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Short Story Guide: Interpreting a Story on Many Levels

For each short chapter, take note of any major actions and mark whether you think of each one as a
gain, a loss, or some combination of both. In your notes, consider the character's material, emotional,
and mental changes.
Gain (+) or Loss (−)?
Action
 Two sisters meet after a long time.
Chapter I  They discuss about their lives in different environment
 Pahom, the younger sister’s husband, challenges the devil
 Pahom often has problems with his work
 Pahom buys his own land and makes it flourish
Chapter II
 He is often having conflicts with his family and takes out his
work burdens with his family.
 Pahom has conflicts with his neighbors and other land
owners.
 Pahom, as he has climbed up the social ladder has
become more intimidating and nerve- wrecking. (Change in
Chapter III
character)
 Pahom moves to a new place in search of greater
prosperity

 As time goes on, Pahom rents land little by little and plows
seeds in them and it also flourishes.
 He realized the land he has is not enough and desires to
Chapter IV
own land rather than rent them.
 He commits to a new dealer and buys land.

 Pahom leaves his family in search of the new land.

 He meets the Bakshirs and stays with them, exchanging
gifts in return for favorable land.
Chapter V
 He is welcomed warmheartedly into their group and treated
with respect.

 Pahom talks with the chief

 Pahom and the chief make a deal and the chief explains
him about their practices of owning land.
Chapter VI
 Pahom is surprised as their method of purchasing land was
different.
 Without thinking much, he agreed to it.
 He dreams of his own death
Chapter VII
 He sets out to mark his land.
 Pahom sets out to mark his land. He walks miles and miles
and makes marks to identify his location and his property
Chapter VIII
 Pahom’s greediness gets him to go further away from the
start point. Which makes him delay on his way back.
  Pahom gets tired of walking. As the sun heats him up he
gets so tired to the point that his feet has gone rough and
Chapter IX swollen.
 Pahom doesn’t give up and he reached the spot at last
 Pahom dies of exhaustion.

Please answer the following questions in complete sentences and elaborate when possible to aid you
in interpreting this story.

Chapter I

1. In what does Pahom find security?

In owning more land.
2. How might this be a positive trait?
It would help him get rich and satisfy is family needs.
3. How might it be a weakness?
It might get him greedy and destroy his true happiness and blindfold him with negative traits.

Chapter II

1. What elements of Tolstoy's Russia are introduced in this section of the story? Keep in mind the
background information.
Tolstoy was an influential writer with his master works- the war and peace novel. In his novel he
writes about napoleon’s invasion of Russia. His two main themes were spirituality in the main
characters and family happiness being the absolute reward. In the story though, Pahom
complained and argued with his family, showing his frustration towards his family for the problems
he experienced with the land. His spirituality, happiness in himself is missing which leads to the
absence of happiness in his family too.

Chapter III

1. How is Pahom changing?

As he climbs the social ladder, he becomes more intimidating and ignorant towards his neighbors.
He fails to keep peace and be patient with his neighbor as he was first with his wife’s sister’s
insulting talk. He seems to realize his status and change his attitude towards people and how he
treats them.

Chapter IV

1. Can you relate to Pahom? Have you ever accomplished or obtained something and found yourself
wanting more?
Absolutely! Not only me but everyone can relate to Pahom. For example, when I was in middle
school, I saw my friends with phones and wanted a phone for myself and I got an android phone.
And as I grew, I wanted an apple phone and my dad bought me the smallest version of apply
phone. And then I wanted a bigger one. And then I wanted the latest one. Now not only a phone
but I’m desiring for the latest Apple ipad. Compared to the first time I just wished for a phone and
now… shows how my mind gets greedy every time it gets what it desires.

Chapter V
1. Pahom is told "you may have as much land as you want." If you were presented a similar offer for
a material possession that you desire (not necessarily land), how would you answer? What item
would you ask for and how much of it would you want?
Let’s talk about clothes. If someone dropped me off the JC pennies and told me I can get how
many ever clothes and dresses I want (which would never happen), I would honestly use the
opportunity to fill my lifetime closet. I would ask for all types of clothing that match my fashion and
I would get them all.
2. How does your response reflect our cultural values and your personal values?
I was born and brought up in a middle class family with my parents teaching me to never
get greedy or I won’t be able to sustain my life. They taught me to buy anything I desire in a
limited amount or number which was the exact opposite of my response. In that kind of a
situation I would infer, no matter who, what their personal and cultural values are would
go for it without hesitation.

Chapter VI

1. What does Pahom ask of the Chief?

Land
2. Why does he ask for it? What does his request reveal about his character?
He asks for their land because their land is the best of other and the offer seems affordable too.
His request reveals his greediness for more land and his unsatisfaction with the land and wealth
he has.

Chapter VII

1. What is the significance of Pahom's dream?

It foreshadows about the upcoming events of the story. His death in his dream probably
symbolizes his end of greediness.

Chapter VIII

1. Recall the social and historical context. How do you see the concerns of the peasant from
Tolstoy's time coming to life in Pahom and his race to obtain more and more?
Napoleons invasion into Russia identifies his greediness for more land and he eventually stops at
his death. I think Pahom’s dream connects to the novel. Just as nothing was able to stop
Napoleon’s invasion except his death, Pahom’s death will probably be the one to stop him from
his evil likeliness.

Chapter IX

1. How much land does a man need? How does the author answer this question?
Enough to make one live happily with his family and provide them with what they need. The
author answers this question by mentioning Pahom’s hard work for earning those land. He
describes how he even left his family in search of more land and then died in vain.
2. What does his answer tell us about his philosophy of the love of "things"?
There is a certain limit for the love of things and once one exceeds that limit, he survives in no
vain.
3. In Chapter I, Pahom's wife says, "Loss and gain are brothers twain." How is this proverb proven
true in this short story?
 As Pahom focuses on gaining more land, he loses his family time, he loses his satisfaction with
life and love, and in the process losses his basic human moral values.
4. Does this story have a "universal" level of interpretation? Is the story a parable or a fable? Why or
why not? A parable is usually a very short and simple story, focusing on one or two characters
and a specific conflict or issue through which they must work. Parables are meant to instruct their
audiences on some moral lesson. A fable also usually takes the form of a short story with animal
characters that talk and act like human beings.
This story seems to be a parable. It teaches a moral lesson to its audience about
greediness about satisfaction with life.
5. What could the characters (mainly Pahom and the different visitors who come to see him), the
major actions or choices, and the outcome represent in our world today?
6. Does the last line of the story seem ironic? Explain why or why not.
It’s ironic because Pahom spent all his life searching for land and owning land. He bought more
than 100 acres of land and his latest deal was more than 300 acres of land. But at last, all he
need was just 6-foot land, which shows his efforts in vain