The general goal in studying the novel is to find out which standards of life Tolstoy affirms and which he denies. We begin our acquaintance with the novel with an episode of an evening in the salon of A.P. Scherer in July 1805. The specific goal is to determine, firstly, the author’s attitude towards the norms of life of high society and how he expresses this, and secondly, to see whether this society and, thirdly, conversations in the salon of people close to the royal court will allow us to join the political atmosphere of the era: it was in July 1805 that diplomatic relations between Russia and France were broken. Why did this happen?
IV. Salon A.P. Scherer- observation plan (written on the board).
1. Which characters, and in what order, does Tolstoy introduce the reader to in the first chapters of the novel?
3. P. Bezukhov and A. Bolkonsky as strangers in Scherer’s living room.
4. “Anecdote” of Prince Ippolit at the end of the evening. French and Russian in the description of Anna Pavlovna's salon.
The action begins in July 1805 in the salon of A.P. Scherer. These scenes introduce us to representatives of the court aristocratic environment: maid of honor Sherer, minister Prince Vasily Kuragin, his children - the beautiful Helen, the “restless fool” Anatole and the “calm fool” Hippolyte, Princess Lisa Bolkonskaya, etc.
The negative attitude towards Tolstoy’s heroes manifested itself in the fact that the author shows how false everything about them is, it comes not from a pure heart, but from the need to maintain decency. Tolstoy denies the norms of life high society and behind his external decency, grace, and secular tact, he reveals the emptiness, selfishness, greed and careerism of the “cream” of society.
To expose the falseness and unnaturalness of these people, Tolstoy uses the method of “tearing off all and every mask” (“First of all, tell me, how is your health, dear friend? Reassure me,” said Prince Vasily in a tone in which, due to decency and sympathy, indifference shone through and even ridicule").
Looking through Chapter 2, students read facts that speak about the falsehood of this society, evaluative epithets and comparisons in the descriptions of the characters (“flat face”, Anna Pavlovna “treated” her guests to foreigners, “served”... first the viscount, then the abbot... ).
Two people stand out among Anna Pavlovna’s guests. Who are they? Do they belong in a high society living room, judging only by the portraits and demeanor of the characters?
(Pierre’s smart and timid, observant and natural gaze, a grimace of boredom at beautiful face Prince Andrey. Already from the portraits it is clear that they are strangers here. From the very moment of their appearance in the salon, the conflict between Pierre and Prince Andrey with the aristocratic environment is felt. Anna Pavlovna greeted Pierre with a bow “appropriate for people of the lowest hierarchy in her salon,” and treated him with fear.)
Compare the portrait of Pierre and Prince Vasily and their behavior.
Name the details that reveal the spiritual closeness of Pierre and A. Bolkonsky.
(Only with Bolkonsky Pierre does not take his “joyful, friendly eyes off”, and Prince Andrei, looking at everyone in the living room with a tired, bored look, smiled only at Pierre with an “unexpectedly kind and pleasant smile”).
Pierre's violation of the etiquette established by Anna Pavlovna and his clumsiness once again confirm that he is a foreign body in the high society drawing room. Prince Vasily says to Anna Pavlovna about him: “Train this bear for me.”
It cannot be said so emphatically about Prince Andrei that he is a stranger in everything. In this society he is not a “bear”, he has equal rights, he is respected and feared, he can allow himself to “squint” at society. He is something for everyone. They are strangers to him.
We draw attention to the features of Tolstoy’s portraits:
a) the naturalness of the first acquaintance with the hero through his appearance, as happens in life;
b) deep psychological content of the portrait, expression through it of changes in feelings and moods;
c) highlighting 1-2 permanent signs (the bright expression of Prince Vasily’s flat face; Anna Pavlovna’s enthusiastic, as if glued-on smile; Pierre’s smart and timid look...)
So, denying the norms of life of high society, Tolstoy is the path of his goodies begins with their denial of emptiness and falsehood social life. The author shows the heterogeneity of this society, and the people who are disgusted by such a life.
Let us pay attention to political disputes (Chapter 4).
(The story about the anti-Napoleonic conspiracy of the Duke of Enghien turns into a cute social anecdote in the salon, which everyone finds charming. When Pierre tries to enter into a conversation about Napoleon, Anna Pavlovna does not allow this. A. Bolkonsky is well aware of Napoleon, he quotes Napoleonic sayings. In the background of the general condemnation of Napoleon, Pierre’s words suddenly sound in his defense, horrifying everyone, and only A. Bolkonsky supports him. This indicates the progressive attitude of Pierre and the political reactionary nature of the Scherer circle, since the ideas of the revolution are assessed here as ideas of robbery, murder and regicide; Anna Pavlovna’s words (chapter 1) about the need to crush the hydra of the revolution... in the person of this murderer and villain...")
