Read along: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

Course Structure:
- 15 lectures
- Quiz at the end of each lecture (15-20 minutes)
Lecture Topics and Duration:
- Lecture 1: Introduction to Tolstoy, Historical Context, Overview of Book One
- Lecture 2: Book Two – Start of War, Battle of Schöngrabern
- Lecture 3: Book Three – Life in Society, Natasha’s Youth
- Lecture 4: Book Four – Prince Andrei’s Spiritual Awakening
- Lecture 5: Book Five – Natasha and Anatole’s Elopement
- Lecture 6: Book Six – The Battle of Austerlitz
- Lecture 7: Book Seven – Peace Negotiations, Pierre’s Search for Meaning
- Lecture 8: Book Eight – The Beginning of 1812 Invasion
- Lecture 9: Book Nine – Moscow’s Abandonment, Freemasonry
- Lecture 10: Book Ten – The Battle of Borodino
- Lecture 11: Book Eleven – Burning of Moscow, Guerrilla War
- Lecture 12: Book Twelve – The French Retreat, Russian Winter
- Lecture 13 (2 hours): Book Thirteen – The World of Renewed Hope
- Lecture 14 (2 hours): Book Fourteen – The Movement of Peoples
- Lecture 15 (2 hours): Epilogues 1 & 2 – The Meaning of Life & War
Learning Objectives:
- Analyze the philosophical and moral questions Tolstoy raises about war, peace, purpose, and free will
- Understand the historical context and Tolstoy’s critiques of historical accounts
- Explore character development, relationships, and the Russian aristocracy
- Appreciate Tolstoy’s literary genius in structure, symbolism, and language
Assessments and Quizzes:
- 5 multiple choice questions testing comprehension of key events/details
- 2 short answer questions for analysis (e.g. “What is Tolstoy saying about individual will versus historical forces?”)
- 1 essay question exploring major themes (e.g. “Examine Tolstoy’s portrayal of the philosophical quest for meaning”)

This comprehensive curriculum allows in-depth study of Tolstoy’s masterpiece while providing context, analysis materials, and a manageable schedule for completion. The quizzes test bottomline understanding while prompting deeper literary analysis.