Tolstoy

“How Much Land Does A Man Need?” ** SUMMARY: ** **Pahóm, a peasant farmer who lives in Russia aspires to own large a tract of land. He claims “if I had plenty of land I shouldn’t fear the Devil himself” (222). The Devil hears this and plots to make Pahóm miserable. Pahóm seizes the opportunity to acquire his desired land when an old woman is selling her estate. Pahóm only purchases a small portion of the land. Peasants begin to trespass on his land, and even start to cut down his trees. Pahóm then comes across a peasant traveler who tells him about a large amount of cheap yet fertile land. He purchases a total of 125 acres of land but soon becomes unsatisfied and searches for more. He crosses paths with a passing dealer he can buy a huge amount of land for a very low price. He goes to the place he was told about and finds a tribe. He inquires about buying land and the chief explains that he can mark off as much land as he wants but he must do it by sunset. He gets greedy and tries to mark off too much land. With little time, he begins to sprint for the finish but dies from exhaustion.**

-“How Much Land Does A Man Need,” is narrated using a third person, non-participant, omniscient narrator. *Omniscient-having complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or understanding; perceiving all things. (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/omniscient) -Tolstoy’s writing style is consistent throughout the story. Some aspects, such as the idea of peasants, were a little outdated, which fit considering that the story was written in 1886. By having an omniscient narrator, the style was able to be simple, for it was not overloaded with biased opinions from the characters.
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__ Characters __ **Pahóm**- protagonist, poor farmer who becomes greedy for land, his greed ends up being the death of him, dies in the end, he boasts and the Devil hears him and the Devil tests his greed: “Our only trouble is that we haven’t land enough. If I had plenty of land, I shouldn’t fear the Devil himself!” (222) **The Devil**- antagonist, takes on different roles/characters: Bashkír Chief, the dealer that told Pahóm about the land, and the peasant that came from Vólga. The devil heard Pahóm boasting about not owning enough land **Elder sister**- lives in the town, says that she has a much better life in the town and that she is comfortable **Younger sister**- Pahóm’s wife, lives in the village, “We may live roughly, but at least we are free from anxiety.” (222) **Lady**- a small land owner that lives close to the village, sells some land to Pahóm

 The story was written in 1886 by the Russian writer, Leo Tolstoy. Around that time Communist ideas were beginning to spread throughout Asia. The story takes place in multiple plain small villages in Russia during the late 1800s. Tolstoy uses descriptive language to provide the simple landscape of the story. “Pahom’s eyes glistened: 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 grew different kinds of grasses grew breast high.” (Tolstoy, 230) One of the major themes of the story is greed. Pahom is overcome by his lust for land unto the point where he does not care about his family anymore. __**Vocab**__ __ Promenade __- a formal dance __ Piqued __- to arouse an emotion __ Disparaged __- to speak of or treat slightly __ Abode __- a place in which a person resides __ Arable __- capable of producing crops __ Steppes __- a vast semiarid grass-covered plain __ Kumiss __- fermented mare’s or came’s milk __ Kindle __- to light up, make bright __ Hillock __- a small hill __ Twain __- two items of the same kind __ Tussle __- a rough physical contest or struggle __ Steward __- a person who manages another’s property or financial affairs, who administers anything as the agent of another __ Fodder __- coarse food for livestock, composed of entire plants __ Forbore __- to keep back or withhold __ Acquitted __- to relieve from a charge of fault or crime __ Aggrieved __- wronged, offended, or injured __ Mares __- female horse __ Spade __- a tool for digging __ Flax __- a slender, erect, annual plant having narrow lance shaped leaves and blue flowers, cultivated for its fiber and seeds __ Discord __- lack of concord or harmony between persons or things
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