Summary and Analysis of Tolstoy's Story 'How Much Land Does a Man Need ?'
By: LeoTolstoy
Summary :
This is a story of a peasant who had to lose his life due to his insatiable greed.
The central character of this story is Pahom. He was a peasant. He used to live with his family in a village. He had a contented life.
Once his sister in law (his wife's elder sister) came to visit them. She used to live in a town. As the two sisters were taking tea, a dispute (an argument) took place between them on the matter if town life was better or farm life. The elder sister took the side of town life whereas his wife took the side of farm life.
As the two sisters were having a good discussion, Pahom was also there. He listened to them and thought that the country life was of course best, provided that one has enough land. He also thought that if they had enough land, he would not fear the Devil himself. The Devil was also present there. He knew what Pahom had thought. There the Devil planned to ruin Pahom by providing him enough land.
There lived a lady near Pahom's village. She was a rich land lady. Her steward (formerly a person who supervised land lord's estate and his household) used to trouble the the peasants whose cattle used to get into her land and pasture (grass land/ grazing land) The peasants were much worried due to it.
Once they heard that the lady was selling her land. At first the peasants tried to buy her land on behalf of their commune (a group of people living together and sharing possessions and responsibilities), but they could not do so because of their personal differences of opinion. Then they decided to buy the land on personal basis. Pahom also came to know to know about it, and he bought forty acres of land.
Now he was better off (financially in a more desirable or advantageous position) because he had enough land. Gradually it so happened that the cattle of his neighbours often used to get into his field and destroy his crops. Some of the them even cut down some of his trees. Pahom even complained against them in the District Court several times but with no effect. He was worried due to it, and always thought of getting rid of this problem.
Once a peasant came to visit him from beyond Volga (a river in Russia). He gave Pahom the news that land was cheaper and more fertile there. He was also told that each individual was granted twenty five acres of the communal land, besides any one who had money, could buy as much freehold as much he wanted.
This news kindled (aroused an interest) a craving for more land in him. He immediately made up his mind to migrate there. He went with his family and settled there. In the new place he got hundred twenty five acres of good land besides the use of communal pasture. He put up his building and started a life in a new way. Now he was quite happy. Besides his own land, he rented land from other peasants and sowed wheat, and had good crops. Gradually he again grew dissatisfied with what he had, and desired to buy more land.
Once he bargained with a peasant to buy thirteen hundred acres of land at 1000 rubles. But before he could actually buy it, a tradesman informed him that land was cheaper at the land of Bashkirs. He could get some thirteen thousand of land from them (Bashkirs) for 1000 rubles.
His greed for more land arose once more and he immediately set off his journey to meet the Bashkirs with plenty of presents for them.
The Bashkirs were innocent people. They never cared for cultivating land. They lived on kumis, cheese, mutton etc. Pahom pleased them by giving them presents.
In return of his presents the Bashkirs agreed to give him land. The rate of their land was 1000 Rubles per day. Pahom could get as much land as much he could go around on his feet in one day. The only condition was that he should return back to the starting point before the sunset. If he failed to return there, he would lose the money. It was decided that he would start walking the next day.
That night Pahom could not sleep peacefully. Throughout the night he thought how fast he would walk and how he would cultivate his new land. At dawn he had a terrible dream in which he found himself laid dead before the Devil himself.
Early the next morning he went to the place along with the Bashkirs from where he had to start his walking. The chief Bashkir put his cap at a place to mark the starting point and Pahom put his money on the cap and started walking. The entire land was so tempting and fertile that the more he walked, the more his greed grew and grew. He went on and on and thus went too far from the starting point. After going a long distance he thought of returning to the starting point. But it was too late and the sun was about to set.
He hurried forward and pressed towards the starting point. His body badly needed rest, but he had no time. He could not rest because he had to get back to the starting point just at sunset. At last he reached there by the sunset, touched the cap with his hand and fell down there. Blood was coming out of his mouth and he was dead. Lastly his servant dug his grave and buried him there.
Finally it comes to be that what Pahom ever really needed was six feet of land for his grave.
Thus in conclusion we find that his greed to have more and more land became the cause of his death.
Thus the story is about corrupting nature of greed. It shows the impact of greed on human behaviour.
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Unit Analysis
Unit 1 Gist :
The first unit introduces the central character, Mr. Pahom. He was a peasant (poor agricultural labourer). He lived with his family in a village. Once the elder sister of his wife came to meet them from town.
While taking tea the two sisters had an argument about whether town life was better or the farm life. The elder sister took the side of town-life. She said that town-life was better. They had a comfortable life with better food, better clothing, better means of recreation and elegance of manners.
Pahom's wife said that although village people led a rough life, but they were always free from different anxieties of life. The towns people were always a prey of different temptations. Their lives were often ruined by card, wine and woman, whereas the village life was longer and safer and free from all temptations.
Pahom was also taking a short rest there. He thought that his wife was correct. If they had enough land, he would not even fear the Devil also. The Devil was also there. The Devil listened to the boasting of Pahom and took it as a challenge. He thought to provide Pahom enough land and to ruin him by that means.
