Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) was a Russian writer, considered one of the greatest authors of all times, who wrote the classic novels War and Peace, Anna Karenina and The Death of Ivan Ilyich The incredible range of topics that he wrote about made many of his stories timeless. Writing an essay on Leo Tolstoy’s works can be a challenge as it requires an in-depth understanding of his writing and his perspectives. Here are five essay topic ideas to consider when writing about Leo Tolstoy:
1. A comparison between the themes in War and Peace and Anna Karenina: Both of Tolstoy’s major works are beloved classics, but they explore two very different topics and ideas. An essay could explore how Tolstoy explored concepts of morality, faith, and relationships in each novel and how he used different literary devices to convey his ideas.
2. The role of philosophy in Leo Tolstoy’s writing: Tolstoy used his writing to explore his philosophical beliefs and views about the world. Analyzing how his life and worldview influenced his writing and the stories he wrote would be an interesting topic to explore.
3. A critical analysis of Leo Tolstoy’s novel The Death of Ivan Ilyich: This novel is considered one of Tolstoy’s greatest works and an essay could explore how he used the narrative to explore themes of death and grief.
4. An examination of the characters in War and Peace: This novel is well-known for its wide range of characters, each of whom provide insight into significant moral, political and intellectual themes. An essay could look at how Tolstoy used each character to explore a particular idea or concept.
5. The influence of Leo Tolstoy’s writing on literature: Tolstoy is widely regarded as one of the greatest authors of all time and an essay could explore the impact that his work has had on other authors and the literary world.
Each of these topics would provide an opportunity to explore different aspects of Tolstoy’s work and to gain an understanding of the incredible range of ideas that he wrote about. Essays on these topics would be challenging and engaging, and would pay tribute to the works of one of the greatest writers of all time.