If Pierre has not yet realized his opposition to secular society, then Prince Andrei deeply despises the world (characterization secular society Ch. 6). This is manifested in his demeanor (in Scherer’s living room he has a “bored” look, his voice sounds “dryly unpleasant”), in open sympathy for Pierre, who preaches freedom-loving views, and in harsh statements about the empty and base interests of the court aristocracy.
What episode ends the evening at A.P. Scherer’s?
(A stupid joke by Hippolytus, which everyone greeted as a social courtesy.)
Let us pay attention to the fact that Ch. 1-4. full of French. For what purpose was it introduced into the novel? French?
(The French language is the norm of a secular society; Tolstoy emphasizes the characters’ ignorance of their native language, their separation from the people, i.e. the French language is a means of characterizing the nobility with its anti-national orientation.)
By simply using either Russian or French, Tolstoy shows his attitude to what is happening. Pierre's words, although he speaks excellent French and is more accustomed to it abroad, are given only in Russian by the author. Replies by A. Bolkonsky (and he, out of habit, often switches to French and speaks it like a Frenchman, even pronouncing the word “Kutuzov” with an emphasis on the last syllable) are also given, mainly in Russian, with the exception of two cases: prince Andrei, entering the salon, answers Anna Pavlovna’s question in French, asked in French, and quotes Napoleon in French.
As a rule, where lies or evil are described, French or, later, German language breaks in.
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Literature lesson in 10th grade
Episode Analysis
"In the salon
Anna Pavlovna Sherer"
(based on the epic novel by L.N. Tolstoy “War and Peace”)
Prepared by:
teacher of Russian language and literature
Karpenko N.A.
Anna Pavlovna's evening was over.
Spindle from different sides evenly and not
they made noise as they fell silent.
L. Tolstoy
Decorously pulled masks...
M. Lermontov
Target: Determine the attitude of the author of the novel to the norms of life of high society and how he expresses this.
Tasks:
- Remember the elements of the plot and their role in the work.
- Find out for what purpose the St. Petersburg nobility gathered in the capital's salons.
- Reflect on the meaning of French and Russian speech in the novel.
- Learn to work with artistic detail, through which the author characterizes his hero.
- Understand the essence of the method of “tearing off all and every mask.”
- Identify the artistic techniques with which Tolstoy expresses his negative attitude towards the characters.
Progress of the lesson.
- Plot elements. The beginning of the novel.
Hello guys.
Today in the lesson we will continue our acquaintance with L. N. Tolstoy’s epic novel “War and Peace” and visit the most famous St. Petersburg salon of 1805, where high society gathered - the salon of Anna Pavlovna Scherer.
Our GOAL : determine the author’s attitude to the norms of life of high society and how he expresses it.
Tasks:
- Find out for what purpose the St. Petersburg nobility gathered in the capital's salons;
- Determine the meaning of French and Russian speech in the novel;
- Let's talk about the visitors to the salon and try to understand the essence of the method of “tearing off all and every mask” that Leo Tolstoy uses in his epic novel;
- Let's find out with the help of which artistic techniques L.N. Tolstoy expresses his attitude towards the heroes.
But first, let's remember why this work belongs to such epic genre like an epic novel. What genres of epic do you know? How are they different?
How is a piece usually structured? What plot elements are required in a work of fiction?
What episode does the epic novel “War and Peace” begin with? (From the description of the salon by A.P. Sherer).
What plot element does this episode belong to?
What do you think is the significance of the plot to a work? Do you remember examples of plots in other works? (“Dowry” - Paratov’s arrival)
Why is this particular episode considered the beginning of the entire novel?
Notebook entry:
At the evening at A.P. Sherer's, all the threads of the novel are tied. Conversations in the salon of persons close to the royal court allow one to become involved in the political atmosphere of the era, because it was in July 1805 that diplomatic relations with France were broken, and this is where the basis of the plot of the novel begins - the conflict with Napoleon. Here, in the salon, the main problems of the novel arise: true and false beauty, communication, love, patriotism, the problem of the possibility of peace in the world.
What is the salon like?
Who owns the salon with the description of which the epic novel “War and Peace” begins? Please remind me who Anna Pavlovna Sherer is?
