To Build a Fire
“To Build a Fire” is a 1908 short story by Jack London.
| “To Build a Fire” | |
|---|---|
| Author | Jack London |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Adventure, short story |
| Publication date | 1902, 1908 |
Plot
Characters
The Man
The man is the protagonist of the story. He is a “chechaquo" or a newcomer to the land.[1] He is overconfident and inexperienced, but self-assured because he knows the "facts".[2] He travels in the Yukon Territories.[1]
The Dog
The dog is a “big native husky”[3] that accompanies the man along on his journey.
The Old-Timer
Though he only appears in flashbacks, the Old-Timer from Sulphur Creek 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
- "To Build A Fire" was adapted into a multi-award-winning short film in 2016. The film was made to celebrate the 100th year anniversary of the Author of the story Jack London. It was also directed and written by Fx Goby who has won multiple awards from the short film and others as well.
Citations
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sipiora 2002, p. 149.
- ↑ Sipiora 2002, p. 160.
- ↑ Sipiora 2002, p. 150.
- ↑ 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.