To Build a Fire

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Revision as of 11:59, 13 September 2021 by BLeberteau (talk | contribs) (Added characters)
“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