1. Center your paper on a significant scene (or set of related scenes), and explicate that scene to highlight connections to Tolstoy’s central thematic concerns (or at least some of them).
An example: a close reading of the hunt scene that highlights elements of the scene that deal with class issues, with Tolstoy’s theories of warfare, with the interplay between the human and natural worlds, etc.
Other scenes with lots of potential: the opera scene, the opening soiree (the very first pages!), the meal at the uncle’s house, the beehive-and-queenless-Moscow sequence, etc., etc. Tons of potential choices (because if you haven’t noticed, it’s a really long book…).
2. Focus on a specific recurrent image or motif in the book and explicate the significance of this element/motif. Examples: eyes, doors, dreams. Assemble multiple examples of scenes where the element figures prominently, and dig into the meaning of the image/motif.
An example: doors figure prominently in/around Prince Andrei’s last days. Natasha enters through one, death enters through another. Looking past these scenes and into the book more widely, you’ll find other examples of doors present in significant scenes (most recently with Pierre as he recovers from being a prisoner)… bringing these scenes together will illuminate the role of the door (symbolically) in the book on a larger scale.
3. Pick a minor character and explicate her/his role in the book. The pages offer many possible choices; some that come easily to mind are Platon, Balaga the coachman, Denisov, the Rostov uncle, Rastopchin… ‘minor’ character can be expanded to include characters as significant as Sonya, Helene, Dolokhov, even Prince Vassily. Once you have picked a character, your paper will assess that character’s connection to the book’s thematic content; obviously, the character you pick will not be connected to ALL the book’s thematic concerns – limit yourself to the thematic material that is most directly connected to your character.
Example: Rastopchin is clearly a figure of leadership, about which Tolstoy has lots to say… your paper here would focus on that thematic concern most centrally.
4. Pick ONE major theme that interests you, and assemble an argument that demonstrates what the book has to say about it. Examples: nature/the natural world; the route to a meaningful life; feminism; fate/free will…
AN IMPORTANT NOTE: this topic, while aiming at the heart of the book’s central concerns, requires hard work. It is easy to get lost in generalities when working with broad concepts; it’s also easy to cherry pick certain examples and leave out important concerns. In other words, done shoddily, a paper in this vein will lead you to mediocre work.
5. A personal take on the book. What will you take away from three months with Tolstoy? What ideas have resonated with you, and why? This choice can also lead you to mediocre work if you approach it too casually; the good personal essay combines personal information with clear (and well-chosen) textual citations. Don’t just claim broad ideas – connect us to where you see them in the text and in your own life, and do so by writing clearly about these connections.
Example: a basketball team captain once wrote about leadership lessons observed both through the book and in her own experience on the court. She shared her struggles, brought them into conversation with Tolstoy’s ideas, and reckoned thoughtfully with how to take on leadership in her future.
6. A topic of your choice. If you choose this option, YOU MUST CONFER WITH ME FIRST. I’m open to many ideas – some of the best work is the work you design yourself – but I’ve seen plenty of weak papers that have resulted from poor topic design. I would love you to chart your own course, if you’re inspired to do so… I just want to help you get launched in the right direction.
Big Book 2019 