How Steel Was Tempered How Steel Was Tempered was a novel by Ostrovsky of the Soviet Union that was first published in 1932. The novel was set in a small village called "State" in Russia in the 19th century. Through the growth process of the protagonist, Pavel Kochagin, it depicted the growth process of a teenager from poverty, ignorance, cowardice to determination, courage, and promising. The following are some reading notes on How Steel Was Tempered: 1 Reading How Steel Was Tempered helps to understand the social background and economic situation of the Soviet Union. In the novel, Kochagin's state was a place with a backward economy, a low standard of living, and a poor social environment. These characteristics reflected the actual situation of the Soviet society at that time. How Steel Was Tempered emphasized the importance of personal struggle and hard work for growth. In the novel, Kochagin started from an ordinary soldier and gradually became an excellent general through continuous hard work and struggle. His experience also tells us that only through continuous hard work and struggle can we realize our dreams. How Steel Was Tempered also revealed some of the problems in the Soviet society at that time, such as injustice and corruption in education, health care, politics, and other fields. These problems still exist in today's society, so reading How Steel Was Tempered can help us better understand these problems and think about how to solve them. How Steel Was Tempered also emphasized the importance of teamwork and collective awareness. In the novel, Kochagin met many like-minded friends in the army. They helped each other, supported each other, and finally completed a mission together. Therefore, reading How Steel Was Tempered can help us better understand the importance of teamwork and collective awareness. How Steel Was Tempered also emphasized the protagonist's patriotic spirit.