Anna Pavlovna Sherer's salon and his guests and got the best answer
Answer from Karina Porfirieva [guru]
Leo 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" Hippolyte, the hostess of the evening - Anna Pavlovna. In the depiction of many of the heroes present at this evening, the author uses the method of "tearing off all and every masks." The author shows how false everything in these heroes is, insincere - this is where the negative attitude towards them is manifested. Everything that is done or said in the world is not from a pure heart, but is dictated by the need to observe decency. For example, Anna Pavlovna, “despite her forty years, was full of animation and impulses.
To be an enthusiast became her social position, and sometimes, when she did not even want to, she, in order not to deceive the expectations of people who knew her, became an enthusiast. The restrained smile that played constantly on Anna Pavlovna's face, although it did not go to her obsolete features, expressed, like spoiled children, the constant consciousness of her sweet flaw, from which she does not want, cannot and does not find it necessary to correct. "
LN Tolstoy denies the norms of life of the upper world. Behind his outward decency, secular tact, and grace are hidden emptiness, selfishness, greed. For example, in the phrase of Prince Vasily: “First of all, tell me, how is your health, dear friend? Calm me down, ”- because of the tone of participation and decency, indifference and even mockery appears.
When describing the technique, the author uses details, evaluative epithets, comparisons in the description of the heroes, which speak of the falsity of this society. For example, the face of the hostess of the evening, every time she mentioned the Empress in a conversation, assumed "a deep and sincere expression of devotion and respect, combined with sadness." Prince Vasily, speaking of his own children, smiles "more unnaturally and animatedly than usual, and at the same time, especially sharply showing something unexpectedly rough and unpleasant in the wrinkles around his mouth." "All the guests performed the ceremony of greeting an unknown, uninteresting and unnecessary aunt." Princess Helene, "when the story made an impression, looked back at Anna Pavlovna and immediately assumed the same expression that was on the face of the maid of honor, and then again calmed down in a radiant smile."
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Answer from Anonymous[guru]
The action begins with a reception at the closest Empress Anna Pavlovna Sherer, where we see the entire high society of St. Petersburg. This technique is a kind of exhibition: here we get to know many of the most important characters in the novel. On the other hand, the method is a means of characterizing "high society", comparable to "Famus society" (A. Griboyedov "Woe from Wit"), immoral and deceitful. All those who come are looking for a benefit for themselves in useful contacts that they can make with Scherer. So, Prince Vasily worries about the fate of his children, whom he tries to arrange a profitable marriage, and Drubetskaya comes in order to persuade Prince Vasily to plead for her son. An indicative feature is the ritual of greeting an unknown and unnecessary aunt (French ma tante). None of the guests knows who she is and does not want to talk to her, but they cannot break the unwritten laws of secular society. Two characters stand out against the colorful background of Anna Scherer's guests: Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov. They are opposed to the upper world, as Chatsky is opposed to the "Famus society". Most of the talk at this ball is about politics and the impending war with Napoleon, who is called the "Corsican monster." Despite this, most of the guest conversations are conducted in French.
In July 1805, Anna Pavlovna Scherer, a lady-in-waiting and close to Empress Maria Feodorovna, greeted the guests. One of the first to arrive for the evening was the "important and bureaucratic" Prince Vasily. He went up to Anna Pavlovna, kissed her hand, offering her his perfumed and radiant bald head, and calmly sat down on the sofa.
Prince Vasily always spoke lazily, as an actor speaks the role of an old play. Anna Pavlovna Sherer, on the contrary, despite her forty years, was filled with animation and impulses.
To be an enthusiast became her social position, and sometimes, when she did not even want to, she, in order not to deceive the expectations of people who knew her, became an enthusiast. The restrained smile that played constantly on Anna Pavlovna's face, although it did not go to her obsolete features, expressed, like spoiled children, the constant consciousness of her sweet flaw, from which she does not want, cannot and does not find it necessary to correct.
After discussing state problems, Anna Pavlovna spoke with Prince Vasily about his son Anatol, a spoiled young man who, by his behavior, causes a lot of trouble to his parents and those around him. Anna Pavlovna invited the prince to marry his son to her relative, Princess Bolkonskaya, daughter of the famous prince Bolkonsky, a wealthy and mean man with a difficult character. Prince Vasily happily agreed to the proposal and asked Anna Pavlovna to arrange this business.
