Leo Tolstoy (1886) — a farmer is offered all the land he can walk around in one day
Original version available: read this lesson at B2/C1 level →
Leo Tolstoy was a famous Russian writer. He wrote this story in 1886. It is told here in simple English. Read each part, then stop and talk. The end is a big surprise — read slowly.
Pahóm was a poor farmer. He had a small piece of land, but he was not happy. He wanted more.
One day he said, "If I had enough land, I would not be afraid of anyone."
So he worked hard and bought some land. But soon he wanted more land. He sold his farm and moved to a bigger one. He was richer now — but he still was not happy. He always wanted more and more.
Then Pahóm heard about some people far away. They had a lot of land, and it was very cheap. He travelled a long way to meet them.
The people made him an offer. "For one thousand roubles, you can have all the land you can walk around in one day. Start here, walk as far as you like, and mark the corners. But there is one rule: you must come back to this spot before the sun goes down. If you are not back in time, you lose your money and the land."
Pahóm was very happy. "In one day," he thought, "I can walk around a huge piece of land!" That night he could not sleep.
At sunrise, Pahóm started to walk. He walked fast and marked the land. The land was so good that he did not want to stop. "Just a little more," he said. "And a little more."
He went too far. Suddenly he saw that the sun was going down. He was very far from the start. He began to run. He was hot and tired, but he ran and ran. His heart hurt. The sun was almost gone.
At the last moment, he reached the spot — and fell down. The people cheered. But Pahóm did not get up. He was dead.
His servant took a spade and dug a grave. The grave was about two metres long. That was all the land Pahóm really needed.
Eight useful words. Tap each card to see what it means and an example sentence.
1. He was never happy; he was very ______. 2. He had to come back before ______. 3. In the end, his ______ was only two metres long.
This story is all about wanting too much and never having enough. These words help us talk about amounts.
too much + uncountable noun = more than is good. too much land, too much sun
too many + countable noun (plural) = more than is good. too many fields, too many things
enough = as much as you need. enough money, enough time
not enough = less than you need. not enough time
And we use more and more to show something growing: "He wanted more and more land."
1. Pahóm walked far, so he could not get back in time.
2. He did not have time to return.
3. He bought fields, but he was still not happy.
4. There was sun, and Pahóm got very hot.
5. In the end, a small grave was land for him.
1. too (too far) 2. enough (not... enough time) 3. too many 4. too much 5. enough
Note: with adjectives/adverbs we say too far, too hot (not "too much far").
Finish these sentences so they are true for you. Say them out loud.
1. I think I have too much .
2. I don't have enough .
3. There are too many in my city.
This is a story with a strong lesson. Here are three simple things Tolstoy does to make it work.
The title asks: "How much land does a man need?" The story makes you wait. At the end, you get the answer: only two metres — just enough for a grave. The surprise answer is the twist.
The story is also a warning about being greedy. A short story with a clear lesson like this is sometimes called a fable or a moral tale.
Pahóm must get back before sunset. As the sun goes down, we feel the time running out. This makes the end exciting and full of tension (a worried, "what will happen?" feeling).
Do all three. Use the timer and try to keep talking. The sentence starters can help you begin.
Now tell the story again in your own words. Use short, simple sentences. Try to use four or five words from the Words tab, and tell the events in order.
These steps will help you: a man can have all the land he walks around in one day · he must come back before sunset · he walks too far because he is greedy · he runs back as the sun goes down · he reaches the start but falls dead — he needed only enough land for a grave.
What is "enough" for you — enough money, things, or time? When does a person have too much? Talk about it.
Do you think Pahóm did the right thing? What was his big mistake? Say what you think.