Thus the beginning of the story itself indicates the sad ending of it. From the very beginning there started a tussle between Pahom and the Devil and finally the Devil got victory over Pahom by ruining him completely by means of temptation.
Comprehension Questions and Answers
Question 1. Who was the sister married to ?
Answer : She married to a peasant named Pahom.
Question 2. What are the advantages of town life as listed in the story ?
Answer : The elder sister from a town. presented a list of the advantages of town life. The towns people live more comfortably than the village people. They wear good dresses and eat good food. They have good means of recreation and they have elegance of manners.
Question 3. What are the three things with which the evil one tempts men ?
Answer : The evil one tempts men with cards, wine and women.
Question 4. What was it Pahom wanted more of ?
Answer : He wanted more cultivable land.
Question 5 . Who would Pahom not fear if he had more land ?
Answer : If he had more land, he would not even fear the Devil.
Question 6 . What would the Devil get by giving Pahom land ?
Answer : The Devil thought that he would get Pahom into his power by giving him enough land.
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Unit 2 Gist :
This unit shows the growing greed of Pahom for more and more land. Here we find him buying forty acres of land from a lady.
There lived a lady close to his village. She was a small landowner having an estate of about three hundred acres. She was a noble lady having good terms with her neighbouring peasants. But her steward was not a good person. He always used to fine the peasants whose cattle happened to come into her land. The peasants were much troubled and worried for this. Pahom, too, had to pay fines several times.
Once the news got about that the lady was selling her land and that an inn-keeper was to buy it. The inn-keeper was even worst than the steward. So they all thought to buy her land jointly on behalf of their commune. But somehow or other they could not come into agreement, and at last they decided to buy land individually.
Pahom was also interested in buying land. He arranged for some money and bought forty acres of land from her. He paid half of the price in cash and promised to pay the remainder within two years. Thus Pahom became the owner of his own land. He bought seeds and sowed them in his land. He had a good harvest and within a year he was able to pay off his debts. Now he had a happy life and was quite satisfied with his property.
Comprehension Questions and Answers
Question 1 . Why did the steward of the lady use to impose fine on the peasants ?
Answer :Whenever the cattle of any peasant used to stray into the lady's estate, the steward used to impose a fine on him.
Question 2. Why did the coming of winter make Pahom glad ?
Answer : The coming of winter made him glad because in the winter season he could stable his cattle and they would not stray into the lady's estate. Thus he would be free from being imposed a fine upon himself.
Question 3. Who was the first to bargain for the old lady's land ?
Answer : An inn keeper was the first to bargain for the lady's land.
Question 4. Why were the peasants afraid of the innkeeper ?
Answer : The inn keeper was not a man of good nature. So the peasants thought that if the inn keeper bought the land, he would trouble them with more fines worse than the landlady's steward. So they were afraid of him.
Question 5. Did the peasants succeed in arranging for commune to buy the land ?
Answer : No, the peasants didn't succeed in arranging for the commune to buy the land.
Question 6. Who created differences among the peasants in arranging for the commune to buy the land ?
Answer : Though the peasants wanted to arrange to buy the land for their commune, and though they met and discussed it twice, they could not settle the matter. The Devil (Satan) created differences between them.
Question 7. How much land did Pahom decide to buy for the lady ?
Answer : He decided to buy about about twenty acres of land from her, but finally he bought forty acres.
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Unit 3 Gist :
In this unit we find growing dissatisfaction of Pahom with his possession and a hankering (longing/desiring) for more.
After buying forty acres of land, Pahom was quite satisfied with his property. He had a good crop, he paid off his debts, and had a happy life.
But gradually this happiness faded away. His neighbours started to trouble him by allowing their cattle strayed in his fields. Pahom turned them out again and again and forgave their owners. At the same time he requested his neighbours politely not to do so. But his request had no effect.
At last he was forced to complain against them in the District Court. Some of his neighbours were even fined. This made them become angrier and they started to trouble him even more.
One night one of his neighbours cut down five young lime trees from his garden. Pahom was much hurt by it. He guessed Simon (neighbour) might have done that, and so he lodged a complaint against him. Simon was summoned, but as there was not any evidence against him, the court acquitted (freed of criminal charge by a verdict of not guilty) him. Pahom got still more angry and he quarreled with the judges and with his neighbours. In this way his relation with his neighbours grew worst.
About this time a rumour got about that many people were moving to new parts. At first Pahom became pleased that he would remain there itself and extend his land.
One day a peasant came to visit Pahom beyond the Volga. He stayed with Pahom that night. He informed Pahom that the land beyond Volga was much fertile. Many people from his village had settled there. They had joined the commune, and had twenty five acres per-man granted to them.
This information made Pahom ambitious for going and settling there. He gathered more information from the man. Towards summer he went there and saw and understood everything by himself. The land was much fertile there. Every man had twenty five acres of communal land given him. Besides that any body could buy freehold land by himself at two shillings an acre. Having known all this Pahom decided finally to settle there. Accordingly, he sold his property and the next spring he started with his family to the new place.