Meanwhile, other guests continued to gather for the evening. Anna Pavlovna greeted each of the new arrivals and brought them to greet her aunt - "a little old woman in high bows who swam from another room."
Anna Pavlovna's living room began to fill up little by little. The highest nobility of St. Petersburg arrived, people of the most diverse age and character, but the same in the society in which they all lived; the daughter of Prince Vasily, the beautiful Helene, came to pick 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, who had married last winter and now did not go out into the big world because of her pregnancy, also came, but she still went on small evenings. Prince Ippolit, the son of Prince Vasily, arrived with Mortemar, whom he introduced; Abbot Morio and many others also arrived.
The young princess Bolkonskaya arrived with work in an embroidered gold velvet bag. Her pretty, with a slightly blackened mustache, the upper lip was short across the teeth, but the lovelier it opened and the lovelier it sometimes stretched out and sank onto the lower one. As is always the case with quite attractive women, her lack - the shortness of her lips and a half-open mouth - seemed to be her special, her own beauty. It was fun for everyone to look at this pretty future mother, full of health and liveliness, who so easily endured her position ...
Soon after the little princess entered a massive, fat young man with a bobbed head, glasses, light pantaloons in the fashion of the time, with a high frill and a brown tailcoat. This fat young man was the illegitimate son of the famous Catherine grandee, Count Bezukhoi, who was now dying in Moscow. He had not served anywhere yet, 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, referring to the people of the lowest hierarchy in her salon. But, despite this inferior greeting in its kind, at the sight of Pierre entering in the face of Anna Pavlovna, anxiety and fear appeared, similar to that which is expressed at the sight of something too huge and unusual for a place ...
As the owner of the spinning workshop, having seated the workers in their places, strolls around the establishment, noticing the immobility or the unusual, creaking, too loud sound of the spindle "..." and with one word or movement she again started a uniform, decent talking machine ...
But among all these worries, one could see in her a special fear for Pierre. She looked at him with solicitude as he approached to listen to what was being said about Mortemar and walked over to another circle where the abbot was talking. For Pierre, brought up abroad, this evening of Anna Pavlovna was the first that he had seen in Russia. He knew that the entire intelligentsia of St. Petersburg was gathered here, and his eyes were dizzy like a child in a toy shop. He was all afraid to miss the clever conversations he might hear. Looking at the confident and graceful expressions of the faces gathered here, he kept expecting something particularly clever. Finally, he approached Morio. The conversation seemed interesting to him, and he stopped, waiting for an opportunity to express his thoughts, as young people like it.
The evening in the salon of Anna Pavlovna Scherer continued. Pierre struck up a political conversation with the abbot. They talked hotly and lively, which displeased Anna Pavlovna. At this time, a new guest entered the living room - a young prince Andrei Bolkonsky, the husband of the little princess.
Literature lesson in grade 10
Episode analysis
"In the cabin
Anna Pavlovna Sherer "
(based on the epic novel by Leo Tolstoy "War and Peace")
Prepared by:
teacher of Russian language and literature
Karpenko N.A.
Anna Pavlovna's evening was started.
Spindles from different sides evenly and not
they made noise in silence.
L. Tolstoy
Decency tightened masks ...
M. Lermontov
Goal: Determine the attitude of the author of the novel to the norms of life of the high society and how he expresses it.
Tasks:
- Recall 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.
- To teach to work with an artistic detail through which the author characterizes his hero.
- Understand the essence of the method of "tearing off all and all kinds of masks."
- Determine the artistic techniques with which Tolstoy expresses his negative attitude towards heroes.
During the classes.
- Elements of the plot. The beginning of the novel.
Hello guys.
Today in the lesson we will continue our acquaintance with the epic novel by Leo Tolstoy "War and Peace" and will visit the most famous Petersburg salon of 1805, where the high society gathered - the salon of Anna Pavlovna Sherer.
Our goal : to determine the author's attitude to the norms of life of the 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 of the salon and try to understand the essence of the method of “tearing off all and all kinds of masks”, which Leo Tolstoy uses in his epic novel;
- Let us find out with the help of what artistic methods Leo Tolstoy expresses his attitude to the heroes.
But first, let's remember why this work belongs to such an epic genre as an epic novel. What genres of epic do you know? What is the difference?
How is a piece usually constructed? What plot elements are there in a work of art?
What episode does the epic novel War and Peace begin with? (From the description of the salon A.P. Sherer).
