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]
The limit of individualism is a key theme in this story. The protagonist of the novel frequently claims his ability to travel alone and feels he can survive the harsh winter conditions. Despite the cautions of the old man at Sulphur Creek, he refuses to travel with a companion, which ultimately leads to his death. The man is unaware of the value of receiving assistance from others and believes that his own abilities will assure his survival. Apart from declining to go with a companion, the man demonstrates independence by dismissing the old man's wisdom and ignoring experience and guidance. The fact that the old man is an American in unfamiliar terrain is one piece of information that we are provided with. Individual freedoms and liberties are prized in American culture, and London's experience exemplifies the risks that these beliefs can engender. [5]
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.[6]
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.
- ↑ Pizer 2010.
- ↑ 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.
- Pizer, Donald (April 2010). "Jack London's "To Build a Fire": How Not To Read Naturalist Fiction". Philosophy & Literature. 34 (1): 218–227.
External Links
- Gatrell, Henry (2018). "Short of the Week - To Build a Fire". oneroomwithaview.com.