Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English language learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Tolstoy’s story centers on Pahóm and his struggle to acquire more land.

• With his envy, greed, and acquisitiveness, is Pahóm a man who stands out from other characters in the story, or is he more of an everyman figure? (topic sentence)
• Identify 2-3 examples from the novel to substantiate your argument.
• How might the lessons of Tolstoy’s story apply to our 21st-century lives in affluent (or not-so-affluent) societies, particularly on the theme of Envy, Greed, and Loss?

2. Consider the presence of the Devil and its relationship with the story’s intended audience.

• Why must a supernatural agent tempt Pahóm into acquisitiveness? (topic sentence)
• Would the story work just as well (or better) for a modern, secular reader if the Devil did not appear, or would that weaken the tale? Find 2-3 examples from the story for your argument.