What plot element can this episode be attributed to?
What do you think is the significance of the setting for the piece? Remember examples of strings in other works? ("Dowry" - arrival of Paratov)
Why is this particular episode considered the beginning of the entire novel?
Note in the notebook:
At the evening at A.P. Sherer, all the threads of the novel are tied. The conversations in the salon of persons close to the royal court allow one to get involved in the political atmosphere of the era, because it was in July 1805 that diplomatic relations with France were severed, hence the basis of the novel's plot - 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 world peace.
What is the salon?
Who owns the salon, with the description of which the epic novel "War and Peace" begins? Remind me, please, who is Anna Pavlovna Sherer?
(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 Feodorovna?
So, in the salon of the maid of honor of the Empress, all the Petersburg nobility gathered.
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 evening party?
What is the meaning of her life? The meaning of her life is to maintain her salon. She has all the qualities to be a successful socialite.
Vasily Kuragin.
Who was the first guest?
Who is V. Kuragin, what post does he hold? ()
How is he dressed?
What tone does Vasily Kuragin speak with Anna Pavlovna? What is his speech?
How does Anna Pavlovna meet him? Why does she at the very beginning of their conversation mention that Genoa and Lucca are the estates of the Bonaparte surname?
Whom does Anna Pavlovna call the Antichrist? Why?
Why is it now, in July 1805, that we are talking about the war with Napoleon?
What role does Anna Pavlovna assign to Russia in this war?
How does she feel about the emperor?
What are the nobles of high society most afraid of? (revolution)
Who is Novosiltsev? What is his merit?
What is the real purpose of Vasily Kuragin's visit? (To appoint Hippolytus 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 even more so in the guests of Anna Pavlovna. He is only interested in the fate of his children, since his financial situation depends on it).
How does a father feel about his children?
Who does Anna Pavlovna propose to marry Anatole?
How did Vasily Kuragin react to her proposal?
How does Anna Pavlovna want to pull this off? (Talk about it with Liza Bolkonskaya)
Vasily Kuragin and Anna Pavlovna decide the fate of people behind their backs, forgetting about honor and dignity.
Vasily Kuragin is ready for anything in pursuit of profit. The goal is to try to get the sons: Ippolit ("the calm fool") to the embassy in Vienna and Anatole ("the restless fool") to marry a rich bride.)
Guests: Helene, Lisa, Hippolyte, Mortemar (emigrant from France due to the revolution), Abbot Morio (Italian).
- What ceremony were all guests of the salon supposed to perform? (aunties cheers). What for? So it was customary: to live not with your own mind, but looking at your elders.
Liza.
Description of Lisa.
Pierre.
Description of Pierre.
How did Anna Pavlovna receive him?
How did Pierre differ from other guests of the salon?
How does Pierre behave in the salon?
What is the definition of Pierre given by Anna Pavlovna (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 Andrew.
Why was he bored in this society?
How does society relate to the prince? (He is on an equal footing, he is respected and feared, he can allow himself to "squint" around society. But they are strangers to him.)
Why, a year and a half after the wedding, is Andrei tired of his wife?
Who was Andrey happy about in this salon? Why?
With whom does Pierre live in Petersburg? Why? Why does Prince Vasily need Pierre? (For Pierre's dying father, Count Kirill Vladimirovich Bezukhov, to leave Kuragin part of the inheritance in honor of taking care of 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 the court.
Why did A.M. Drubetskaya?
How does she behave? (Sits next to an unknown aunt and waits for an opportunity to talk to Vasily Kuragin about transferring her son Boris to the guard, and then to Kutuzov's adjutant.)
Who in the salon protects Napoleon by expressing their own opinion?
Who is he arguing with?
Who is attacking him? (Mortemar, Anna Pavlovna, Liza, Ippolit)
When everyone pounced on Pierre, who helped him out?
How does Pierre leave?
3. The meaning of 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 the simple use of either Russian or French, Tolstoy shows his attitude to what is described. Pierre's words, although he is undoubtedly fluent in French and is more accustomed to it abroad, Tolstoy quotes only in Russian. The remarks of Prince Andrei are also given, mainly in Russian, with the exception of two cases: Prince Andrei, entering the salon, answers in French a question Anna Pavlovna asked in French, and in French he quotes Napoleon's speech.
As a rule, where a lie or evil is described, French, later German, breaks into the novel.)
