'HOW MUCH LAND DOES MAN NEED?'
Leo Tolstoy
Focus
· The corrupting nature of greed· Lack of contentment
Key events
The passing dealer’s revelation (P 21)Lack of sleep (P 22)Desire to get the largest land (P 22)The suffering (P 24)Pahom’s death (P 25)
MORAL
In his quest to acquire vast land, Pahom ends up losing his life. The moral of the story is greed is dangerous. Contentment is the key to happiness.
'HOW MUCH LAND DOES MAN NEED?' PLOT SUMMARY
Pahom is a farmer in countryside Russia. He has 123 acres of land/pasture. He has a big house and 5 family members. Although he has adequate land for livestock and farming, Pahom is not contented. He desires more land.
One day, a passing dealer stops by his farm to get some feeds for his horse. He tells him about the Bashkirs. He had bought 13, 000 acres of fertile land at 1, 000 roubles. This strongly attracts Pahom. He then buys presents at the market and embarks on a seven day journey to the place where the Bashkirs had pitched their tents. He greeted the people and their chief and handed them the gifts.
Pg (21) “Thank you so much. As for the reward of this presents, I will give you anything you ask for,” the leader tells him.
Pahom is attracted to the fertile land. The leader gives him an unusual price; 1, 000 roubles a day.
Pg (22) “As much as you can go round on your feet in a day is yours and the price is 1, 000 roubles a day”.
He asks him to return to the place he started before the sun sets or else everything will be in vain.
Pahom is excited. He cannot sleep. He lay awake thinking of the big pasture he could make and the big cottage he could build in his newly acquired land. He decides to start early the next day.
He dozes off just before dawn. The leader shows him the land and lays his fox-fur cap on the ground to mark the starting point.
“Start and return here before the sun sets” (P 22).
At sun rise Pahom starts walking towards the meadow. He takes off his outer coat and shoes when it becomes warm. He becomes sweaty and thirsty. The people in the hillock look like black ants. He digs a large hole, and turns left. It was noon. He takes bread and water for lunch. He is hot and sleepy but thinks to himself “An hour to suffer, a lifetime to live”. He is about to turn but sees a damp hollow and he thinks flax would do well there. This makes him not to turn. When he does, it's hot and hazy and the people in the hillock can barely be seen.
He is tempted and keeps saying it is too early. He goes over the place and remembers the words of the leader. He digs a hole and turns and walk straight forward, towards the hillock. His bare feet are cut and bruised. He feels the need to rest but does not.
He is afraid that he has bitten more than he can chew and may be too late. The sun is setting and he's a few metres from his goal. He is in serious physical pain and discomfort. He feels as if he could die of strain. The people on the hillock wave and urge him on.
He can see the fox-fur cap now. He almost gives up when it grows dark but the Bashkirs urge him on. He reaches his goal finally but collapses and dies. He had gained so much land. His servant digs a grave for him, six feet from his head to his heels. That's all he needs.
'HOW MUCH LAND DOES MAN NEED?' CHARACTERS
Pahom
Pahom is portrayed as greedy and materialistic. He is also selfish. Despite having 123 acres, a big house where he lived with 5 family members, he is still not satisfied/contented. He strongly desires more land.
Pahom suffers terribly trying to acquire the land but does not relent. He is thirsty, hot and sleepy. His feet are cut and bruised. He is in serious pain. His mouth is parched. His heart beats like a hammer and chest works like a blacksmith's bellows. His legs seem as if they do not belong to him.
Pahom suffers because of his greed and materialism. He dies and loses all his material property. Although he acquires an enormous tract of land, he only needs six feet where he's buried by his servant.
Pahom is generous. He offers the passing dealer some tea. He also buys some presents for the Bashkirs. Although, this may be to conceal his greedy human nature; since all he was thinking of was acquisition of land.
The passing dealer
He is honest and frank. He tells Pahom about the Bashkirs and their benevolence. He acquired 13, 000 acres for 1, 000 roubles. He produces a title deed to back up his claim.
i.
The Bashkirs and the leader.
Grateful-They thank Pahom for his generosity and benevolence. They offer him anything he wants. “As for the reward for these presents, I will give you anything you ask for”.
Generous-they offer Pahom fertile land as long as he can meet their demands.
'HOW MUCH LAND DOES MAN NEED?' ISSUES
The story revolves around the corrupting nature of human greed. Pahom is discontented with the land he owns and wants more. Pahom is materialistic since he cares more about material possession e.g. land, pasture, livestock, and a big cottage than his own well being.
He suffers pain and agony in a bid to acquire a lot of land and eventually dies and loses everything.
KCSE EPISODIC APPROACH TO “HOW MUCH LAND DOES MAN NEED?”
The moral value in ‘How Much Land Does Man Need?’ is contentment/the evil or potentially dangerous nature of greed.
In brief, materialism does not pay. The protagonist, Pahom, suffers when he loses his life as a result of his greed.
Learners must read the story intensively in order to acquire enough details needed for illustration while responding to KCSE essay questions on Memories We Lost.
KCSE ESSAY QUESTIONS ON SHORT STORIES
1. The question must have a value statement and an outcome reward/ punishment.
e.g. Write a composition on how materialism does not pay basing your illustrations on ‘How Much Land Does Man Need?’ by Leo Tolstoy.
The question requires the learner to show how Pahom suffers due to his greed/ materialism.
2. The embedded morals. The virtues of contentment and the vices of greed/ selfishness and materialism are highlighted.
MEMORIES WE LOST SAMPLE KCSE ESSAY QUESTIONS
Pahom's downfall is as a result of his insatiable obsession/desire. Write an essay to qualify this statement making reference to Leo Tolstoy’s ‘How Much Land Does Man Need?’ (20 marks)
Sometimes we suffer as a result of lack of contentment. Citing illustrations from Leo Tolstoy's "How Much Land Does Man Need?" write an essay in support of this statement. (20 marks)
Write a composition to show how greed causes pain and loss basing your illustrations on Leo Tolstoy's How Much Land Does Man Need?
HOW MUCH LAND DOES MAN NEED ? KCSE ESSAY QUESTION
Pahom's downfall is as a result of his insatiable obsession for land. Write an essay to qualify this statement making reference to Leo Tolstoy’s ‘How Much Land Does Man Need?’ (20 marks)
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Well analysed
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