Summary
Rostóv stands guard on the front lines, fighting off sleep while peering into the foggy darkness between the armies. His mind wanders between fantasies of meeting the Emperor and memories of home, showing how young soldiers cope with the tension before battle by escaping into daydreams. When distant shouting and fires appear in the French camp, the generals arrive to investigate. Prince Dolgorúkov thinks it's a trick—the French retreating while leaving decoy fires. But Bagratión isn't convinced. Rostóv volunteers to scout closer and rides into dangerous territory with three hussars. They encounter French pickets who fire at them, confirming the enemy is still there. When Rostóv reports back, he seizes the moment to ask for a favor—to be moved from reserve duty to the front lines tomorrow, hoping for a chance to meet the Emperor. His request is granted. Meanwhile, the chapter reveals what caused all the commotion in the French camp: Napoleon himself rode among his troops while his proclamation was read aloud, inspiring the soldiers to light torches and cheer. The proclamation reveals Napoleon's strategy and his attempt to motivate his men by appealing to their honor and hatred of England. This chapter captures the nervous energy before a major battle, showing how both sides prepare psychologically for what's coming—the Russians through duty and dreams of glory, the French through their Emperor's charismatic presence and appeals to national pride.
Coming Up in Chapter 63
The stage is set for battle, with both armies positioned and their leaders making final preparations. As dawn approaches, the fate of nations will be decided on the field at Austerlitz.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
That same night, Rostóv was with a platoon on skirmishing duty in front of Bagratión’s detachment. His hussars were placed along the line in couples and he himself rode along the line trying to master the sleepiness that kept coming over him. An enormous space, with our army’s campfires dimly glowing in the fog, could be seen behind him; in front of him was misty darkness. Rostóv could see nothing, peer as he would into that foggy distance: now something gleamed gray, now there was something black, now little lights seemed to glimmer where the enemy ought to be, now he fancied it was only something in his own eyes. His eyes kept closing, and in his fancy appeared—now the Emperor, now Denísov, and now Moscow memories—and he again hurriedly opened his eyes and saw close before him the head and ears of the horse he was riding, and sometimes, when he came within six paces of them, the black figures of hussars, but in the distance was still the same misty darkness. “Why not?... It might easily happen,” thought Rostóv, “that the Emperor will meet me and give me an order as he would to any other officer; he’ll say: ‘Go and find out what’s there.’ There are many stories of his getting to know an officer in just such a chance way and attaching him to himself! What if he gave me a place near him? Oh, how I would guard him, how I would tell him the truth, how I would unmask his deceivers!” And in order to realize vividly his love devotion to the sovereign, Rostóv pictured to himself an enemy or a deceitful German, whom he would not only kill with pleasure but whom he would slap in the face before the Emperor. Suddenly a distant shout aroused him. He started and opened his eyes. “Where am I? Oh yes, in the skirmishing line... pass and watchword—shaft, Olmütz. What a nuisance that our squadron will be in reserve tomorrow,” he thought. “I’ll ask leave to go to the front, this may be my only chance of seeing the Emperor. It won’t be long now before I am off duty. I’ll take another turn and when I get back I’ll go to the general and ask him.” He readjusted himself in the saddle and touched up his horse to ride once more round his hussars. It seemed to him that it was getting lighter. To the left he saw a sloping descent lit up, and facing it a black knoll that seemed as steep as a wall. On this knoll there was a white patch that Rostóv could not at all make out: was it a glade in the wood lit up by the moon, or some unmelted snow, or some white houses? He even thought something moved on that white spot. “I expect it’s snow... that spot... a spot—une tache,” he thought. “There now... it’s not a tache... Natásha... sister, black eyes... Na... tasha... (Won’t...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Anticipation Energy - How Waiting Creates Its Own Reality
When facing high-stakes uncertainty, people create elaborate mental narratives and seek dramatic action to manage psychological tension.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to distinguish between productive preparation and anxiety-driven fantasy when facing uncertain outcomes.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when you're stuck waiting for important news—catch yourself creating elaborate mental scenarios and redirect that energy into one concrete action you can actually take.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Skirmishing duty
Light reconnaissance work where small groups of soldiers scout ahead of the main army to watch for enemy movement. It's dangerous because you're exposed and alone, but it's also where young officers can prove themselves.
Modern Usage:
Like being the person who has to test out new company policies before they roll out to everyone else - risky but potentially rewarding.
Pickets
Soldiers posted as sentries at the outer edges of camp to watch for approaching enemies. They're the first line of defense and the most vulnerable to attack.
Modern Usage:
Similar to security guards or neighborhood watch volunteers who keep an eye out for trouble.
Reserve duty
Being held back from the main fighting as backup troops. Safer than front-line combat, but frustrating for ambitious young soldiers who want to prove themselves and get noticed.
Modern Usage:
Like being stuck training new employees instead of working on the big projects that get you promoted.
Imperial proclamation
An official announcement from an emperor or leader, usually read aloud to troops before battle to inspire them and explain why they're fighting. It's psychological warfare as much as information.
Modern Usage:
Like a CEO's company-wide email before layoffs or a big merger - meant to control the narrative and boost morale.
Charismatic leadership
The ability to inspire loyalty and enthusiasm through personal magnetism and emotional connection rather than just authority. Napoleon was famous for this - soldiers would die for him personally.