Secular evenings, gossip, wealth, balls - this is all that the nobility of St. Petersburg lives with. Tolstoy is disgusted with everything that happens here. Everything here is false, a mask that hides selfishness, indifference to everything except one's own interests. Everything happens here like a performance in a theater. Almost everyone hides under a mask that others want to see on him, everyone does not what they want, but what needs to be done. Their speech, gestures, words are determined by the rules of secular behavior. Their purpose in life is to be rich and famous. In all this, Tolstoy saw a dead beginning, because these characters do not change throughout the novel.
- Techniques that Tolstoy uses to depict a panorama of the life of a secular society:
- Reception of comparison.
- Reception of opposition.
2. "Tearing off all and sundry masks."
Homework:
- Read chapters 7-17.
- Analysis of the episode "Natasha Rostova's birthday".
Evening in the salon of Anna Pavlovna Sherer (July 1805) (vol. 1, part 1, chap. I-IV)
Why does the novel begin in July 1805? After going through 15 options for the beginning of his work, L.N. Tolstoy stopped precisely in July 1805 at the salon of Anna Pavlovna Sherer (the famous maid of honor and close empress Maria Feodorovna), where the upper strata of the capital's society gather in St. the political atmosphere of that time.
Why does the first scene of the novel depict an evening at the Scherer salon? Tolstoy believed that for the beginning of the novel such a setting had to be found so that from it, "like from a fountain, the action would be sprinkled into different places where different persons would play the role." Such a "fountain" turned out to be an evening in the court salon, in which, according to the author's later definition, as nowhere else, "the degree of the political thermometer, on which the mood of ... society stood," was expressed so clearly and firmly.
Who's gathered in Scherer's living room? The novel "War and Peace" opens with the image of the high society, gathered in the drawing room of the forty-year-old maid of honor of the imperial court AP Sherer. These are the minister, Prince Vasily Kuragin, his children (the soulless beauty Helen, the “restless fool” Anatole and the “calm fool” Ippolit), Princess Liza Bolkonskaya - “the highest nobility of St. Petersburg, people of the most diverse age and character, but the same in society, in which everyone lived. ... ... "(Chapter II).
Who is Anna Pavlovna Sherer? Anna Pavlovna is a cunning and dexterous woman, tactful, influential at court, prone to intrigue. Her attitude to any person or event is always dictated by the latest political, court or secular considerations. She is constantly “filled with animation and impulse,” “being an enthusiast has become her social position” (Chapter I), and in her salon, in addition to discussing the latest court and political news, she always “treats” guests with some novelty or celebrity.
What is the significance of the episode of the evening at Anna Pavlovna Scherer? He opens the novel and introduces the reader to the main political and moral opponents in the image system. The main historical content of the first five chapters is fictional information about political events in Europe in the summer of 1805 and about the upcoming war of Russia in alliance with Austria against Napoleon.
What conflict among the nobility ensues during the discussion of the war between Russia and Napoleon? The reactionary majority of the nobles in the Salon of Cheret saw in Napoleon a usurper of legitimate royal power, a political adventurer, a criminal and even an antichrist, while Pierre Bezukhov and Andrei Bolklnsky viewed Bonaparte as a genius commander and politician.
Question to control assimilation Give examples of quotes from chapters I-IV of the novel, showing the different attitudes of the nobles towards Napoleon.
What is the result of the conversation about Napoleon? The guests of the maid of honor Scherer are talking about political news, about military actions by Napoleon, by virtue of which Russia, on the duty of an ally of Austria, will have to go to war with France. But the conversation about events of state importance does not interest anyone and is just empty chatter, sometimes in Russian, sometimes in French, behind which there is complete indifference to what awaits the Russian army during the campaign abroad.
Why do visitors to the salon A.P. Scherer speak mainly French? Article "The role of the French language in Leo Tolstoy's novel" War and Peace "
"The role of the French language in Leo Tolstoy's novel" War and Peace " the conversation is in French, or without it, if they speak French), they are immediately replaced by the Russian equivalent, and sometimes the phrase more or less conventionally combines the Russian and French parts, conveying the struggle of falsity and naturalness in the souls of the heroes. French phrases not only help to recreate the spirit of the era, to express the French mentality, but immediately, as it were, become an instrument of hypocrisy, describing lies or evil.