Comprehension Questions and Answers
Question 1. What trouble did the neighbouring peasants create for Pahom ?
Answer : They started to trespass on his corn fields and meadows. Often they used to leave their cows on their corn fields. Sometimes they used to leave their horses into his corn field at night.
Question2. Why did Pahom complain to the district court ?
Answer : The neighbouring peasants often used to trespass into his corn fields and meadows. Pahom had requested them several times very politely not to do so. But his request had no effect. So at last he was forced to complain against them in the court.
Question 3. What was the result of Pahom's complaint ?
Answer : As Pahom had complained against his neighbours, two or three of them were fined. This created a rage among the neighbours. Now they started to trouble him more often. Now they let their cattle onto his land on purpose. Once one of his neighbours cut five lime trees from his wood at night.
Question 4. What was Pahom's plan to find the culprit ?
Answer : Although Pahom did not know exactly who had cut his trees. He suspected Simon to have done it. So he planned to have a round of Simon's homestead (a farmhouse) and to find out the evidence.
Question 5. Why did Pahom quarrel with the Elders and the Judges ?
Answer : After Pahom lodged a complaint against Simon, he was summoned. But the court could not get any evidence against him. So he was acquitted. Pahom thought Simon to have bribed the judges. So he became angry and quarreled with the Elders and the Judges.
Question 6. Why was Pahom not satisfied with so much land ?
Answer : Although now Pahom had much land, he was not satisfied with it. He thought himself to be without any room to live with his family. He wanted to increase his landed property more so that he could live more at ease.
Question 7. What did the visiting peasant tell Pahom about the land beyond the Volga ?
Answer : The visiting peasant told Pahom that many people were settling the land beyond Volga. The land there was much fertile. As an example he said that he knew one peasant who had brought nothing with him, now had six horses and two cows with him.
Question 8. How much land could one man get there ?
Answer : The visiting peasant informed that everyone who joined the commune there could get twenty five acres granted to him. Besides that, one could buy as much land as he wanted.
Question 9 . How much Pahom lose in selling his property ?
Answer : He did not lose anything in selling his property. Rather he sold his land and property at a profit.
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Unit 4 Gist :
This unit shows Pahom's greed for land growing still more. The unit starts with the settlement of Pahom at the new place (beyond Volga) and ends with his ambition of going to the land of Bashkirs.
From his old place he came with his family to the new place beyond Volga. There he joined commune and five shares of communal land were given to him, which was 125 acres, besides he could use commune pasture. Thus now he had three times as much as it was at his former home. He was ten times better off than he had been.
At first he became very busy in building and settling. But soon after sometime he grew bored with what he had. He began to think that he did not have enough enough land.
The first year he sowed wheat. He had a good crop. He wanted to sow more wheat But he didn't have enough suitable land for this purpose. So he rented land from a man. He sowed much wheat and had a fine crop. But the land was about ten miles far from his village. For three years he went on renting land and sowing wheat.
Gradually the idea of buying some more land suitable for wheat came into his mind.
Once he got a chance. There was a peasant, who was in some economic trouble. So he was selling his land cheap. Pahom bargained with him, and finally they settled the price at fifteen hundred rubles for thirteen hundred acres of land.
But before he could actually buy it, a tradesman happened to come to Pahom's home. He was coming from the land of the Bashkirs. There he had bought thirteen thousand acres of land for one hundred rubles only. He said that the Bashkirs were very simple people. They had enough landed property. It was easy to please them by presenting them with some gifts.
Now Pahom thought that it was better to buy thirteen thousand acres of land at one thousand rubles than to buy only thirteen hundred acres of land at fifteen rubles. Greed grew in him once more. He became desirous for having more land, and finally he made up his mind to go the Bashkirs.
Comprehension Questions
Question 1. What was the size of this home as compared to the earlier one ?
Answer : Pahom was far better off in his place in comparison of his earlier one. Now he had three times as much as at his former home.
Question 2. Why could Pahom not sow wheat on his land each time ?
Answer : The first time he sowed wheat on his land and had a good crop. He wanted to go on sowing wheat. But he could not do so because he did not have enough land suitable for sowing wheat. In those parts wheat was only sown on virgin soil or on fallow land. He had to leave his land fallow till one or two years. Only then it could be suitable for sowing wheat.
Question 3. Why was Pahom not satisfied with his riches ?
Answer : In the new place he was three times better off than his previous place. He had enough landed property now. Still he was not satisfied with it. He always thought he did not have enough land. Gradually his greed and hankering for more property grew more and more, and he could not become satisfied with what he had.
Question 4. How much land could Pahom buy with 1500 rubles ?
Answer : He could buy thirteen hundred acres of land with 1500 rubles.
Question 5. How much land could he buy from the Bashkirs for 1000 rubles ?
Answer : He could buy thirteen thousand acres of land with 1000 rubles from them.
