War and Peace, Book 14: 1812, Chapter 15 summary
Book 14: 1812, Chapter 15 of 365 · 4 min to read the chapter
In Chapter 15, Pierre dreams of life as a globe of changing drops, then nearly recognizes that Karatáev is dead before falling asleep again. Before sunrise, Cossacks and hussars free the prisoners, while Dólokhov oversees captured Frenchmen and Denísov follows the men carrying Pétya Rostóv’s body toward a grave.
What happens
- At Shámshevo, Pierre eats horsemeat and sleeps beside a fire, dreaming about life, God, and a globe made of moving drops.
- His former geography teacher explains the globe and describes Karatáev as a drop that disappears.
- Awake, Pierre recognizes Karatáev’s dog and recalls signs of his death, but shifts into unrelated memories without reaching a conclusion.
- Before sunrise, gunfire wakes Pierre, and Russian troops surround the prisoners, who greet their rescuers with tears and embraces.
- Dólokhov supervises disarmed French prisoners as a Cossack counts them.
- Denísov follows Cossacks carrying Pétya Rostóv’s body toward a hole in the garden.
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In this chapter
What to notice
The dream presents love of life as possible even within suffering. This thought accompanies Pierre’s memories of Karatáev and his own captivity.
Quick check
What does Dólokhov’s Cossack use to record each hundred prisoners?
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