“The role of the French language in the novel by Leo Tolstoy“ War and Peace ”The French language is the norm of secular society; Tolstoy emphasizes the heroes' ignorance of their native language, their separation from the people, that is, French is a means of characterizing the nobility with its anti-national orientation. The heroes of the novel, who speak French, are far from the truth of the whole people. Much of what is said with posture, hindsight, narcissism is spoken in French. French words, like counterfeit banknotes put into operation by Napoleon, try to claim the value of real banknotes. Russian and French words mix, collide in the speech of people, crippling and disfiguring a friend, like the Russian and French soldiers at Borodino.
“The role of the French language in Leo Tolstoy’s novel“ War and Peace ”By the simple use of either Russian or French, Tolstoy shows his attitude to what is happening. Pierre Bezukhov's words, although he is undoubtedly fluent in French and is more accustomed to it abroad, the author quotes only in Russian. The remarks of Andrei Bolkonsky (and he, as Tolstoy notes, out of habit, often switches to French and speaks it like a Frenchman, even the word "Kutuzov" is pronounced with an accent on the last syllable) are also given, mainly in Russian, with the exception of two cases: Prince Andrew, entering the salon, in French answers the question of Anna Pavlovna, asked in French, and in French he quotes Napoleon. Bezukhov and Bolkonsky are gradually getting rid of the French language, as of a bad inclination.
What events of personal life excite the salon visitors? At the same time, the beginning of the novel reveals mainly that, according to Tolstoy, "real life" (vol. 2, part 3, chapter I), which is associated with everyday, personal, family interests, concerns, hopes, aspirations, plans of people : this is the recognition by Prince Andrei of an irreparable mistake related to his marriage to Lisa, the ambiguous position in Pierre's society as the illegitimate son of Count Bezukhov, the plans of Prince Vasily Kuragin, who wants to arrange for his sons more profitably: the “calm fool” Hippolytus and the “restless fool” Anatol; Anna Mikhailovna's efforts to transfer Borenka to the guard.
How does Tolstoy feel about visitors to the salon? All these scenes are colored by a certain author's intonation, in which one can see the moral assessment of each of the participants in the action: a subtle irony in relation to Prince Vasily with his secular ability to disguise true goals under the guise of indifference, fatigue or fleeting interest; an almost open mockery of Anna Pavlovna's public "enthusiasm" and her panic fear of everything that goes beyond the prim "talking workshop", a kind smile towards Pierre Bezukhov, "unable to live"; clear sympathy for Prince Andrew. At the heart of this moral distinction is sympathy for sincere, selfless heroes living with spiritual interests, and explicit or implicit condemnation of narcissism, selfishness, prudence, hypocrisy, spiritual emptiness of people who have lost their natural human qualities in a secular environment.
Reception of "tearing off all and all masks" To expose the falsity and unnaturalness of people of the upper world, Tolstoy uses the method of "tearing off all and all masks" ("Avant tout dites moi, commtnt vous allez, chere amie? (First of all, tell me, how is your health, dear friend?) Calm me down, - said he (Prince Vasily Kuragin), without changing his voice and in a tone in which indifference and even mockery shone through because of propriety and participation ”- Ch. I).
What does Tolstoy compare to an evening in the Scherer salon? Tolstoy very successfully compares this salon with a spinning workshop, where guests do not usually speak, but hum monotonously, like a spindle: “Anna Pavlovna's evening was started. The spindles from different sides evenly and incessantly made noise ”(Chapter III). For a writer, the world of light is mechanical, machine-like.
What is the role of the owner of the salon? AP Sherer, as the owner of the spinning workshop, monitors the sounds of the spindles, "restrains or sets it in the proper course." And if any of the guests breaks this monotony of conversations (especially when the offender refers to “people of the lowest hierarchy in her salon,” like Pierre), then the hostess “approached the mug that had stopped talking or talked too much and, with one word or by moving, again started a uniform , a decent talking machine "(Chapter II).
What metaphors that convey the author's irony are included in this comparison? “Anna Pavlovna’s evening was started” (not open and not begun); The hostess did not introduce her fashionable guests to her acquaintances, as others do, but, “like a good head waiter serves something supernaturally beautiful, that piece of beef that you don't want to eat if you see it in a dirty kitchen, so this evening Anna Pavlovna served her guests first the viscount, then the abbot, as something supernaturally refined ”(Chapter III), that is, she tried to serve the guests as a good meal, on a chic plate and with an exquisite sauce.