Question 6. How did the dealer please the Bashkirs ?
Answer : He pleased them by presenting them about one hundred rubles worth of silk robes and carpets. He had also presented them a case of tea and had given wine for those who used to drink. Thus he had pleased the Bashkirs by presenting them gifts.
Question 7. Why did Pahom decide to take his money to the land of the Bashkirs ?
Answer : After gathering all the necessary information about the Bashkirs from the person, he decided to invest his money into the land of the Bashkirs. In his own place he could only get thirteen hundred acres of land with his money, but at the Bashkirs he was to get more than ten times of land with the same amount of money.
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Unit 5. Gist
This unit shows Pahom's journey to the land of Bashkirs and meeting with them. When he knew everything about the Bashkirs from the tradesman, he immediately made up is mind to go there. As soon as the tradesman left him, Pahom prepared to go there.
He took a man with him and started his journey. On the way he stopped at a town, and bought a case of tea, some wine, and some other presents for the Bashkirs, as it was suggested by the tradesman. Then after covering a journey of three hundred miles, he reached there on the seventh day.
The Bashkirs lived on the steppes by a river in tents. They had enough landed property, but they never cared for ploughing. They had a large number of cattle. The mares were milked and from the milk kumis (a dairy product made from mare's milk/ a type of alcoholic drink) and cheese were made.
[The Bashkirs lived in covered tents]
The men didn't care for work. They used to pass their lives comfortably playing on their pipes, eating kumis, cheesed and mutton. The women were responsible for other works. The Bashkirs were simple, ignorant, good natured people. They knew no Russian.
The Bashkirs gave Pahom a warm welcome. They took him into one of their best tents, and made him sit on cushions placed on a carpet, and gave him some tea, kumis and mutton to eat. They surrounded him and started to talk with him. As they did not know Russian, an interpreter was found and they were talking with the help of him. Pahom distributed the presents among them. They were pleased with his gifts. They said they were ready to give anything he liked in the return of his gifts.
Pahom said that he was desirous to have some land from them. They were ready for it, but as their chief was not present at that time, so it was agreed to wait for the chief.
Comprehension Questions
Question 1. How many days did Pahom take to reach the land of the Bashkirs ?
Answer : After he started on his journey for the Bashkirs, he stopped at a town and bought some presents for them and again started his journey. Thus on the seventh day of his journey he reached there on the seventh day.
Question 2. How did the Bashkirs greet Pahom ?
Answer : They gave Pahom a great welcome. They took him into one of their best tents and made him sit on cushions placed on a carpet. They gave him some tea, kumiss and mutton to eat.
Question 3. How did the Bashkirs please their guests ?
Answer : They used to please their guests by repaying them for their gifts.
Question 4. What pleased Pahom most about the Bashkirs ?
Answer : Their landed property pleased Pahom most about the Bashkirs.
Question 5. What were the Bashkirs arguing about when Pahom asked for land ?
Answer : The chief Bashkir was not there when Pahom asked for land. So some of the Bashkirs thought that Pahom should be given land only after the arrival of the chief. Some of them were ready to give him land even before the arrival of the chief. This was the argument.
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Unit 6. Gist.
In this unit we find the arrival of the chief Bashkir and his conversation with Pahom. In the end of the unit we find the rate of the land being fixed between the chief and Pahom.
While the Bashkirs were disputing among themselves, the chief himself arrived there. Pahom presented him the best dressing gown and five pounds of tea. The chief accepted them.
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The Bashkirs told him everything and the chief said that he was ready to give Pahom land. The chief knew Russian language, so he was talking with Pahom without the help of any interpreter.
Pahom asked the chief how he would know which piece of land would be his and how it would be measured. He also asked for the official deeds (papers etc.) of the land given to him.
The chief replied that he would readily sign the official papers. The price of land was one thousand a day. It meant that Pahom had to go round the field on foot as far as he could go a day and later on they would plough the land for him and the circuit would be his. The only condition was that Pahom had to start his walk form a particular place and had to return to the same point before the sunset.
It was settled that early the next morning Pahom would start his walk for land. Then after eating some mutton, tea and kumis they all went to their tents for sleep.
Comprehension Questions
Question. 1 How did Pahom please the chief ?
Answer : He pleased the chief by presenting him the best dressing gown and five pounds of tea.
Question 2. Why did Pahom want a deed for the land ?
Answer : Pahom was a practical man. He thought that if he was not obtaining (getting) official deeds about the land from Bashkirs, they might take it back from him at any moment. So he wanted a deed for the land to make it sure for ever.
Question 3. What was the price of the land ?
Answer : The price of the land was one thousand rubles a day.
Question 4. How was a day measure the land of the Bashkirs ?
Answer :The price of the land was one thousand rubles of a day. The measure was that the man who wanted to buy land had to go round the land on foot and had to make a circuit. Thus the area of land covered on foot by one would belong to the man.
Question 5. What was the Bashkir's condition for the sale of land ?
