What is War and Peace?
War and Peace is a novel by Russian author Leo Tolstoy, originally published in 1869 It is considered one of the greatest works of world literature and is considered one of the definitive novels of Russian literature. The novel follows the intertwined histories of five aristocratic families of the Russian Imperial period, with particular focus on the character of Pierre Bezukhov, and explores themes of history, war, love, and family. War and Peace is written in an episodic structure, which allows Tolstoy to explore multiple themes and characters over the course of the novel.
The five best examples of essay topics related to War and Peace are as follows:
1. The Symbolism of War in War and Peace: This essay topic explores how Tolstoy uses war and its implications as a symbol within the novel. Questions to consider can include exploring how war is presented in the novel, how characters interact with it, and how the consequences of war are depicted.
2. War and Peace and its Exploration of Love: This essay topic explores how Tolstoy presents the idea of love within the novel. Questions to consider can include exploring the various types of love depicted in the novel, the ways that Tolstoy presents love, and the consequences of love within the context of the story.
3. History and War and Peace: This essay topic looks at how Tolstoy uses history as a lens for exploring themes and stories within War and Peace. Questions to consider can include exploring how Tolstoy uses history to inform characters’ experiences, how historical events are represented within the novel, and how the novel serves as a commentary on Russian history.
4. Themes of War and Peace: This essay topic looks at the various themes Tolstoy explored within War and Peace. Questions to consider can include exploring the themes of fate and determinism, death and time, human nature, and social responsibility.
5. The Presentation of War and Peace in Film: This essay topic explores how the novel has been translated into film. Questions to consider can include comparing the various film adaptations of War and Peace, looking at how they alter the story and its themes, and exploring the response of audiences to the film versions of the novel.