How Much Land Does How Much Land Does a Man Needa Man Need

Leo TolstoyLeo Tolstoy

Quiz questionsQuiz questions

What are the two sisters boasting of at the What are the two sisters boasting of at the beginning of the story?beginning of the story?

How does Pakhom at first feel when he buys a How does Pakhom at first feel when he buys a piece of land and becomes a landowner?piece of land and becomes a landowner?

How does he get along with his neighbors some How does he get along with his neighbors some time after he becomes a landowner?time after he becomes a landowner?

What brings Pakhom to the land of the What brings Pakhom to the land of the Bashkirs? Bashkirs?

What happens to Pakhom in the end?What happens to Pakhom in the end?

Leo TolstoyLeo Tolstoy

- Writer- Writer- Thinker- Thinker- Reformer- Reformer

Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910)’s lifeLeo Tolstoy (1828-1910)’s life Parents were aristocrats (count and countess)Parents were aristocrats (count and countess) Lost both parents early in his lifeLost both parents early in his life Went to University 1844-1847Went to University 1844-1847 Served in the army in 1854-1855Served in the army in 1854-1855 Traveled to western Europe in 1857, 1860-61Traveled to western Europe in 1857, 1860-61 founded thirteen schools for his serfs' childrenfounded thirteen schools for his serfs' children Married in 1862, 13 children by herMarried in 1862, 13 children by her Adopted extreme moralistic and ascetic views Adopted extreme moralistic and ascetic views

after after a moral crisis and spiritual awakening after after a moral crisis and spiritual awakening in the 1870sin the 1870s

Became a moral thinker and social reformerBecame a moral thinker and social reformer

Leo Tolstoy’s major worksLeo Tolstoy’s major works

War and PeaceWar and Peace (1865-1869) (1865-1869) 战争与和平战争与和平 Anna KareninaAnna Karenina (1875-1877) (1875-1877) 安娜安娜 ·· 卡列尼卡列尼娜娜

The Resurrection The Resurrection (1899)(1899) 复活复活

Review of more detailsReview of more details

What boast does Pakhom make at the What boast does Pakhom make at the beginning of the story?beginning of the story?

“ “If I had plenty of land, I shouldn’t fear the If I had plenty of land, I shouldn’t fear the Devil himself!” (p. 178)Devil himself!” (p. 178)

What are the factors that prompt Pakhom to What are the factors that prompt Pakhom to buy his first piece of land?buy his first piece of land?

Sister-in-law’s boasting of better city life and Sister-in-law’s boasting of better city life and disparaging of their rough village life.disparaging of their rough village life.

Pakhom is made to pay fines for his cattle Pakhom is made to pay fines for his cattle sometimes runs loose and strays into the sometimes runs loose and strays into the landlady’s land or garden.landlady’s land or garden.

Pakhom becomes envious when seeing one of Pakhom becomes envious when seeing one of his neighbors is buying land.his neighbors is buying land.

How does Pakhom come to learn of other How does Pakhom come to learn of other opportunities to acquire land?opportunities to acquire land?

A peasant passing through his village who A peasant passing through his village who just came from beyond the Volga where just came from beyond the Volga where people who joined the commune were people who joined the commune were granted 25 acres per man;granted 25 acres per man;

A passing dealer just returning from the A passing dealer just returning from the land of the Bashkirs where he had bought land of the Bashkirs where he had bought 13,000 acres of land for 1,000 rubles, less 13,000 acres of land for 1,000 rubles, less than a penny an acre.than a penny an acre.

How large is the first piece of land he buys?How large is the first piece of land he buys? 40 acres40 acres 40x4050m40x4050m22=162,000m=162,000m22=243=243亩亩

How much land does Pakhom get when he How much land does Pakhom get when he moves to settle on the new place?moves to settle on the new place?

125 acres125 acres 125x4050m125x4050m22=506,250m=506,250m22=759=759亩亩

What arrangement does the Bashkir chief What arrangement does the Bashkir chief agree to make with Pakhom?agree to make with Pakhom?

The arrangement is that for 1,000 rubles The arrangement is that for 1,000 rubles Pakhom will be given the land he can go Pakhom will be given the land he can go round on his feet in a day on the condition round on his feet in a day on the condition that if he doesn’t return on the same day that if he doesn’t return on the same day to the spot where he started, his money is to the spot where he started, his money is lost (p.183).lost (p.183).

InterpretationInterpretation

Why is the Devil pleased that Pakhom Why is the Devil pleased that Pakhom makes his boast?makes his boast?

Because the Devil sees Pakhom’s Because the Devil sees Pakhom’s weakness in his boast and believes weakness in his boast and believes Pakhom will fall into his power for that Pakhom will fall into his power for that weakness (desire/greed for land).weakness (desire/greed for land).

Why does the arrangement the Bashkir chief Why does the arrangement the Bashkir chief makes with Pakhom lead to Pakhom’s makes with Pakhom lead to Pakhom’s death?death?

Because according to the arrangement, the Because according to the arrangement, the amount of land Pakhom can have depends amount of land Pakhom can have depends on how fast he can walk. Since Pakhom’s on how fast he can walk. Since Pakhom’s desire of land seems to have no limit, he is desire of land seems to have no limit, he is doomed to die of fast and exhausting walk in doomed to die of fast and exhausting walk in that hot day.that hot day.

What essentially leads to Pakhom’s What essentially leads to Pakhom’s death?death?

Pakhom’s unlimited greed for landPakhom’s unlimited greed for land

Does Pakhom realize his mistake before Does Pakhom realize his mistake before he dies?he dies?

