What are the characteristics of "How Much Land Does a Man Need?"

You have asked a rather broad question. I suppose the main
characteristic of this excellent story is the way that it operates as an allegory. Let
us remember that an allegory is a story that operates on two different levels--the
literal and the symbolic. What happens in an allegorical tale and the characters that
populate such a story can be understood both literally and symbolically. As we read this
story, it is clear that there is an obvious allegorical reading to this tale of how one
man is conquered by the devil by his own greed. It is possible to argue that Pahom could
stand for the human soul, and the devil for human weakness. The Commune, where Pahom
starts off his life, stands for sharing and empathy, whereas the private land that Pahom
wants more of insatiably represents greed and lack of empathy. Lastly, we could argue
that Pahom's trip to the land of the Bashkirs could stand for the way that his greed for
land has distanced him from sound values, and his final death could stand for his moral
degeneration.

Through the entire story therefore, we see
that each character and action has allegorical significance, which supports the theme of
the story: unchecked ambition and greed destroy people. The death of Pahom demonstrates
the harm of striving too much for material gain. Note how the irony of the ending
supports this:

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His servant picked up the spade and dug a grave
long enough for Pahom to lie in, and buried him in it. Six feet from his head to his
heels was all he needed.

Thus
it is that in spite of Pahom's insatiable desire for ever-more land, at the end of the
story the question in the title is answers. Six feet is all a man
needs.