In To Build a Fire, Jack London uses precise diction to emphasize the emotional overtone of this serene, yet deadly setting. The choice of words in a story affects the way readers perceive the message the author is trying to convey. The words the author chooses tremendously impacts the effect of the narrative on the reader. Although the trail the man was traveling on was very beautiful, it was also deadly. This shows that the aspects of human life should never be taken for granted. Jack London connotes negative phrases to illustrate the fact that the weather was not suitable for travel.
The author chose to use the phrase “indescribable darkness over the face of things,” as opposed to simply stating that it was very dark, because indescribable …show more content…
It connotes a feeling of risk and uncertainty. Cold or frigid however, can be overlooked and not taken into consideration because they are not very descriptive, the audience does not have a feeling of the weather conditions because those two words can be perceived many different ways; what can be cold for one person may not be the same for another. “Fifty degrees below zero meant 80 degrees of frost” elucidates the difference in the man’s dangerous situation to that of what he thinks to be true arising out of his almost conceited disposition. He looks at everything with a positive view, which at times is great; but other times it can be foolish and misleading. The man overlooked the glaring details and met with his sad fate. He then went on to stating that his “lunch was lying for warmth against his naked skin.” The author chose to use the words naked skin as opposed to simply just saying skin because naked skin connotes a feeling of worry in the reader. Unlike naked skin, skin just juxtaposes that the sandwich is just touching his flesh, possibly under layers of clothing. Because of this phrase, the reader can easily identify the fact that the man was not properly dressed for such harsh and
The author chose to use the phrase “indescribable darkness over the face of things,” as opposed to simply stating that it was very dark, because indescribable …show more content…
It connotes a feeling of risk and uncertainty. Cold or frigid however, can be overlooked and not taken into consideration because they are not very descriptive, the audience does not have a feeling of the weather conditions because those two words can be perceived many different ways; what can be cold for one person may not be the same for another. “Fifty degrees below zero meant 80 degrees of frost” elucidates the difference in the man’s dangerous situation to that of what he thinks to be true arising out of his almost conceited disposition. He looks at everything with a positive view, which at times is great; but other times it can be foolish and misleading. The man overlooked the glaring details and met with his sad fate. He then went on to stating that his “lunch was lying for warmth against his naked skin.” The author chose to use the words naked skin as opposed to simply just saying skin because naked skin connotes a feeling of worry in the reader. Unlike naked skin, skin just juxtaposes that the sandwich is just touching his flesh, possibly under layers of clothing. Because of this phrase, the reader can easily identify the fact that the man was not properly dressed for such harsh and