illustration fo a man in winter clothes lying on the snow under a tree with a dog standing near him

To Build a Fire

by Jack London

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To Build a Fire Questions on Man vs. Nature

To Build a Fire

Jack London's "To Build a Fire" employs literary devices like metaphors, similes, and mood to enhance its themes of human vulnerability and nature's indifference. Metaphors compare the fire to life,...

7 educator answers

To Build a Fire

In "To Build a Fire," cause and effect relationships are central to the narrative. The man's disregard for advice and underestimation of the Yukon’s harsh conditions cause a series of fatal...

4 educator answers

To Build a Fire

The ending of Jack London's "To Build a Fire" underscores the harsh realities of nature and the consequences of ignoring its power. The protagonist's death highlights Naturalism, emphasizing human...

3 educator answers

To Build a Fire

"To Build a Fire" conveys the message of human arrogance and the frailty of humans against nature. The protagonist's tragic flaw is his overconfidence and disregard for nature's warnings, exemplified...

1 educator answer

To Build a Fire

The ending of "To Build a Fire" reflects the man's responsibility for his fate due to arrogance and ignorance of nature's power. His failure to heed advice contrasts with the dog's survival...

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To Build a Fire

The Man in "To Build a Fire" displays, throughout the story, his belief in male "self-sufficiency." The dog survives, but the Man freezes to death.

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To Build a Fire

Jack London uses a variety of different types of figurative language to help describe and develop the central theme of man's helplessness and powerlessness in the face of nature in his short story...

1 educator answer

To Build a Fire

Dramatic irony in "To Build a Fire" heightens suspense by contrasting the man's ignorance with the reader's knowledge of the lethal cold and impending danger. Despite warnings, the man dismisses the...

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To Build a Fire

In "To Build a Fire," Jack London illustrates how heredity and environment impact survival. The protagonist, lacking instinctual knowledge due to his civilized upbringing, fails to recognize the...

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To Build a Fire

McCandless in Into the Wild mirrors the protagonist of "To Build a Fire" through their tragic fates at the hands of nature. Both men, overconfident in their abilities, ignore warnings about the...

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To Build a Fire

In "To Build a Fire," the protagonist experiences several epiphanies. He realizes the essential nature of fire for survival in extreme cold, first when he struggles to eat without it. His ultimate...

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