How Much Land Does A Man Need? by Leo Tolstoy - Chapter 5 of Class 10 NCERT PSEB English Literature
Summary and Question and Answer
Summary: How Much Land Does a Man Need?" is a short story written by the famous Russian author Leo Tolstoy. The story explores themes of greed, materialism, and the consequences of excessive ambition. Here is a summary of the chapter:
The story revolves around a peasant named Pahom, who is not
content with his land and constantly complains about the lack of space. One
day, he hears about a Bashkir tribe living in the distant steppe who are
willing to sell land at an incredibly low price. Pahom decides to visit them
and, after some negotiation, buys as much land as he can walk around in a
single day for a fixed sum of money.
Eager to acquire as much land as possible, Pahom begins his
journey early in the morning, with the understanding that he must return to his
starting point by sunset; otherwise, he will lose everything. As he walks,
Pahom becomes increasingly greedy, marking out larger and larger plots of land
for himself. He keeps pushing himself to cover more territory, despite feeling
exhausted.
As the day progresses, Pahom becomes more and more tired,
and his greed drives him to keep going even though he is warned by the Bashkirs
that he is taking too much land and should turn back. Determined to claim as
much as he can, Pahom pushes on until he finally reaches his starting point at
sunset. However, he collapses from exhaustion and dies on the spot, and the
land he had acquired becomes his burial ground.
The story's ironic twist reveals that Pahom's insatiable
greed leads to his demise, emphasizing the idea that greed and materialism can
ultimately destroy a person's life. In the end, Pahom's relentless pursuit of
land costs him the very thing he sought, serving as a cautionary tale about the
dangers of excessive ambition and the importance of contentment with what one
has.
Leo Tolstoy's "How Much Land Does a Man Need?" is
a thought-provoking tale that highlights the human tendency to be consumed by
greed and the tragic consequences that can result from it.
Question and Answer
How Much Land Does A
Man Need?" by Leo Tolstoy
The two women were indeed sisters, and they discussed the
merits of town life versus village (or country) life. The elder sister spoke in
favor of town life, praising its conveniences, social activities, and
opportunities. In contrast, the younger sister praised the simplicity and peace
of country life. This conversation highlights the different perspectives on
life and sets the stage for the protagonist Pahom's eventual quest for land, driven
by his desire to prove the worth of rural living.
What did one woman
say in defence of rural life ? What was the counter argument ?
Certainly, in the story, one woman defended rural life by
emphasizing its simplicity and security. She pointed out that although rural
life might be rough, it was free from anxiety. Villagers might not become rich,
but they always had enough to eat, which provided a sense of stability and
contentment.
On the other hand, the woman from the town boasted about the
excitement and opportunities available in urban life. She highlighted the
cultural and social aspects of city living, such as theaters, entertainments,
tea parties, and other luxuries, suggesting that life in the town was more
vibrant and offered a variety of experiences that rural life couldn't match.
Pakhom listened to
the women’s chatter. He started brooding and reached a conclusion. What was the
conclusion ?
When Pakhom listened to the women's conversation, he
contemplated their words and arrived at a realization. He concluded that his
existing land holdings were insufficient for him. He believed that if he
possessed an ample amount of land, he would be fearless, not even afraid of the
Devil. This conviction led him to the decision to acquire more land.
The estate-owner, on
whose land Pakhom was a tenant, sold her land. Who bought the land ?
A neighboring landowner bought fifty acres of the land.
Additionally, Pakhom himself acquired forty acres of that land.
Answer: The chief meant that the Bashkirs didn't sell their
land by acres; instead, they sold it by the day. For one thousand roubles, one
could have as much land as they could walk around in one day.
The moral of the story is that human beings have simple
physical needs, yet they constantly crave for more throughout their lives. This
insatiable desire for more, even when one's basic needs are met, leads to
dissatisfaction and, ultimately, destruction. The story serves as a cautionary
tale about the endless pursuit of material desires and the consequences of
never being content with what one has.
MCQ
Question 1: Who authored the story?
Answer: The story
was written by Leo Tolstoy.
Question 2: What is the central theme of the story?
Answer: The story
revolves around the sin of greed.
Question 3: Were the two women engaged in a conversation
about town and village life?
Answer: Yes, they
were discussing town and village life.
Question 4. What
was the relationship between the two women?
Answer: They were
siblings, both being sisters.
Question 5. What
was Pakhom's decision?
Answer: He resolved
to purchase more land.
Question 6. Who
acquired the land belonging to the estate owner?
Answer: Pakhom made
the purchase.
Question 7. How
did Pakhom manage to buy the land?
Answer: He sold his
colt and half of his bees to arrange the funds.
Question 8. Who
informed Pakhom about the Bashkirs' land?
Answer: A trader
provided Pakhom with information about the land owned by the Bashkirs.
Question 9. Who
were the Bashkirs?
Answer: The Bashkirs
were humble and uncomplicated people.
Question 10. What
was the agreed-upon sum for selling the land to Pakhom?
Answer: The agreed
sum for selling the land to Pakhom was one thousand roubles.
Complete the following:
1. The elder woman
spoke ……….. .. town life.
2. Pakhom thought if
he had plenty of land, he would not fear …………..
3. The Devil decided
to give Pakhom ….
4. The stranger told
that he had come from beyond …………..
5. One of Pakhom’s
neighbours bought ……………… acres of land.
6. Pakhom was
supposed to come back to the starting point before the sun had …
7. Pakhom met a
stranger one day. The stranger was a ………..
Answer:
1. in favour of
2. the Devil
3. enough
4. the Volga
5. fifty
6. set
7. peasant.
True or False:
- Pakhom did not have enough land. Answer:
True
- The younger woman praised town life. Answer:
False
- Pakhom purchased the estate-owner’s
land. Answer: True
- The Bashkirs lived in palaces. Answer:
False
- The Bashkirs did not sell their land by
acres. Answer: True
- Man never feels satisfied till his
death. Answer: True
Multiple Choice Questions:
- Man wants more and more of …………….. Answer:
(d) satisfaction.
- What were the two women discussing? Answer:
(a) The town life and village life.
- Pakhom borrowed money from his ….. Answer:
(d) brother-in-law.
- Pakhom wanted from the Bashkirs …………… Answer:
(a) their land