Modern Usage:
Think of bosses or politicians people follow because of their personality, not just their position - they make you want to work harder.
Pre-battle psychology
The mental state soldiers experience before major combat - a mix of fear, excitement, daydreaming, and nervous energy. Everyone copes differently with knowing they might die tomorrow.
Modern Usage:
Like the night before a major presentation, surgery, or job interview - your mind races between worst-case scenarios and fantasies of success.
Characters in This Chapter
Rostóv
Young ambitious officer
He's on dangerous sentry duty, fighting sleep while fantasizing about meeting the Emperor and getting promoted. When he volunteers for a risky scouting mission, it shows his hunger for recognition and advancement.
Modern Equivalent:
The eager young employee who volunteers for every dangerous assignment hoping the boss will notice
Bagratión
Experienced general
He's cautious and skeptical when other officers think the French are retreating. His wariness proves correct - the enemy is still there. He represents seasoned military judgment.
Modern Equivalent:
The veteran manager who doesn't buy into hype and actually investigates before making decisions
Prince Dolgorúkov
Overconfident officer
He immediately assumes the French activity means they're retreating and it's all a trick. His wishful thinking shows how people see what they want to see in ambiguous situations.
Modern Equivalent:
The coworker who always thinks the competition is failing and underestimates threats
Napoleon
Charismatic enemy leader
Though not directly present in the Russian scenes, his presence electrifies the French camp. His proclamation and personal appearance among troops shows masterful leadership and psychological manipulation.
Modern Equivalent:
The rival company's CEO who personally visits branches to fire up employees before a big product launch
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Why not?... It might easily happen, that the Emperor will meet me and give me an order as he would to any other officer"
Context: While on guard duty, daydreaming about getting noticed by the Emperor
This shows how young people cope with scary situations by fantasizing about success and recognition. Rostóv uses daydreams to manage his fear and boredom during dangerous duty.
In Today's Words:
What if the big boss notices me and gives me a chance to prove myself?
"His eyes kept closing, and in his fancy appeared—now the Emperor, now Denísov, and now Moscow memories"
Context: Describing Rostóv's mental state while trying to stay alert on guard duty
This captures how our minds wander when we're tired and stressed - between work responsibilities, authority figures, and comforting memories of home. It's universal human psychology.
In Today's Words:
He kept nodding off, his mind jumping between his boss, his coworkers, and thoughts of home
"Rostóv could see nothing, peer as he would into that foggy distance: now something gleamed gray, now there was something black"
Context: Describing the uncertainty and limited visibility during night watch
This fog represents the uncertainty we all face when trying to assess threats or opportunities. Sometimes what we think we see is just our imagination or wishful thinking.
In Today's Words:
He couldn't tell what was really happening - everything looked suspicious but might have been nothing
Thematic Threads
Identity
In This Chapter
Rostóv constructs himself as a potential hero through fantasies of meeting the Emperor and volunteering for dangerous duty
Development
Building from earlier chapters where characters struggle with their roles in society
In Your Life:
You might catch yourself creating heroic narratives during stressful waiting periods at work or in relationships
Class
In This Chapter
Rostóv's desire to meet the Emperor reflects the Russian military's rigid hierarchy and his hunger for recognition from above
Development
Continues the theme of characters seeking validation from higher social ranks
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when you're overly focused on impressing supervisors or authority figures during tense situations
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
Both Russian and French soldiers perform their expected roles—Russians through duty and honor, French through passionate loyalty to Napoleon
Development
Deepens from earlier exploration of how social roles shape behavior under pressure
In Your Life:
You might notice yourself conforming to group expectations during high-stress situations instead of acting authentically
Human Relationships
In This Chapter
The bond between Rostóv and his fellow hussars provides comfort and courage during dangerous reconnaissance
Development
Continues showing how relationships sustain people through difficult circumstances
In Your Life:
You might find that your closest relationships become more important during periods of uncertainty or stress
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What does Rostóv do to cope with the tension of standing guard before battle, and what does this reveal about how young soldiers handle stress?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does Rostóv volunteer for the dangerous scouting mission, and what does this tell us about how people manage feelings of powerlessness?
analysis • medium - 3
Think about a time when you were waiting for important news or results. How did your mind try to cope with that uncertainty?
application • medium - 4
When you're stuck in high-stakes waiting situations, what's the difference between productive preparation and mental escape? How can you tell which one you're doing?
application • deep - 5
Both armies create elaborate rituals and narratives while waiting for battle. What does this reveal about how humans manufacture meaning during uncertain times?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Anticipation Energy
Think of a situation where you're currently waiting for an outcome you can't control—a job interview result, medical test, relationship decision, or major life change. Write down what you actually can control versus what you cannot control in this situation. Then identify three specific ways you've been spending mental energy on this waiting period.
Consider:
- •Notice whether your mental energy is going toward productive preparation or fantasy scenarios
- •Identify which waiting behaviors make you feel more in control versus actually being more prepared
- •Consider how you might redirect nervous energy into concrete actions rather than mental loops
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when anticipation energy led you to take action that actually improved your situation. What made that different from times when the waiting just created more anxiety?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 63: Battle in the Fog
What lies ahead teaches us communication breakdowns create cascading failures in organizations, and shows us preparation and positioning matter more than good intentions. These patterns appear in literature and life alike.