Answer : They has only one condition in selling land. It was that the man willing to buy land had to start to walk from a particular point in the morning and had to return there in the evening. If he failed to do so, his money would be lost.
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Unit 7. Gist
This unit shows the mental condition of Pahom the night before he was to start his run for covering land. This unit is important because here the readers find a preindication (sign/ pointing out on advance) of his death the next day.
The night before his run he had had a dream. In it the the Devil himself appeared in the room and Pahom lying dead at his feet. This was the preindication of Pahom's death.
It was settled that Pahom would start his walk for land the next morning. The Bashkirs provided him much comfortable bed to sleep. But it was almost a sleepless night for him. Sleep didn't come to his eyes. He spent the whole night in thinking and planning how much he would cover and enjoy the land.
He planned to cover at least thirty five miles a day. He further thought that he would sell the poorer land and would farm the best land. He would buy two ox-teams and hire two labourers. He would farm about a hundred and fifty acres and would use the rest of the land as pasture. In this way he spent the whole night thinking and planning about land.
It was just before the dawn that Pahom happened to sleep. He saw a dream. He saw that he was sleeping in the tent, and somebody was chuckling (laughing quietly) outside. The man laughing was the chief Bashkir. Immediately he saw that it was not the chief, but it was the dealer who had given him information about the Bashkir's land. Soon he saw that it was not the dealer also, rather it was the peasant who had given the information about the land beyond Volga.
Then he saw that it was not the peasant either, it was the Devil himself, who was sitting there and laughing. There was a man lying lying dead in a miserable condition near the Devil's feet. Pahom saw that the dead man was he himself. At this he awoke horror-struck.
It was almost morning. He got up immediately, got ready and went to the Bashkirs. There he asked them to get ready soon and to go the place from where he had to start his journey.
Comprehension Questions
Question 1. How much land did Pahom hope to cover in a day ?
Answer : He hoped to cover thirty five miles in a day.
Question 2. What did he plan to do with that much land ?
Answer : He thought that he would sell the poorer land, and would farm on the best land. He planned to buy two ox-teams, and hire two more labourers. He further planned to farm on a hundred and fifty acres of land and to keep the rest as pasture land for his cattle.
Question 3. What was the last thing seen by Pahom in his dream ?
Answer : In the last of his dream Pahom saw himself dead lying miserably near the feet of Satan with only trousers and a shirt on.
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Unit 8 Gist:
This unit shows Pahom's race for land.
Early in the morning Pahom and the Bashkirs went to the steppe to a particular place from where Pahom had to start his walk. He moved his eyes all round. The land everywhere was so good and fertile. The Chief put his cap on the ground as a mark from where Pahom had to start his walk, had to return back to the same place by sunset. Pahom took out his money and put it on the cap.
He prepared himself for the walk. He took a bag of bread, a flask of water and a spade. Then he considered which way to go, and finally he started towards the East. At first he walked neither slowly, nor quickly. But soon he gathered speed.
Roughly after walking three miles, he marked with his spade. He further went about three miles in the same direction. Then he stopped, dug a large whole and heaped on turf.
Now he was thirsty, so he took some water and turned to the left. He went on and on. At about noon he thought of taking rest. He sat down, ate some food, took some water and rested for a while. Then again he started to walk.
The more he walked, the more his temptation grew. After going on a long way as he was about to turn to the left, again he saw a very good piece of land , and couldn't resist his temptation to cover that piece of land also. After covering that piece of land too, he again turned to the left. Then he noticed a lot of time had passed. He had come very far from his destination. So he thought to make it shorter. And thus making the third side shorter he now turned towards the hillock, which was his fourth and final side.
Comprehension Questions
Question 1. Why did the chief put the cap on the ground ?
Answer : He put the cap on the ground to mark the place from where Pahom had to start his walk and had to return back by sunset.
Question 2. What did Pahom put on the cap ?
Answer : He put money on his cap.
Question 3. Why at last Pahom decided to make his ground lopsided ?
Answer :He had gone long in his second side. He had gone far away from his goal. A lot of time had gone. Now if he was to make his four sides equal, he might not reach to his target end. Thus he would lose his time, money and energy. So finally he decided to make his land lopsided.
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Unit 9 Gist
This is the concluding unit in which the readers find the complete ruin and destruction of Pahom. It presents the returning of Pahom toward his final goal.
After covering his three sides he finally turned to the direction where the Bashkirs were waiting for him. But the place was so far and Pahom was tired and done up with heat. His physical condition did not allow him to walk any more. He longed badly for rest. But rest was impossible if he wanted to get back before sunset.
He pressed on. Though it was very hard walking, but he increased his speed, and finally began to run. He threw away his coat, boots, flask and cap.
His physical condition grew worse. His bare feet were cut and bruised, his legs began to fail and his mouth parched. He feared he would die, but still he could not stop.
On the other hand the Bashkirs were shouting and calling him. He gathered his last strength and ran on. He could see the people on the hillock. The sun was about to set. Soon for a moment it seemed that the sun was set. But it was not so. He took a long breath and ran up through the hillock.
