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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Tolstoy view Napoleon's dispositions for the Battle of Borodino?

2. What happens when Platon makes a shirt for a French officer and presents it to him?

3. At Borodino, Andrew is with his regiment. What are they doing and what happens to them?

4. How does Nicholas react to Mary when he arrives at Bogucharovo?

5. What has caused Helene's illness?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what state is Andrew when Natasha finds him traveling with her family out of Moscow, and what is his reaction to seeing her?

2. Why does Andrew request a post in Turkey?

3. Why is Kutuzov at odds with his generals while they are waiting for the French to leave Moscow?

4. What happens with Pierre after the reading of the Tsar's letter asking for money, serfs and equipment?

5. How does Sonya react to Natasha when she finds Anatole's letter to her?

6. How do Mary and Natasha overcome their grief?

7. While Moscow is being abandoned, what is everyone in St. Petersburg saying about Helene?

8. How does Tolstoy view the causes of historical events (this is described while the French are in Moscow and the Russians are waiting in Tarútino for a good opportunity to attack)?

9. Berg goes to the Rostov's as they are packing up to leave Moscow. Why does he go there?

10. Why do the French end up abandoning a city that was their emperor's goal in invading Russia?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore Sonya's character. Is she a generous person or is she selfish? How does Tolstoy change the reader's attitude about her?

Essay Topic 2

Natasha goes pretty quickly from grieving for Andrew to falling in love with Pierre. What does this say about her character? Be specific.

Essay Topic 3

Conflict is one of the literary devices that is evident throughout the book. Its very name deals with conflict. However, the conflict is not just between the Russians and the French. There is serious conflict in the "peace" parts. Choose a conflict that occurs in the "drawing room" scenes - be they between people, or within an individual. Describe how the conflict is first manifested and then discuss how it evolves in the story from beginning to end. Analyze how the characters handle this conflict and how it shapes the outcome of the book. Discuss how Tolstoy uses conflict to tell the story.

(see the answer keys)

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