What evaluative epithets and comparisons does Tolstoy use in describing heroes? "The bright expression of a flat face" Vasily Kuragin, "... said the prince, out of habit, like a clock, saying things that he did not want to be believed", "Prince Vasily always spoke lazily, as an actor speaks the role of an old play" (Ch. I) - comparison with a wound clock is extremely successful in conveying the automatism of social life. Here they take a role for themselves in advance and follow it against their own will.
What is the author's attitude imbued with the details of the portrait characteristics of the characters? Awkwardness and good nature, shyness, and most importantly, Pierre's truthfulness, unusual in the salon and frightening the hostess; Anna Pavlovna's enthusiastic, as if glued-on smile; Helen's “unchanging smile” (Chapter III); “A grimace that spoiled the handsome face” (Chapter III) of Prince Andrew, which in a different setting took on a childish and sweet expression; antennae on the short upper lip of little princess Liza Bolkonskaya.
What are the author's assessments accompanied by the characterization of Ippolit Kuragin? Tolstoy writes that his “face was clouded with idiocy and invariably expressed self-confident grumpiness, and his body was thin and weak. Eyes, nose, mouth - everything seemed to shrink into one indefinite grimace, and arms and legs always assumed an unnatural position ”(Chapter III). He "spoke Russian with the same reprimand as the French who spent a year in Russia" (Chapter IV).
What is the attitude of Tolstoy to Anna Mikhailovna Drubetskaya? About Anna Mikhailovna Drubetskaya, who vigorously strives for her son and everything seems to come to life at the same time, Leo N. Tolstoy notes with a sneer that she is “... one of those women, especially mothers, who, once taking something into their heads, will not lag behind until they fulfill their desires, and otherwise they are ready for daily, every minute harassment and even on stage. " It was “this last consideration that shook him” (Prince Vasily), and he promised to “do the impossible” (vol. 1, part 1, ch. IV).
Consider the illustration by Andrey Nikolaev "Salon of Anna Pavlovna Sherer". How cold! The pearly gray tones of dresses, walls, mirrors are deathly, frozen light. The blueness of the chairs, the green of the shadows - in all this there is a feeling of some kind of swamp coldness: before us is a ball of the dead, a meeting of ghosts. And in the depths of this balanced kingdom - in contrast - like a flash of vital energy, like a blow of blood - the red collar of Prince Andrey, beaten off by the whiteness of his uniform - a drop of fire in this swamp.
What is unnatural in the life of a secular society? Salon Petersburg life is an example of an unnatural formal existence. Everything here is unnatural and prim. One of the abnormalities of secular life is the complete confusion of moral ideas and assessments in it. The light does not know what is true and what is false, what is good and what is bad, what is clever and what is stupid.
What are the interests and values \u200b\u200bof people from a secular society? Intrigues, court gossip, career, wealth, privileges, everyday self-assertion - these are the interests of the people of this society, in which there is nothing truthful, simple and natural. Everything is saturated through and through with lies, falsehood, heartlessness, hypocrisy and acting. The speeches, gestures and actions of these people are determined by the conventional rules of secular behavior.
What is Tolstoy's attitude to high society? Tolstoy's negative attitude towards these heroes was manifested in the fact that the author shows how false everything in them is, it comes not from a pure heart, but from the need to observe decency. Tolstoy denies the norms of life in high society and, behind its external decency, grace, and secular tact, reveals the emptiness, selfishness, greed and careerism of the “cream” of society.
Why is the life of the salon visitors long dead? In the depiction of the salon, L. N. Tolstoy notes the unnatural mechanical course of life of people who have long forgotten that it is possible to be out of false and vulgar play. It would be strange to expect sincerity of feelings here. Naturalness is what is most undesirable for this circle.
A smile is a means of psychological characterization Favorite techniques in the portrait of Tolstoy's hero are already manifested in the autobiographical trilogy: a look, a smile, and hands. “It seems to me that in one smile is what is called the beauty of the face: if a smile adds charm to the face, then the face is beautiful; if she does not change it, then it is ordinary; if it spoils it, then it is bad, ”- says the second chapter of the story“ Childhood ”.
Questions to control assimilation Correlate the metaphors of smiles with the heroes, their carriers. How does their smile characterize the characters?