He reached the top and saw the cap. Before it the chief was sitting and laughing. Pahom remembered his dream in which he had seen himself dead before the Devil.
Finally he reached up to the place and touched the cap with his hand. But by that time he fell down on the ground. Blood came out of his mouth. His servant tried to raise him. But Pahom was no more. He was dead. The Bashkirs showed their pity. His servant dug a grave for Pahom and buried him in it.
In this way we find that Pahom's greed for more and more was the only cause of his death and destruction. Had he been satisfied with what he had, he might have had a happy life.
The moral of this story is that one should be satisfied with what s/he has, and should not hanker for more. This only leads to ruin and destruction.
Comprehension Questions
Question 1. Which part of his dream did Pahom remember while running ?
Answer : While running he remembered the last part of his dream in which he had seen himself lying prostrate and dead near the feet of the Devil.
Question 2. What happened to Pahom when he reached his goal ?
Answer : When Pahom reached his goal, his legs gave away beneath him and he fell down. He touched the cap with his hand. His servant tried to raise him but he found that blood was coming out of Pahom's mouth. He was dead.
Question 3. How did Bashkirs show their pity ?
Answer : They clicked their tongues to show their pity.
Question 4. How much land did Pahom really need in the end ?
Answer : After Pahom was dead, his servant dug a grave long enough for Pahom to lie in comfortably. Thus we find that Pahom really needed only six feet of land.
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Questions Answers
Question 1. How did the Devil challenge Pahom ?
Answer : As the two sisters were discussing about the pros and cons town life and village life, Pahom thought to himself that if he had enough land, he should not fear anything, not even the Devil.
The Devil was also there and he heard what Pahom said and took it as a challenge and thought to take Pahom into his power and to ruin him ultimately by providing him more land.
Question 2. Describe the manner in which the Bashkirs lived .
Answer : The Bashkirs lived on the steppes in tents. They had enough landed property. But they neither tilted the ground, nor ate bread.
They had a great number of cattle. The mares were milked, and kumis and cheese were made from the milk. The men never worked. They only took kumis, tea, cheese, mutton and played on their pipes. Thy were ignorant and knew no Russian. In short they led quite a comfortable life away from worries and anxieties.
Question 3. Describe Pahom's growing greed for land.
Answer : In the beginning of the story Pahom was leading quite a comfortable life. After he overheard the two sister's arguments about towns and village life desire for more land sprouted in his heart. After that event he bought a farm of forty acres of farming land from a lady. He had good crops there. For a short period he was satisfied , but soon his dissatisfaction grew.
Then he left his place and migrated to a new place beyond Volga. There he became the owner of hundred five acres of land. This was his peak of success. But this could not also keep him satisfied.
Again he looked for land, and finalized to buy thirteen acres of land at one place at the price of 1500 Rubles. But before he could actually buy it, he knew about the land of Bashkirs. He went there immediately. There he lost his life trying to cover more and more land.
Question 4. What did Pahom see in his dream?
Answer : It was really a terrible dream. In it he hears a laughter out side. He walked toward the laughter and found it was the Bashkir's chief who was laughing. Then he saw it was not the chief, it was the dealer who had given him information about the Bashkirs. Then again the dealer turns into the peasant who had told him to go beyond the Volga. Finally he saw that the laughing person was the Devil, chuckling there. This was an indication of Pahom's death.
Question 5. Describe Pahom's thoughts while he was racing for more land.
Answer : His thoughts can be divided into two parts. At first he was absorbed in thinking how much land he would that day, then he was worried of returning back to the appointed place before sunset.
When he started his run, he found the land everywhere so tempting. The more he went, the more he wanted to cover. His thoughts were concentrated on encircling more and more land. He thought if he could encircle more land, he would become a very rich person.
When he was walking on the third side, the sun was half way to the horizon, and he was still ten miles away from his goal. then he quickly turned towards the hill. Although his body was protesting, he pressed himself more. If he could not reach his aim, his labour and money would go useless.
He even repented to have gone so far from his destination. He also remembered his dream and feared that he would not live to enjoy his newly gained land.
Thus in the second half his thoughts were absorbed in returning back to his goal.
Question 6. How does the proverb 'an hour to suffer, a life time to live' apply to Pahom's race for more land ?
Answer : While racing for more land, Pahom's motto was 'an hour to suffer, a life time to live'. It means that if somebody really labours hard, he would be able enjoy the whole life.
But this did not apply positively in Pahom's race. Although his body protested, he ran to cover as much land as possible. But finally he died as he reached to the appointed point. Thus he could not enjoy his newly earned property.
Here we find an element of situational irony. His hard work ironically only led to his downfall.
Question 6. What was Pahom's physical condition when he was trying to run back to the starting point ?
Answer : His greed took him too far from his destination. Only when the sun had gone nearly half way to the horizon, he thought of returning back. By this time he had consumed up all his energy. His body was drenched in sweat. His feet were cut and bruised and his breast worked as blacksmith's bellows. He was panting, and his limbs were aching. His mouth was parched. Thus his physical condition was miserable. He felt he would die before he reached his destination.
