people... That is why the child grew up withdrawn and uncheerful... Her presence in the house was striking, because the girl does not fit into the loving and friendly Rostov family, who are easy to communicate with, They are hungry for guests and new meetings.

Vera is significantly different from her own family... She is an outcast... Even despite her charming and attractive beauty, Vera’s presence in the same room with her family made everyone feel completely awkward and wild... And the long-awaited proposal to her, which helped change the mood in to the Rostov family, Berg did it only when the heroine was 24 years old... Everyone around understood that it might not be easy to marry Vera to another person. That's why they agreed to get married.

As a result, a new family was formed. The Berg family. Greedy and selfish. Any visit to them by a high-ranking official was considered an incredible merit of one of the spouses. But every time there were quarrels due to the fact that no one wanted to give in to the other... There was no special love, there couldn’t even be... In this family, one considers the other a weak person, unable to stand up for himself. In such a family there is no harmony, no sincere feelings... There is nothing... Scary!

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· The theme of family and its significance in the development of a person’s character in the novel “War and Peace” is one of the most important. The author tries to explain many of the features and patterns in the lives of his characters by belonging to one or another family.

Only in the family does a person receive everything that subsequently determines his character, habits, worldview and attitude.

· In the novel, Tolstoy talks about different families - this includes the Bolkonsky family, which preserves aristocratic traditions; and representatives of the Moscow nobility Rostov; the Kuragin family, deprived of mutual respect and sincerity of connections; the Berg family, which begins its existence with the laying of the “maternal foundation”. And in the epilogue of the novel, Tolstoy introduces two new families to the readers - Pierre and Natasha, Nikolai and Marya - according to the author, this is exactly what a family should be, based on sincere and deep feelings.

Tolstoy "War and Peace"

In the epic novel by Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy, the business people are von Berg and Drubetskoy.

Among the heroes of the novel L.N. In Tolstoy's War and Peace there are two careerists - von Berg and Prince Boris Drubetskoy. Both of them succeeded and, starting practically from scratch, quickly rose to high ranks. The reader can see them at different stages of their careers. But if you compare these two careerists, you will notice deep differences between them.

Berg is an officer of not very noble origin, serving mainly at headquarters. Thanks to the fact that he was in the right place at the right time and made the necessary contacts that were beneficial to him, he advanced far in his career. Berg tells everyone for so long and with such significance about how he was wounded in the Battle of Austerlitz that in the end he receives two awards for one wound. And in the Finnish war, he also “distinguished himself”: he picks up a fragment of a grenade, which killed the adjutant next to the commander-in-chief, and brings this fragment to the commander. He, too, persistently retells this incident to everyone, until he receives two awards for the Finnish war.

Berg, according to Tolstoy’s classification, belongs to the “little Napoleons,” like the vast majority of staff workers. Tolstoy denies him any honor, any encouragement. Berg does not have any “warmth of patriotism”, even during the Patriotic War of 1812 Berg is not with the people - he is, rather, against the people. Berg is trying to get the most out of the war: when everyone left Moscow before the fire, and even noble, rich people abandoned their property to free the carts and transport the wounded on them, Berg buys furniture at cheap prices.

Von Berg was distinguished by a frankness unusual for careerists, which harmed him in many ways. He did not hide at all, in particular, his desire for material gain and even the fact that for him command of a company was, first of all, supposed to provide monetary income. Berg spoke about money in a society where it was not decent to talk about it. This caused at least an ironic attitude towards him and irritation from some people, which he, however, did not notice.

Despite this irony, Berg was a completely serviceable officer and he successfully performed his official duties in peacetime, on the campaign trail, and in battle. Berg not only knew the regulations well, but also all the orders for the regiment.

We should not forget that at that time it was quite common for officers to have income from the military units entrusted to them. And if a cavalry officer’s unit had horses kept in perfect order, well-groomed and, most importantly, fed, then it was considered quite normal that he would take the rest of the fodder money for himself. Berg was simply consistent and tried to earn income from fodder money, even while serving in the infantry. And L.N. Tolstoy writes with some Gogolian intonations that Berg, having spoken to the adjutant of the commander-in-chief (Prince Andrei), “... took the opportunity to ask with special courtesy whether they would now, as was heard, issue double forage to army company commanders.” But there is no doubt that Berg, thanks to his diligence and foresight, had his horses in perfect order and his income from fodder money was higher than that of most company commanders.

Berg did not adjust his conversations and his behavior to the mores of the society in which he was located. Therefore, he caused ridicule and irritation from people like Nikolai Rostov. This is quite natural. But it seems that he evoked the same feelings in Leo Tolstoy himself. Otherwise, it is difficult to explain why at the end of the novel Berg is portrayed as a complete caricature. The title of the position he held in the summer of 1812 is characteristic: “assistant to the chief of staff of the assistant to the first section of the chief of staff of the second corps.” The name is ridiculous even from a grammatical point of view: what is this “assistant of the first department” and “first department chief of staff”. So this name is perceived as a mockery of staff officers in general and of von Berg in particular.

