War and Peace

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Pierre’s social status and desirability change significantly after he inherits great wealth upon his father’s death. Has there ever been an event in your life that seemed to change how people perceived you? Was this change surprising to you?

2. Pierre marries Helene even though he has strong misgivings about the match. Have you ever ignored your instincts or doubts to pursue someone or something? What were the consequences of this decision?

3. The novel depicts the suffering that results from war. Do you know anyone who has served in armed conflict? What do you think are the psychological and spiritual consequences of engaging in warfare? 

4. Discuss how the novel portrays social class and social responsibility. In what situations have you felt a responsibility to live up to expectations and set a good example for others? How do you think social class plays out differently in contemporary society than it did in Tolstoy’s era?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Many of the characters in the novel wrestle with religious faith or take comfort in spiritual beliefs. Why do you think religion was so central to people’s lives at the time when Tolstoy was writing? Do you think that political unrest such as war increases the tendency to search for spirituality or meaning?

2. To what extent can characters in the novel be said to display national pride? How would you characterize Russian cultural identity based on the novel’s portrayal of its characters?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Tolstoy includes a number of digressions or short essays in which he pauses the plot to explore philosophical topics. What was the impact of these interjections on your reading experience? Have you read other novels that do the same (e.g., Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick or Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables)? What purpose do you think these digressions serve, and why might they have been particularly common in 19th-century literature?

2. Describe the development of Natasha’s character over the course of the novel. How does she choose between her suitors, and how does she change after she gets married?

3. Explore the motif of parenthood in the novel. How do characters change when they have children? Is the transformation depicted as different for mothers and fathers?

4. How does Tolstoy use descriptions of landscape and seasons to capture the passage of time and sense of place within the novel?