19081908 and later reprinted in the 1910 collection Lost Face.
When was the work written To Build a Fire?
In 1908 London published “To Build a Fire,” a story which is now considered a classic.
When and where does the story To Build a Fire take place?
The story is set in the wilderness of the frozen Yukon during the harsh winter months when “there was no sun nor hint of sun” in the sky (118).
What is the main message of To Build a Fire?
First and foremost, it is a story of man versus nature. The theme of survival is central, as the man tries and fails to stand up against the elements in the brutally cold Canadian Yukon. This environment turns out to be too much for the unseasoned miner. Another theme shown in this story is the theme of pride.
What is the history in the story of To Build a Fire?
Klondike Gold Rush: “To Build a Fire” is set during the Klondike Gold Rush, a surge of gold-mining activity in the Yukon region of Canada between 1896 and 1899. One-hundred thousand prospectors traveled to the Yukon to make their fortune. The majority came away with little or nothing to show for their efforts.
How many fires were built in To Build a Fire?
The solitary protagonist of “To Build a Fire” built three fires in all. He built his first fire in order to thaw out his frozen fingers and toes.
Why was the dog in a depressed state To Build a Fire?
The animal was depressed by the tremendous cold. It knew that it was no time for travelling. Its instinct told it a truer tale than was told to the man by the man’s judgment.
What was unusual about the man’s journey in the story To Build a Fire?
The man has ventured out on a short journey on a very cold day. The temperature is about seventy degrees below zero. Due to extreme cold he suffers from frost bite.
What is the moral lesson of the story To Build a Fire?
The moral lesson in Jack London’s short story “To Build a Fire” is that people should not think they are more powerful than nature. In addition, people should listen to others who have more experience than they do.
What does the man’s failure To Build a Fire symbolize?
The building of a fire thus symbolizes life in the story, but also life through human knowledge, skill, and technology. And the failure of the man to build a fire is the failure of these things, as expressed in the man, and in the brutal cold of nature.
What caused the man on the Yukon Trail delay?
The man’s feet sank into the water. It was not deep, but his legs got wet to the knees. The man was angry. The accident would delay his arrival at the camp.
How was the man unprepared in To Build a Fire?
Due to his failure to heed the Old Timer’s advice, the man is unprepared for the below freezing temperatures and becomes a victim of the harsh terrain. Towards the beginning of his journey, the man gets his feet wet as he falls through the ice into the water of a spring.
At what time did the man arrive at the forks of the creek?
The bulge of the earth intervened between it and Henderson Creek, where the man walked under a clear sky at noon and cast no shadow. At half-past twelve, to the minute, he arrived at the forks of the creek.
Why does the man grab the dog?
He lacked the endurance to keep running. Why does the man start to berate the dog? He is jealous that the dog is surviving and he’s not. How does the dog know to leave and head to the camp?
What does the dog’s instincts tell it about the cold?
The dog’s instincts made it aware of the danger of travelling when it was so cold. In a way, the dog was much smarter than the man. “It’s instinct told it a truer tale than than was told to the man by the man’s judgement.” In this case, instinct is more important than intelligence.
What did the dog smell at the end of To Build a Fire?
The dog sat facing him, waiting. Finally, the dog moved closer to the man and caught the smell of death.
