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==Characters==
==Characters==
<!-- Major characters and descriptions. Link to longer character sketches on subpages. -->
===The Man===
The man is the protagonist of the story. He is described as a "Chechaqo" meaning he is a newcomer to the land. {{sfn|Sipiora|2002|p=149}} He is overconfident and inexperienced, but self-assured because he knows the "facts".{{sfn|Sipiora|2002|p=160}}
 
===The Dog===
The dog is described as a "big native Huskey", meaning he was accustomed to the land and weather. {{sfn|Sipiora|2002|p=150}} He follows the man along on his journey. We learn he is instinctive and knows it is too cold for traveling.
 
===The Old-Timer===
The Old-Timer from Sulphur Creek who warns the man about the cold and traveling alone.
 


==Major Themes==
==Major Themes==

Revision as of 11:59, 13 September 2021

“To Build a Fire”
AuthorJack London
LanguageEnglish
Genre(s)Adventure, short story
Publication date1902, 1908

“To Build a Fire” is a 1908 short story by Jack London.

Plot

Characters

The Man

The man is the protagonist of the story. He is described as a "Chechaqo" meaning he is a newcomer to the land. [1] He is overconfident and inexperienced, but self-assured because he knows the "facts".[2]

The Dog

The dog is described as a "big native Huskey", meaning he was accustomed to the land and weather. [3] He follows the man along on his journey. We learn he is instinctive and knows it is too cold for traveling.

The Old-Timer

The Old-Timer from Sulphur Creek who warns the man about the cold and traveling alone.


Major Themes

A major theme of “Fire” is man versus nature, specifically that man’s arrogance blinds him to nature and its potential.[4]

The importance of community as opposed to self-reliance in survival and growth is emphasized in “Fire.”[4]

Development History

Publication History

Explanation of the Work's Title

Literary Significance and Reception

Awards and Nominations

Adaptations

Citations

  1. ↑ Sipiora 2002, p. 149.
  2. ↑ Sipiora 2002, p. 160.
  3. ↑ Sipiora 2002, p. 150.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Sipiora 2002, p. 161.

Works Cited

See also: Annotated Bibliography.

  • Gair, Christopher (2011). "The Wires Were Down: The Telegraph and the Cultural Self in "To Build a Fire" and White Fang". In Bloom, Harold (ed.). Jack London. Bloom’s Modern Critical Views. New York: Bloom’s Literary Criticism. pp. 73–90.
  • London, Jack (2002) [1908]. "To Build a Fire". In Sipiora, Phillip (ed.). Reading and Writing about Literature. Upper Saddle Creek, NJ: Prentice Hall. pp. 149–160.
  • Sipiora, Phillip, ed. (2002). Reading and Writing about Literature. Upper Saddle Creek, NJ: Prentice Hall. pp. 149–160.

External Links