Question 7. Write the significance of the story's last sentence, "Six feet from head to his heels was all he needed." What is the relationship between the last sentence and the title of the story ?
Answer : At first when we read this title, we feel it only to be a satire to Pahom's never ending greed for more and more land. It appears before as a rhetorical question. But after he is buried in a six-foot grave, comes the last line of the story. Here we find a literal answer of the title : that is, a man needs as much as land enough to bury his body in the ground. This is so ironical that Pahom who laboured for more and more land, needed only six feet to be buried.
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Essay-Type Questions
Question 1. Describe how greed ruins Pahom
Answer : The major theme of this story is the dangers of greed. It warns us against the dangers of greed.
As the story opens, we find Pahom a happy contented (satisfied) person. He is almost completely satisfied with his life.
His desire to own more land initially sprouted as he overheard the argumentation of his wife and her older sister. He even thought if he had more land, he would not even hear the Devil himself. From this point on he became greedy for more and more land. His first step to ruin and destruction began with the purchase of the lady's land.
Pahom started to look for suitable land to buy. Once he came to know that a land-lady was selling her estate (landed property) of three hundred acres. He became desirous of buying a parcel of land from her. He collected money from different sources, and actually bought a tract of forty acres of land. It was a fertile land, and within a year he could pay back his debts.
For about year or so he was satisfied with his new possession ,but, however, he grew discontented with what he had. A greedy soul can never remain satisfied.
Once a peasant came to visit Pahom, and he stayed with him for a night. From him Pahom came to know about a place beyond Volga, where the land was so fertile.
He went there personally and liked the place very much. Next autumn he sold his property and went to the new place where he became the owner of 125 acres of land. Now he was ten times better off than he had been. After some time he even rented some additional land for sowing wheat.
But Pahom could not remain satisfied with this much. He came to know about a peasant in financial difficulty was to sell land. He makes a deal with him to obtain thirteen acres of land only in 1500 rubles. But before he finalize the deal, he heard rumours about the land of the Bashkirs, where he would get land even cheaper.
He went to meet the Bashkirs with plenty of gifts. They were ready to sell him land. The price was 10000 rubles a day. The only condition was that he had to start to walk from a particular place and had to return back to the same place by sunset.
The walk for the land was the peak of his greed. He wanted to cover more and more land in a day. He pressed and pressed himself, and came away far from the starting point. This temptation made his condition worse, and finally although he returned back to the starting point by evening, he lost his life. His servant dug his grave, and buried him there.
After all six feet of land was all he needed. Who was responsible for his death ? Of course it was his never ending greed.
Question 2. "In the story How Much Land Does a Man Need the author shows human greed." Write an essay to support the above statement.
Answer : The major theme of Tolstoy's short story "How Much Land Does a Man Need" is the corrupting nature of greed. It's a warning to the people who are never satisfied with what they have. Such people are prey to avarice, and in their futile attempt to meet their greed, they ruin their lives.
The central character of this story Pahom is the representative example of it.
In the beginning, we find Pahom to be a contended peasant, quite satisfied with what he had. His greed sprouted initially when he overheard his wife and sister-in-law arguing about city and farm life. He thought only if he had plenty of land, he would have nothing to fear -- not even the Devil himself.
A short time later he came to know that a landlady in the village was to sell her estate. He managed enough money and bought 40 acres of land. Now he had a more comfortable life. But soon, however, he had troubles with his neighbours. He grew dissatisfied with his possession, and thought of buying a larger landed property. A greedy person can remain contended.
Once from a peasant he came to know about a place beyond Volga, where land was so fertile. He went there personally, and liked it very much.
Next summer he sold all his property at a profit, and bought 125 acres of land. Now he was ten times better off than he had been. After some time he even rented some additional land for sowing wheat. But as his nature it was, he again grew dissatisfied.
Once he encountered a peasant who was selling thirteen hundred acres of land in 1500 rubles. He was about to buy it, but before the final deal, Pahom came to know about the land of the Bashkirs. They could sell him thirteen thousand acres for the same price he was about to pay for thirteen hundred acres. He thought he would go there and buy land.
Accordingly he went to the land of Bashkirs with his servant. He carried plenty of gifts for them. The Bashkirs gave them a warm welcome They agreed to to offer him as much of land as he wanted in 1000 rubles. The only condition was that he had to return back to the starting point by sunset otherwise his money would be lost.
The night before his walk (for land), he had a terrible dream in which he saw himself dead before the Devil. But, however, he overlooked the deeper meaning of the dream.
His walk for land was the peak of his greed. He wanted to cover more and more land in one day. This temptation made his condition worse, and finally although he reached at the starting point at the appointed time, he lost his life.
Thus in conclusion we can say that this story is all about what greed can do to a person. Greed makes a man blind, and foolish and makes him an easy prey for death or destruction.
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Short -Questions
Question 1. Do you think the title "How Much Land a Man Need ?" is an appropriate title for the story ? Why ? Why not ?