(Maid of honor and close associate of Empress Maria Feodorovna).
Who is the maid of honor?
Let's remember who was the emperor in Russia in 1805? Who is Maria Fedorovna?
This means that all the St. Petersburg nobility gathered in the salon of the Empress's maid of honor.
So, the salon has already begun!
- Episode analysis.
Anna Pavlovna Sherer.
Remind me who is the owner of the salon?
How did the guests know about the evening? How does Anna Pavlovna behave at her party?
What is the meaning of her life? The meaning of her life lies in maintaining her salon. She has all the qualities to be a successful socialite.
Vasily Kuragin.
Who was the first guest?
Who is V. Kuragin, what position does he hold? ()
How is he dressed?
In what tone does Vasily Kuragin speak to Anna Pavlovna? What is his speech like?
How does Anna Pavlovna greet him? Why does she mention at the very beginning of their conversation that Genoa and Lucca are estates of the Bonaparte family?
Who does Anna Pavlovna call the Antichrist? Why?
Why exactly now, in July 1805, did we talk about the war with Napoleon?
What role does Anna Pavlovna assign to Russia in this war?
How does she feel about the emperor?
What do high society nobles fear most? (revolution)
Who is Novosiltsev? What is his merit?
What is the real purpose of Vasily Kuragin’s visit? (Determine Hippolytus as first secretary to Vienna)
When did Vasily start talking about his true intentions? (After A.P. finished her fiery speech about the emperor and began to talk about those invited to the evening.)
What does this mean? (The fact that Prince Vasily is absolutely not interested in the fate of Russia and especially Anna Pavlovna’s guests. He is only interested in the fate of his children, since his financial situation depends on this).
How does a father speak about his children?
Who does Anna Pavlovna propose to marry Anatoly?
How did Vasily Kuragin react to her proposal?
How does Anna Pavlovna want to pull off this business? (Talk about this with Lisa Bolkonskaya)
Vasily Kuragin and Anna Pavlovna decide the fate of people behind their backs, forgetting about honor and dignity.
Vasily Kuragin is ready to do anything in pursuit of profit. The goal is to try to get his sons settled: Hippolytus (“the calm fool”) at the embassy in Vienna and Anatole (“the restless fool”) to marry a rich bride.)
Guests: Helen, Lisa, Hippolyte, Mortemar (an emigrant from France due to the revolution), Abbe Moriot (Italian).
- What ritual were all guests of the salon supposed to perform? (Auntie's greetings). For what? This was how it was accepted: to live not by your own mind, but by looking at your elders.
Lisa.
Description of Lisa.
Pierre.
Description of Pierre.
How did Anna Pavlovna receive him?
How was Pierre different from the other guests of the salon?
How does Pierre behave in the salon?
What definition does Anna Pavlovna give to Pierre (a person who does not know how to live).
How does Anna Pavlovna behave during the evening?
Helen.
Description of Helen.
Andrey Bolkonsky.
Description of Prince Andrey.
Why was he bored in this society?
How does society treat the prince? (He has equal rights, he is respected and feared, he can allow himself to “squint” at society. But they are strangers to him.)
Why, a year and a half after the wedding, Andrei got tired of his wife?
Who was Andrei happy to see in this salon? Why?
Who does Pierre live with in St. Petersburg? Why? Why does Prince Vasily need Pierre? (So that Pierre's dying father, Count Kirill Vladimirovich Bezukhov, leaves Kuragin part of the inheritance in honor of caring for his illegitimate son).
Anna Mikhailovna Drubetskaya.
Who is A.M. Drubetskaya? A woman from a noble, but ruined family. Under the leadership of her father, Prince Vasily Kuragin once took his first steps at court.
Why did A.M. come to this evening? Drubetskaya?
How is she behaving? (Sits next to an unknown aunt and waits opportunity to talk with Vasily Kuragin about transferring her son Boris to the guard, and then to adjutant to Kutuzov.)
Who in the salon defends Napoleon, expressing their own opinion?
Who is he arguing with?
Who is attacking him? (Mortemar, Anna Pavlovna, Lisa, Ippolit)
When everyone attacked Pierre, who rescued him?
How does Pierre leave?
3. Meaning French speech in the novel.
– For what purpose does Tolstoy introduce French into the novel? (Why is there so much French text in the Russian novel?) (This emphasizes the characters’ ignorance of their native language.
