To Build a Fire
| “To Build a Fire” | |
|---|---|
| Author | Jack London |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Adventure, short story |
| Publication date | 1902, 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
- ↑ 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.