Answer : The title of the story is in the form of an interrogative sentence. Here it is serving as a rhetoric question. I think the title is very appropriate. It captures reader's attention, and commands a reflection on the topic, but as s/he comes to the end of the story, s/he finds the writer himself giving the answer of the question.
Thus by posing a question and and giving the answer, the writer has become able to pass his message to the audiences.
Question 2. What is a fatal flaw in the character of Pahom ?
Answer : In the beginning of the story Pahom is quite satisfied with what he has. But gradually he grows greedy and more greedy. This insatiable greed is his fatal flaw, which finally took his life.
Question 3. Do you sympathize with Pahom ? Why or Why not ?
Answer : No, I don't sympathize with him at all. He met with his death only because of his never-ending desire for more and more land. His punishment is justly deserved.
Question 4. What kills Pahom? Why?
Answer : In order to cover more land in one day, he goes too far the starting point. Then, when he realized it, he pressed himself beyond his physical strength to return to the appointed place. This made him exhausted. So, he dies from exhaustion. But in fact his excess greed for land killed him.
Or
(His insatiable greed for more and more land killed Pahom)
Question 5. Do think How Much Land Does a Man Need is a parable ?
Answer : Yes, this story is a parable because through it the writer is trying to give us a moral that we should not be greedy. We should be contended and grateful for what we have. Greed leads us to destruction.
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1. Name: 'How Much Land Does A Man Need'
2. Genre:
- Fiction (Short Story)
- It is also a parable because this story gives us a lesson that we should be satisfied with what we have and not be greedy. Greed destroys us.
3. Writer: Leo Tolstoy
[1828 -- 1910]
[Short Profile of the Writer: Tolstoy was a Russian author, considered one of the best writers of all the time. He has penned several long and short fictions, plays (six) and novella. Besides, he is also known for his philosophical writings.]
His famous novels are :
- War and Peace (1869)
- Anna Karenina (1878)
- Resurrection (1899/ His last novel)
- A Confession (or, My Confession . 1879/ Non fiction, Philosophical writing)
- Pahom: Protagonist, the central character/ Round and Dynamic character
- The Devil: Antagonist/ a Round and Static character
- Merchant
- Pahom's Servant: Minor character/ Flat character
- Bashkir's Chief: minor character/ Static character
- External Conflict: Man vs Supernatural, that is Pahom vs the Devil
- Internal Conflict: Man vs Himself, it is his own insatiable greed for more and more and his futile attempt to meet it. he is carried away by ambition and greed, and loses contentment.
- The Sun: The sun is the biggest symbol in the story. It symbolizes the course of human life. Pahom starts his walk for land with Sunrise, symbolizing a new start enthusiasm and hope, and ends up in the sunset, symbolizing the end of life. The death is as inevitable as the Sun. There is another symbol (and image also) related to the Sun symbol. The sinking Sun is 'as red as blood' which indicates Pahom's blood flowing out from his mouth as he falls on to the ground and dies.
- The Land: It is the symbol of power and self sufficiency.
- The Spade: It is a mark of progress. It symbolizes the ownership because it is by this tool that Pahom marks off the Bashkirian land. It also symbolizes his greed, and ultimately when he dies, his grave is dug by the same tool, thus it symbolizes his death also.
- Kumis: Bashkirs have no worries. They enjoy their lives eating and drinking Kumis. Thus it symbolizes the the joys of the community.
- Pahom's Grave: His grave symbolizes his greed, which eventually leads him to his grave. Greed is what it killed him.
12. Irony: There are three different types of irony used in the story:
- Dramatic Irony: Here dramatic irony is where the audiences know about the presence of the Devil and listening to Pahom as he was boasting about not fearing the Devil if he had plenty of land. But, however, Pahom has no idea of the Devil's presence there.
- Situational Irony: Pahom is expected to get a big parcel of land and be a richer person after such a labour and sweat the whole day. By the end of the story, the result is totally different. Although he he could encircle the land, he he was no more there to enjoy the land.
- Verbal Irony: There are several occurrences of verbal irony in this story. It was an irony as Pahom's wife says that peasants are less greedy when in fact her husband's grief leads him to his tragic end.
- The unseen presence of the Devil in Pahom's house, and his decision to take Pahom in his power by providing Pahom more land is a good example of foreshadowing. Readers know that if the Devil is present somewhere and specially when He challenges somebody, something sinister is going to take place.
- Pahom's sinister dream the night before his walk for Bashkir's land is a clear example of foreshadowing. He finds himself dead at the feet of the Devil, which clearly gives a hint of his death the next day.
15. Personification:
- The heat made the air hazy, it seemed to be quivering
16. Simile:
- It was all virgin soil, as flat as the palm of your hand, as black as the seed of a poppy, and in the hollows different kinds of grasses grew breast high
[All images credit : Google Images / 'Pahom running for more land' image credit: LinkedIn]
Excellent anaylsis Sudip. I like how you ask the questrions and also answer rhem Very helpful.
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