Match the metaphors of smiles with the heroes, their bearers. Smile is a screen, a pretense. Count Pierre Bezukhov A smile is the weapon of a flirt. AP Sherer and Prince Vasily Kuragin A smile is an anti-smile, the smile of an idiot. Helen Kuragin Smile - unchanging Little Princess Liza mask Prince Ippolit Kuragin Smile - grimace, grin. Princess Drubetskaya Smile - a soul, a smile Prince Andrei Bolkonsky child. A smile is a smile of a squirrel, a smile with a mustache.
Perceptual Test Questions Compare your first impressions of the characters with that of the director and actors. Pay attention to the first phrase of A.P. Scherer in French and to the narrator's speech behind the scenes. It contains such author's devices as metaphor, comparisons: “the degree of the political thermometer on which the mood of the Petersburg society stood” (this metaphor bears associations with mechanisms, measuring instruments); “The color of the intellectual essence of society” (the author's irony); "The mental upper classes of society" (again irony). How did the guests of the maid of honor smile? Why are there almost no guests' smiles in S. Bondarchuk's production in the salon? Which image (cinematic or verbal) seemed more complete to you? Why?
Ideological and thematic foundations of composition The main compositional unit in the novel is a relatively complete episode in terms of the plot, which includes two streams of life: historical and universal. Conflicts among the heroes of the novel arise even before the beginning of military events and the differentiation of the characters is based both on an assessment of their attitude to historical shifts in that era and on Tolstoy's moral ideals.
Artistic features of the narrative in the novel Tolstoy's favorite artistic means of moral assessment of characters is the unusually diverse author's intonation, richness of narrative shades, humor, irony, and wit, which make reading unusually fascinating.
The ideological meaning of the episode The formulation of the problem “man and history, transient and eternal in people's lives” gives Tolstoy's idea a scale of worldview unknown before in world literature. The writer's clear and direct ideological position evokes in the reader a special emotional mood of moral superiority over people entangled in a web of secular conventions, calculations, intrigues, over the whole false environment, cut off from natural, normal life.
NG Dolinina spoke beautifully about the role of this episode. “In the first chapters, Tolstoy, it would seem, calmly and unhurriedly describes a secular evening that has no direct relation to everything that will happen next. But here - imperceptibly for us - all the threads are tied. Here Pierre for the first time "with almost frightened, enthusiastic eyes" looks at the beautiful Helene; here they decide to marry Anatole to Princess Marya; Anna Mikhailovna Drubetskaya comes here to attach her son to a warm place in the guard; here Pierre makes one discourte after another and, as he leaves, is going to put on, instead of his hat, the general's cocked hat. ... ... Here it becomes clear that Prince Andrew does not love his wife and did not yet know true love - she can come to him at her hour; much later, when he finds and appreciates Natasha, "with her surprise, joy, and shyness, and even mistakes in French" - Natasha, on whom there was no secular imprint, - when we remember the evening with Scherer and Andrei's wife, little princess, with her unnatural charm "
"War and Peace" is recognized as a classic example of Russian literature. This work combines the depth of meaning, the elegance of the narrative, the charm of the Russian language and a huge number of characters. The book describes the social themes and features of the 19th century society. It raises problems, the relevance of which is not lost over time. The characters of the work help answer questions from different spheres, illuminating the point of view of representatives of that era.
The first heroine who accompanies the reader throughout the story is Anna Pavlovna Sherer, the owner of the salon in which guests from high society gather. The main themes in the salon are the country environment and action.
History of creation
War and Peace is a highly sought-after novel that enjoyed immediate success after its publication. An excerpt from the work was published in 1865 in the magazine "Russian Bulletin", and in 1866 readers got acquainted with the three subsequent parts of the novel. Two more episodes were later published.
Leo Tolstoy writes "War and Peace" The characterization of the work as an epic novel is not accidental. The author's intention is truly ambitious. The book describes the biographies of characters, among which there are real personalities and fictional images. Tolstoy described heroes with his characteristic psychological certainty, and literary scholars have always sought to find prototypes that he used in creating literary portraits.
Researchers at War and Peace argue that, while working on the characters' images, Tolstoy proceeded from descriptions of business abilities, behavior in romantic relationships, and tastes. In the future, the characters were distributed by families, becoming Rostov, Kuragin or Bolkonsky. The character of each character was prescribed separately, subject to adjustment in relation to the reliability of the era, the psychology of the society of that time and historical reality.
