Your essay should:

• Present a clear, arguable thesis that directly addresses the prompt
• Utilize at least three specific examples from the novel (including characters, scenes, or passages)
• Examine how Tolstoy employs literary techniques — such as point of view, juxtaposition, or irony — to express his views on history
• Consider and counter at least one opposing argument
• Conclude by linking Tolstoy's thoughts to a larger theme concerning human agency and fate

Guiding Considerations

• How does Tolstoy depict Napoleon and Kutuzov as military leaders? What does this comparison reveal about agency and historical determinism?
• In what ways do the personal experiences of Pierre Bezukhov or Prince Andrei Bolkonsky either reflect or challenge the novel's overarching philosophical themes?
• How does Tolstoy utilize the Battle of Borodino or the French retreat from Moscow to illustrate his perspective on historical causation?
• What is the interplay between individual free will and fate in the novel, and how does Tolstoy address — or intentionally leave ambiguous — this conflict?

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 paragraphs (introduction, body, conclusion)
• Include textual evidence with analysis (avoid summarizing the plot)
• Present a clear, arguable thesis in the introduction
• Engaging with Tolstoy's philosophical epilogue is encouraged but not necessary

Your essay should:

• Clearly state a thesis that reflects your stance on Tolstoy's philosophy of history as depicted in the novel.
• Analyze at least two characters (such as Napoleon, Kutuzov, Pierre, Natasha, or Andrei) and discuss how their development either supports or complicates Tolstoy's claim.
• Examine at least one significant historical event portrayed in the novel (for example, the Battle of Borodino or the burning of Moscow) and evaluate how Tolstoy presents human agency in that context.
• Consider a counterargument and refute it with textual evidence.
• Conclude by contemplating the wider implications of Tolstoy's perspective on our understanding of war, peace, and the purpose of humanity.