The French language is a means of characterizing the nobility with its anti-national orientation. By simply using either Russian or French, Tolstoy shows his attitude to what is being described. The words of Pierre, although he undoubtedly speaks excellent French and is more accustomed to it abroad, Tolstoy quotes only in Russian. Prince Andrei's remarks are also given mainly in Russian, with the exception of two cases: Prince Andrei, upon entering the salon, answers Anna Pavlovna's question in French, asked in French, and quotes Napoleon's speech in French.
As a rule, where lies or evil are described, the French language breaks into the novel, and later, the German language.)
Social evenings, gossip, wealth, balls - this is all that the high society nobility of St. Petersburg lives by. Tolstoy is disgusted by everything that happens here. Everything here is false, a mask hiding selfishness, indifference to everything except one’s own interests. Everything here happens like a performance in a theater. Almost everyone hides under a mask that others want to see on them; everyone does not what they want, but what needs to be done. Their speeches, gestures, words are determined by the rules of secular behavior. Their goal in life is to be rich and famous. In all this Tolstoy saw dead start, because these characters do not change throughout the entire novel.
- Techniques that Tolstoy uses to depict the panorama of life in secular society:
- Method of comparison.
- Reception of opposition.
2. “Tearing off all and every mask.”
Homework:
- Read chapters 7-17.
- Analysis of the episode “Natasha Rostova’s Name Day.”
Anna Pavlovna Scherer's salon and its guests
- The action of L.N. Tolstoy's novel War and Peace begins in July 1805 in the salon of Anna Pavlovna Scherer. This scene introduces us to representatives of the court aristocracy: Princess Elizaveta Bolkonskaya, Prince Vasily Kuragin, his children, the soulless beauty Helen, the favorite of women, the restless fool Anatole and the calm fool Ippolit, the hostess of the evening Anna Pavlovna. In depicting many of the heroes present at this evening, the author uses the technique of tearing off all kinds of masks. The author shows how false everything is about these heroes; this is insincere and shows a negative attitude towards them. Everything that is done or said in the world is not from the pure heart, but is dictated by the need to maintain decency. For example, Anna Pavlovna, despite her forty years, was filled with animation and impulses.
Being an enthusiast became her social position, and sometimes, when she didn’t even want to, she, in order not to deceive the expectations of people who knew her, became an enthusiast. The restrained smile that constantly played on Anna Pavlovna’s face, although it did not match her outdated features, expressed, like spoiled children, the constant consciousness of her dear shortcoming, from which she does not want, cannot and does not find it necessary to correct herself.
L.N. Tolstoy denies the norms of life of high society. Behind his external decency, secular tact, and grace, emptiness, selfishness, and greed are hidden. For example, in the phrase of Prince Vasily: First of all, tell me, how is your health, dear friend? Reassure me, because of the tone of participation and decency there is indifference and even mockery.
When describing the technique, the author uses details, evaluative epithets, comparisons in the description of the characters, talking about the falseness of this society. For example, the face of the hostess of the evening, every time she mentioned the Empress in a conversation, took on a deep and sincere expression of devotion and respect, coupled with sadness. Prince Vasily, speaking about his own children, smiles more unnaturally and animatedly than usual, and at the same time especially sharply revealing something unexpectedly rough and unpleasant in the wrinkles that have formed around his mouth. All the guests performed the ritual of welcoming an aunt unknown to no one, interesting to anyone and unnecessary. Princess Helen, when the story made an impression, looked back at Anna Pavlovna and immediately took on the same expression that was on the face of the maid of honor, and then again calmed down in a radiant smile.
- The action begins with a reception at the close Empress Anna Pavlovna Scherer, where we see the entire high society of St. Petersburg. This technique is a kind of exposition: here we are introduced to many of the most important characters in the novel. On the other hand, the technique is a means of characterizing high society, comparable to Famusov’s society (A.S. Griboyedov Woe from Wit), immoral and deceitful. All those who come are looking for benefit for themselves in the useful contacts that they can make with Scherer. So, Prince Vasily is concerned about the fate of his children, for whom he is trying to arrange a profitable marriage, and Drubetskaya comes in order to persuade Prince Vasily to intercede for her son. An indicative feature is the ritual of greeting an unknown and unnecessary lady (French: ma tante). None of the guests know who she is and don’t want to talk to her, but they cannot break the unwritten laws of secular society. Against the background of Anna Scherer's guests, two characters stand out: Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov. They are opposed high society how Chatsky is opposed Famusov society. Most of the conversations at this ball are devoted to politics and the upcoming war with Napoleon, who is called the Corsican monster. Despite this, most of the dialogue between guests is in French.
