Book 2, Chapters 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

CHAPTER 4

Nicholas Rostov is under the command of Calvary captain, Denisov. Denisov is playing cards while Nicholas inspects a new horse that he just acquired for the Calvary which he purchased from Lieutenant Telyanin. Denisov tells Rostov to count the amount of coins he has in his purse and Rostov notices that he doesn't have much money and offers to lend him some. But when Rostov goes to fetch the coins later, they are not under the pillow where Denisov usually keeps them. He concludes that it was Telyanin (whom both he and Denisov dislike) who took them. He confronts Telyanin about the stolen coins and Telyanin gives him his purse to inspect. Telyanin claims he didn't take the coins, but tells Rostov to count anyway. In the end, Rostov gives Telyanin back the coins claiming "how could you have done it."

Important Quotes

Denisov: "we sleep when we don't love. We are childwen of the dust... but one falls in love and one is a God, one is pua' as on the first day of cweation"

Nicholas: "Please, Denisov, let me lend you some: I have some, you know," said Rostov, blushing.
Denisov: "Don't like bowwowing from my own fellows, I don't," growled Denisov.

"Count..." said Telyanin drawing nearer to him.
"Don't touch me," said Rostov, drawing back. "If you need it, take the money," and he threw the purse to him and ran out of the inn.

CHAPTER 5

 Staff captain, Kirten, and Denisov both address Rostov in the matter of the stolen purse. Kirsten tells Nicholas Rostov to apologize to Telyanin, but Rostov says that he will not because he's too prideful. They tell him that it was out of conduct to behave that way and to accuse someone in front of all the other officers, but Rostov still refuses to say sorry because Telyanin did take the coins. At the end of the chapter, Zerkhov enters with the news about general Mack's surrender with the Austrian army and that the Russian army is getting ready to go into action.

Important Quotes

Rostov:  "I will allow no one to call me a liar!" cried Rostov. "He told me I lied, and I told him he lied. And there it rests. He may keep me on duty every day, or may place me under arrest, but no one can make me apologize, because if he, as commander of this regiment, thinks it beneath his dignity to give me satisfaction, then."

Kirsten: "You don't wish to apologize, but, man, it's not only to him but to the whole regiment—all of us—you're to blame all round."

Kirsten: "You value your own pride and don't wish to apologize," continued the staff captain, "but we old fellows, who have grown up in and, God willing, are going to die in the regiment, we prize the honor of the regiment, and Bogdanich [Telyanin] knows it. Oh, we do prize it, old fellow! And all this is not right, it's not right! You may take offense or not but I always stick to mother truth. It's not right!"

Rostov: "but I can't apologize, by God I can't, do what you will! How can I go and apologize like a little boy asking forgiveness?"

 CHAPTER 6

Nesvitski and his men watch the army ground from a perch above. The enemy campsite is not far off and well in sight.

CHAPTER 7

Nesvitski and the soldiers are tying to cross a bridge, but there is no room for them all to pass. A German family with a young girl pass on a cart and all them men are entranced by the young girl, being that they haven't seen a women in months. Suddenly, Nesviski hears an enemy cannon rolling through the waters. Vaska Denisov arrives and tries to control the situation with Nesvitski. The soldiers are scared. The hussars (horsemen) pass neatly on their horses while the foot-soldiers are left in the mud and disorder.

Important Quotes

"The eyes of all the soldiers turned toward the women, and while the vehicle was passing at foot pace all the soldiers' remarks related to the two young ones. Every face bore almost the same smile, expressing unseemly thoughts about the women."

" The infantry who had been stopped crowded near the bridge in the trampled mud and gazed with that particular feeling of ill-will, estrangement, and ridicule with which troops of different arms usually encounter one another at the clean, smart hussars who moved past them in regular order."

CHAPTER 8

The Russians are under French attack. They are advised to burn the bridge down where to French are. Rostov, thinking that he is very brave and wanting to impress colonel Bogdanich Telyanin, rides in the very front. He thinks that Telyanin's command to burn the bridge is a test directed towards him after the purse and coin incident. Telyanin calls to him, saying not to risk his life in such a way. Only two men are wounded and one falls, but the bridge is successfully burned. Rostov realizes he isn't as brave as he likes to think as he looks around at the nature surrounding them and is aware of the finality of death.

*Rostov's boyish outlook on war seems to quickly change when he realizes the nature around him. No longer does he want to outwit and impress in war--he is actually fearful of war*

Important Quotes

[Rostov]: "Rostov on the left flank, mounted on his Rook—a handsome horse despite its game leg—had the happy air of a schoolboy called up before a large audience for an examination in which he feels sure he will distinguish himself. He was glancing at everyone with a clear, bright expression, as if asking them to notice how calmly he sat under fire. "

[Rostov]: "It seemed to Rostov that Bogdanich was only pretending not to notice him, and that his whole aim now was to test the cadet's courage, so he drew himself up and looked around him merrily; then it seemed to him that Bogdanich rode so near in order to show him his courage. Next he thought that his enemy would send the squadron on a desperate attack just to punish him—Rostov. Then he imagined how, after the attack, Bogdanich would come up to him as he lay wounded and would magnanimously extend the hand of reconciliation."

[Rostov]: "There was peace and happiness... "I should wish for nothing else, nothing, if only I were there," thought Rostov. "In myself alone and in that sunshine there is so much happiness; but here... groans, suffering, fear, and this uncertainty and hurry... There—they are shouting again, and again are all running back somewhere, and I shall run with them, and it, death, is here above me and around... Another instant and I shall never again see the sun, this water, that gorge!..."