Literary critics observe the binding of some images to real people. The aristocrat, the owner of the St. Petersburg salon Anna Scherer is one of these heroes. In the book, her brainchild is an anti-patriotic creation. Here at receptions the hypocrisy of her guests is shown. Anna Scherer is a model of deceit and falsity, demonstrating stiffness and character traits that correspond to the environment she forms in the salon.
It is curious that at first Tolstoy assigned the heroine a different role. While working on the image of the heroine, he wanted to name her Annette D. and make her an affable, pretty lady from high society. Contemporaries found in the final version of Scherer's portrait a resemblance to the maid of honor Alexandra Andreevna Tolstaya, a relative of the writer whom he loved. The final version of the character has undergone major changes and has become the complete opposite of the prototype.
"War and Peace"
Anna Pavlovna Sherer, according to Tolstoy, was the maid of honor of the empress. She kept a salon for representatives of the high society, where it was customary to discuss political and social issues. In the evening, the story begins at her establishment. Scherer's age is close to forty years old, his appearance has lost its former freshness, nature is distinguished by dexterity and tact. Anna Pavlovna has influence and is not averse to taking part in court intrigues. She builds relationships with people based on relevant considerations. Tolstoy made the heroine close to the Kuragin family.
The woman is constantly driven by liveliness and impulse, which was explained by her position in society. In the Scherer salon, the most pressing topics were discussed, and a curious person was "presented" for dessert. In line with the fashion of the early 19th century, her circle is full of patriotism, and the most discussed topics are war and Napoleon. Anna Pavlovna supported the general mood and undertakings of the emperor.
The insincerity of the heroine showed through in her actions and words, although she skillfully handled the hypocrisy and falsehood inherent in a secular lioness. She created a comfortable image for herself, appearing in front of the guests who she was not in fact. The meaning of Scherer's life was the existence and relevance of her circle. She saw the salon as a job and reveled in her success. A sharp mind, a sense of humor and politeness of the woman did their job, helping to charm any guest.
There were unspoken laws in the salon, with which everyone who wanted to participate in it put up. Many visited him to keep abreast of the latest city news and to see with their own eyes how intrigues are being built among representatives of the high society. There was no place for real feelings and objective opinion, and Anna Pavlovna made sure that no one spoke for the framework of what was permissible in the salon.
The appearance in the circle caused discontent on the part of the hostess, since Pierre was not a socialite and was distinguished by his natural behavior. His behavior was perceived by the guests as bad form. The evening was saved by the departure of the visitor.
The second appearance of Anna Pavlovna on the pages of the novel takes place during the Battle of Borodino. She still runs the salon and maintains pseudo-patriotic sentiments. The topic of the day was the reading of a letter from the Patriarch, and the situation in Russia and the battle were discussed. Tolstoy specifically twice describes the evenings in the Scherer salon, demonstrating that, despite the change in political situation, there are no changes in the circle. Secular speeches are not replaced by actions, even during a real threat to Moscow. Thanks to this presentation, it becomes clear that the victory over the French was won solely by the strength of the common people.
In view of the close relationship of Mrs. Scherer with the Kuragin family, the conclusion is obvious why Anna Scherer is childless. The choice of women is independent and voluntary. They were more attracted by activity in society than the fulfillment of family duty. Both were interested in the prospect of shining in the light, and not in the opportunity to be known as an exemplary wife and mother of the family. The countess of Rostov was the antipode of Scherer in this sense.
Screen adaptations
The novel is often chosen for film adaptation by Soviet, Russian and foreign directors, seeing in it an example of imperishable classics, a springboard for visualizing images and revealing multifaceted characters.
The first three films based on the plot of the work of Tolstoy were silent: two of them belonged to the director Pyotr Chardynin. After a long period of time, director King Vidor shot the first color tape with sound. In the film "War and Peace" she played. The image of Anna Scherer, as in previous films, was not fully disclosed.
There was no such character in the 1959 film Too People, directed by the director.
In the film "War and Peace" for the first time, the image of Anna Scherer received deserved attention thanks to Anna Stepanova, who embodied the heroine on the screen. Barbara Young played the Empress's maid of honor in the British TV series directed by John Davis, which was released in 1972.
Angelina Stepanova and Gillian Anderson as Anna Pavlovna Sherer In the 2007 series, directed by Robert Dornhelm and Brendan Donnison, the image of Anna Scherer was absent, and instead of a salon, the corresponding action took place in the Rostovs' house.
The Tom Harper series, released in 2016, presented the image of Anna Scherer in full glory.
