Chapter 19
War Talk and Dinner Courage
At the men’s end of the table the talk grew more and more animated. The colonel told them that the declaration of war had already appeared in Petersburg and that a copy, which he had himself seen, had that day been forwarded by courier to the commander in chief. “And why the deuce are we going to fight Bonaparte?” remarked Shinshín. “He has stopped Austria’s cackle and I fear it will be our turn next.” The colonel was a stout, tall, plethoric German, evidently devoted to the service and patriotically Russian. He resented Shinshín’s remark. “It is for the reasson,…
Public-domain chapter text, formatted for reading.
Master this chapter. Complete your experience
Purchase the complete book to access all chapters and support classic literature
Available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"And why the deuce are we going to fight Bonaparte?"
Context: He interrupts patriotic table talk at the men's end
Shinshin voices the doubt others hide. The question is practical, not theatrical.
In Today's Words:
Someone has to ask why the institution is marching into a fight that benefits speakers more than soldiers. You hear it in meetings when one person says the project is theater. It is risky because it breaks solidarity, but it can save a room from mistaking noise for courage.
"It is for the reasson, my goot sir, for the reasson zat ze Emperor knows zat."
Context: Replying to Shinshin with rehearsed manifesto language
Official memory replaces argument. Authority stands in for explanation.
In Today's Words:
When the answer is because leadership decided, you are hearing doctrine not reasoning. That shows up when managers quote policy without reading it or families repeat because I said so. Ask for the concrete stake behind the slogan before you join the performance. If you track only the public moment, you miss the private stake: who gains leverage, who loses face, and what gets asked once the room relaxes.
"I am convinced that we Russians must die or conquer"
Context: He flings his plate and glasses about to look decisive when the colonel asks his opinion
Nicholas performs adulthood. The room senses the words outrun his experience.
In Today's Words:
New hires and young relatives often borrow the loudest patriotic or corporate language to prove they belong. It impresses some listeners and embarrasses others who hear the gap between phrase and life. If you are the one speaking, check whether you are stating conviction or auditioning for approval.
"Mamma! What sweets are we going to have?"
Context: She stands and interrupts the hushed table twice, inviting Pierre to listen
Natasha risks scolding to break solemn pretense. Her nerve delights the room because it is alive, not scripted.
In Today's Words:
Asking the human question in a solemn room can be braver than repeating slogans. Think of the person who asks about sleep, food, or kids when adults are performing crisis. The laugh that follows is often relief, not mockery, because someone named real life again.
Thematic Threads
Official Language
In This Chapter
The colonel recites the manifesto from memory; Shinshin mocks; Nicholas escalates
Development
Continues war fever introduced in the smoking room
In Your Life:
You might hear policy quoted verbatim while nobody in the room has opened the source document.
Child Disrupts Script
In This Chapter
Natasha demands sweets until the table laughs with her boldness
Development
Extends her authenticity from earlier Rostov scenes
In Your Life:
You might remember the person who broke a tense meeting with a human question everyone needed but feared to ask.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
This is not a test. Five prompts guide you through the chapter, from how it opens to how it closes, so you notice context and rhythm rather than facts to memorize. Sit with each question in your own words. When you see "One way to read it," treat it as a starting point, not the only answer.
- 1
How does Shinshin's question differ from the colonel's answer?
analysis • surfaceOne way to read it
Shinshin doubts purpose. The colonel cites imperial authority and memorized text instead of reasoning.
- 2
Why does Nicholas's declaration feel awkward even to him?
analysis • mediumOne way to read it
The words outrun his experience. He performs fervor the room half admires and half sees through.
- 3
What changes when Marya Dmitrievna interrupts from the ladies' end?
application • mediumOne way to read it
She punctures male excitement with plain sense, reminding them the French are not in the dining room.
- 4
Why does Natasha's dessert question win the table?
application • deepOne way to read it
It is alive, specific, and risky. She breaks solemn pretense with joy, not another slogan.
- 5
Where do you see performed courage versus real nerve today?
reflection • deepOne way to read it
Performed courage repeats approved language; real nerve risks disapproval to name human stakes.
Critical Thinking Exercise
Script vs. Authentic Response Audit
Think of three situations where you regularly speak or act: work meetings, family discussions, social media, parenting, etc. For each situation, write down one thing you typically say that sounds good but might be borrowed from others, and one thing you'd say if you spoke purely from your own experience. Notice the difference in how each feels to write.
Consider:
- •Borrowed language often sounds more impressive but feels hollow when you examine it
- •Authentic responses might seem smaller but usually contain more practical wisdom
- •The gap between performed and genuine responses reveals where you feel most pressure to impress others
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you used impressive-sounding words or actions to cover uncertainty. What were you actually feeling? What would have happened if you'd been more authentic about not knowing?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 20: When Family Drama Crashes the Party
The evening continues as the guests move to other rooms, but the war preparations that dominated dinner conversation are about to become much more personal and immediate for the Rostov family.