In July 1805, Anna Pavlovna Scherer, maid of honor and close associate of Empress Maria Feodorovna, met the guests. One of the first to arrive for the evening was the “important and official” Prince Vasily. He walked up to Anna Pavlovna, kissed her hand, offering her his perfumed and shining bald head, and sat down calmly on the sofa.
Prince Vasily always spoke lazily, like an actor speaking the role of an old play. Anna Pavlovna Sherer, on the contrary, despite her forty years, was full of animation and impulses.
Being an enthusiast became her social position, and sometimes, when she didn’t even want to, she, in order not to deceive the expectations of people who knew her, became an enthusiast. The restrained smile that constantly played on Anna Pavlovna’s face, although it did not match her outdated features, expressed, like spoiled children, the constant consciousness of her dear shortcoming, from which she does not want, cannot and does not find it necessary to correct herself.
After discussing state problems, Anna Pavlovna started talking to Prince Vasily about his son Anatol - spoiled young man whose behavior causes a lot of trouble to parents and others. Anna Pavlovna suggested that the prince marry his son to her relative, Princess Bolkonskaya, the daughter of the famous Prince Bolkonsky, a rich and stingy man with a difficult character. Prince Vasily happily agreed to the proposal and asked Anna Pavlovna to arrange this matter.
Meanwhile, other guests continued to gather for the evening. Anna Pavlovna greeted each of the new arrivals and brought them to say hello to her aunt - “a little old lady in high bows who floated out from another room.”
Anna Pavlovna's living room began to gradually fill up. The highest nobility of St. Petersburg arrived, people of the most diverse ages and characters, but identical in the society in which they all lived; Prince Vasily's daughter, the beautiful Helen, arrived, picking up her father to go with him to the envoy's holiday. She was wearing a cipher and a ball gown. The famous... young, little Princess Bolkonskaya also arrived, who got married last winter and now did not travel to big light due to her pregnancy, but still went to small evenings. Prince Hippolyte, the son of Prince Vasily, arrived with Mortemar, whom he introduced; Abbot Moriot and many others also arrived.
The young Princess Bolkonskaya arrived with her work in an embroidered gold velvet bag. Her pretty upper lip, with a slightly blackened mustache, was short in the teeth, but the more sweetly it opened and the more sweetly it sometimes stretched out and fell onto the lower one. As is always the case with quite attractive women, her flaw—short lips and half-open mouth—seemed special to her, her actual beauty. It was fun for everyone to look at this pretty expectant mother, full of health and vivacity, bearing her situation so easily...
Soon after the little princess, a massive, fat young man with a cropped head, glasses, light trousers in the fashion of that time, a high frill and a brown tailcoat entered. This fat young man was the illegitimate son of the famous Catherine’s nobleman, Count Bezukhy, who was now dying in Moscow. He had not served anywhere yet, he had just arrived from abroad, where he was brought up, and was for the first time in society. Anna Pavlovna greeted him with a bow that belonged to people of the lowest hierarchy in her salon. But, despite this inferior greeting, at the sight of Pierre entering, Anna Pavlovna’s face showed concern and fear, similar to that expressed at the sight of something too huge and unusual for the place...
Just as the owner of a spinning workshop, having seated the workers in their places, walks around the establishment, noticing the immobility or the unusual, creaking, too loud sound of the spindle “...” - so Anna Pavlovna, walking around her living room, approached a mug that had fallen silent or was talking too much and with one word or movement she again started up a smooth, decent conversational machine...
But amid these worries, a special fear for Pierre was still visible in her. She looked at him caringly while he came up to listen to what was being said around Mortemart and went to another circle where the abbot was speaking. For Pierre, who was brought up abroad, this evening of Anna Pavlovna was the first he saw in Russia. He knew that the entire intelligentsia of St. Petersburg was gathered here, and his eyes widened, like a child in a toy store. He was afraid to miss everything smart conversations that he can hear. Looking at the confident and graceful expressions of the faces gathered here, he kept expecting something especially smart. Finally, he approached Morioh. The conversation seemed interesting to him, and he stopped, waiting for an opportunity to express his thoughts, as young people like to do.
The evening in Anna Pavlovna Scherer's salon continued. Pierre struck up a conversation with the abbot political theme. They talked heatedly and animatedly, which displeased Anna Pavlovna. At this time, a new guest entered the living room - the young Prince Andrei Bolkonsky, the husband of the little princess.