No less caricatured is Berg's trip to Moscow after the Battle of Borodino, when Muscovites were hastily packing, preparing to leave the capital. And at such a moment Berg wanted to buy a wardrobe and a toilet on the cheap. Has he really forgotten the old proverb: “Over the sea, a heifer is half a piece, but a ruble is transported”? Could he really hope to transport this furniture in such a turbulent time from Moscow to his apartment in St. Petersburg without damage? All this looks super cartoonish. Berg clearly personifies petty-bourgeois ideology.

Berg puts money first in his life. With his primitive egoism and undisguised love of money, he attracted attention and irritated many. He talks about them where he shouldn't. In any case, he tries to benefit for himself. Unlike Luzhin, Berg does not believe that someone should stand over a person. For him, the main thing is to get as much money as possible, and he doesn’t care about everyone else.

Drubetskoy is another “business man” in the epic novel. But he is not similar in his value system to von Berg. If Berg's main concern is money, then Drubetsky's main concern is his career. Prince Drubetskoy did not talk about money because his career was more important to him. And wanting to succeed in his career, he did not neglect any little things in order to create a favorable image of himself. In modern terms, he was more worried about his image than about money.

Drubetskoy did not talk about money and about a career in those places where this was not accepted, but this did not mean that he was unmercenary. A characteristic detail: the Drubetskys, both mother and son, were repeatedly helped with money by their mother’s friend, Countess Rostova. Then the situation changed. The Drubetskys became rich, and the Rostovs became poor. But in the novel there is no talk of the Drubetskys thinking about helping the Rostovs.

However, it’s not even about monetary assistance. Countess Rostova had a promissory note from Anna Mikhailovna for two thousand rubles, that is, a large sum for the impoverished Rostovs. But the Drubetskys, who became rich, did not bother to repay the debt to their impoverished friends.

Drubetskoy did not miss the slightest opportunity to show himself more significant than he really was. Let us pay attention to two characteristic episodes. Listening to the conversation between Rostopchin and the commander-in-chief that took place in front of him, he realized that it was very flattering to be received by the old Prince Bolkonsky. After which he wished to be introduced to him and even somehow gained his favor. It is possible that the old field marshal invited him only because he was looking at potential suitors for his daughter, but one way or another it became known about Drubetsky that he was being received by Prince Nikolai Andreevich himself, which at that time was very honorable.

Drubetskoy received information by listening to the conversations of nobles. It is clear which source of information is more important for an officer from the point of view of the service. But Drubetskoy didn’t just listen. He was actively searching for information. In particular, in June 1812, just at the beginning of the war, I noticed the Minister of Police Balashov at a ball and realized that Balashov had brought some important message. After this, Boris, as if by chance, found himself near the tsar at the moment when Balashov approached him with a report. As a result: “Boris was the first to learn about the crossing of the Neman by French troops and, thanks to this, had the opportunity to show some important persons that he knew many things hidden from others, and through this he had the opportunity to rise higher in the opinion of these persons.”

Note that here L.N. Tolstoy again used a long, ironic, Gogol-sounding phrase. And indeed, here Drubetskoy clearly demonstrated his desire to show himself more significant than he really was.

For Drubetskoy, money has always been something secondary. He understood that rank and social status are more important than money. Moreover, over time he began to have money. One can only guess how he acquired them. But be that as it may, having taken a higher position in the service hierarchy compared to Berg, he was far ahead of Berg in financial matters.

Drubetsky's attitude towards matchmaking was somewhat strange. Simultaneously with Berg's matchmaking, Prince Boris began to develop a very tender relationship with Natasha Rostova, the sister of Vera, Berg's fiancée. And in the event of marriage, Drubetskoy could count on twenty thousand in cash and eighty thousand on a bill. But Drubetsky was not happy with this. And for a long time he had his eye on really rich brides. But, having set his sights on the wealthy heiress Julie Karagina, he began to behave in full accordance with the norms of behavior that were accepted in secular society at that time. So outwardly his relationship with his future wife was very romantic. And at the decisive moment of explanation, he said all those tender words that are usually said in such cases.

Drubetskoy could always mislead people who were ready to perceive him as he seemed, and not as he really was. The main danger posed by Drubetskoy was that he could occupy a high government post and cause great damage to the state.

For people like Berg, the most important thing in life is their career. In all possible cases, Drubetskoy wants to seem like a person who knows something that even the most influential people do not know. Unlike Berg, Drubetskoy is not chasing money.