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 travels in the Yukon Territories with a husky. He is a “chechaquo," or a newcomer,[1] making him overconfident and inexperienced, but self-assured because he knows the “facts.”[2]
The Dog
The dog is a “big native husky”[3] that accompanies the man along on his journey; the dog operates based on instinct.[2]
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 making of the film was to celebrate the 100th year anniversary of Jack London. It was directed and written by Fx Goby.[5]
Citations
- ↑ Sipiora 2002, p. 149.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Sipiora 2002, p. 160.
- ↑ Sipiora 2002, p. 150.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Sipiora 2002, p. 161.
- ↑ Gatrell 2018.
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.
Gatrell, Henry (2018). "Short of the Week - To Build a Fire". oneroomwithaview.com.