Yes and no. On the surface, he seems to Yes and no. On the surface, he seems to realize his mistake of trying for too much. realize his mistake of trying for too much. But ultimately he doesn’t realize where his But ultimately he doesn’t realize where his problem lies. Otherwise he can stop problem lies. Otherwise he can stop running and save his life in spite of the running and save his life in spite of the loss of 1000 rubles.loss of 1000 rubles.

What kind of audience do you think What kind of audience do you think Tolstoy was trying to reach with his story?Tolstoy was trying to reach with his story?

People who own land (landowner and People who own land (landowner and landlady) or who are rich.landlady) or who are rich.

All of us who are never satisfied with what All of us who are never satisfied with what we already have and are easy to be taken we already have and are easy to be taken away by our desire for more. (greedy away by our desire for more. (greedy tendency)tendency)

Situational IronySituational Irony情景反讽情景反讽

Definition of Irony Definition of Irony 反讽反讽 A conflict between reality and appearance A conflict between reality and appearance

or expectations.or expectations.

Situational IronySituational Irony

Occurs when what actually happens is the Occurs when what actually happens is the opposite of what is expected or what opposite of what is expected or what appears to be.appears to be.

Describe an example of situational irony in Describe an example of situational irony in the story.the story.

Situational Irony 1Situational Irony 1 Words said by Pakhom’s wife about a peasant’s Words said by Pakhom’s wife about a peasant’s

life:life: “… “… at least we are free from anxiety.” “Our way at least we are free from anxiety.” “Our way

is safer. Though a peasant’s life is not a fat one, is safer. Though a peasant’s life is not a fat one, it is a long one.” “… it is sure … But you … are it is a long one.” “… it is sure … But you … are surrounded by temptations. The Evil One may surrounded by temptations. The Evil One may tempt your husband … and all will go to ruin.” tempt your husband … and all will go to ruin.” (p.177-178)(p.177-178)

In opposition to her statements, her husband is In opposition to her statements, her husband is not free from anxiety and temptations. Her not free from anxiety and temptations. Her husband will soon come to the end of his short husband will soon come to the end of his short life for his desire of more land.life for his desire of more land.

Situational Irony 2Situational Irony 2 Pakhom’s statement about his living situation:Pakhom’s statement about his living situation: when he owns 40 acres of land, he wants to when he owns 40 acres of land, he wants to

have more land because he thinks “I am still too have more land because he thinks “I am still too cramped to be comfortable,” “Why should I cramped to be comfortable,” “Why should I suffer in this narrow hole” “In this crowded place suffer in this narrow hole” “In this crowded place one is always having trouble.” (p.180)one is always having trouble.” (p.180)

However, the actual fact is he has plenty of land However, the actual fact is he has plenty of land and can be happy with what he already has and and can be happy with what he already has and be free from anxiety.be free from anxiety.

Situational Irony 3Situational Irony 3 Pakhom expects to obtain a large piece of land Pakhom expects to obtain a large piece of land

at an extremely low price from the Bashkirs. at an extremely low price from the Bashkirs. However, he ends up paying an extremely high However, he ends up paying an extremely high

price – his life – for that.price – his life – for that.

Effect of Situational IronyEffect of Situational Irony

1) shows people are often caught unaware 1) shows people are often caught unaware by various temptations and are blind to the by various temptations and are blind to the harmfulness of these temptations; harmfulness of these temptations;

2) enhances Pakhom’s unlimited greed, 2) enhances Pakhom’s unlimited greed, his never being satisfied with what he has; his never being satisfied with what he has;

3) highlights the theme that greed is a fatal 3) highlights the theme that greed is a fatal enemy to human beings and that there is enemy to human beings and that there is no greater disaster like greed. no greater disaster like greed.

Dramatic IronyDramatic Irony戏剧性反讽戏剧性反讽

Dramatic irony used in the storyDramatic irony used in the story

We the readers We the readers know the Devil is having a tussle know the Devil is having a tussle with Pakhom, competing to get him into his with Pakhom, competing to get him into his power, waiting for Pakhom to fall into his power power, waiting for Pakhom to fall into his power by giving him the land he wants. by giving him the land he wants.

The character Pakhom The character Pakhom is not aware of the is not aware of the Devil’s evil intention and tricks, doesn’t know the Devil’s evil intention and tricks, doesn’t know the land is given by the Devil and that by acquiring land is given by the Devil and that by acquiring the land sent by the Devil, he is stepping nearer the land sent by the Devil, he is stepping nearer and nearer into the Devil’s hand.and nearer into the Devil’s hand.

The Effect of Dramatic Irony The Effect of Dramatic Irony

It enhances the level of suspense. We the It enhances the level of suspense. We the readers are extremely curious about the readers are extremely curious about the end of such a contest / tussle. We wonder end of such a contest / tussle. We wonder if the Devil is right and if Pakhom can if the Devil is right and if Pakhom can escape the fate arranged by the Devil. escape the fate arranged by the Devil.

AllegoryAllegory寓 言寓 言

Definition of AllegoryDefinition of Allegory

A literary, dramatic, or pictorial device in which characters and events stand for good and bad qualities, abstract ideas, principles, or forces, such as purity, truth, patience, sloth, greed, etc.寓言，讽喻，寓言体小说，一种文学、戏剧或绘画的艺术手法，其中具体的人物和事件代表 /象征好的和坏的品质、抽象的观点、原则或支配力，如纯洁、真理、耐心、懒惰、贪婪等

In what sense is the story In what sense is the story an allegoryan allegory??

Here Here the Devil the Devil represents all evil things represents all evil things and temptations that bring disaster or and temptations that bring disaster or unhappiness to human beings. unhappiness to human beings.

PakhomPakhom represents every one who is represents every one who is greedy in various manners and cannot greedy in various manners and cannot resist the temptation of possessing more. resist the temptation of possessing more.

LandLand represents any object of desire or represents any object of desire or greed.greed.