Analysis of “To Build a Fire” In a work of literature, the theme can be the main idea or hidden in the text and have an underlying meaning, which is stated directly or indirectly. A story can have a major theme and minor themes along with it. In Jack London’s short story, “To Build a Fire” the overall idea is having an expanded wisdom and experience can be more valuable to surviving than being young and confident about your personal insight. Even though, you may think your personal judgment is the correct way, having another person’s insight can make you more successful. Jack London shows this by using symbols and foreshadowing. In the story, it repeated many times that the man on the trail should have listened to the old-timer on Sulphur
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In the book, Literature An Introduction the Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing defines a symbol as, “A person, place, or thing in a poem or narrative that suggests meaning beyond its literal sense.”(1456) Key symbols are mentioned in the title like it is mentioned in To Build a Fire. The fire has a meaning beyond just its literal sense, it represents life itself, warmth/happiness in life, anger and pain. He noticed how important fire was, “He cherished the flame carefully and awkwardly. It meant life, but it must not perish”. (London 131).When the man had the fire going it gave him hope for life and happiness, but unfortunately due to complications, the fire did not stay lit for long. The fire was his only chance to survive, because of lack of experience, he did not succeed at making the …show more content…
According to Vocabulary website foreshadowing definition is an “advance sign or warning of what is to come in the future.” The story gives us clues that since the man was a “newcomer” and it was his first winter, that he is lacking the knowledge of how to handle the environment. He was out in “two cold snaps” before, but it was never that cold. Since he traveled light would not have any backup supplies to help him if he were in need. Just by having those details describing the man’s knowledge and experience with the environment, it becomes clear that he was going to run into some trouble.
Even the dog knew that it was dangerously cold for both of them, but the man was determined to meet the boys at camp. When they were hiking the dog “…was depressed by the tremendous cold. It knew that it was no time for traveling.” (London 125). Dogs sense a lot more things than humans do and most of the time they are correct more than humans. Besides that, dogs are equipped to handle harsh, not normal environments, the one that they were experiencing was beyond that. This hints that they are going to have a very difficult time surviving alone and without necessary
In the book, Literature An Introduction the Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing defines a symbol as, “A person, place, or thing in a poem or narrative that suggests meaning beyond its literal sense.”(1456) Key symbols are mentioned in the title like it is mentioned in To Build a Fire. The fire has a meaning beyond just its literal sense, it represents life itself, warmth/happiness in life, anger and pain. He noticed how important fire was, “He cherished the flame carefully and awkwardly. It meant life, but it must not perish”. (London 131).When the man had the fire going it gave him hope for life and happiness, but unfortunately due to complications, the fire did not stay lit for long. The fire was his only chance to survive, because of lack of experience, he did not succeed at making the …show more content…
According to Vocabulary website foreshadowing definition is an “advance sign or warning of what is to come in the future.” The story gives us clues that since the man was a “newcomer” and it was his first winter, that he is lacking the knowledge of how to handle the environment. He was out in “two cold snaps” before, but it was never that cold. Since he traveled light would not have any backup supplies to help him if he were in need. Just by having those details describing the man’s knowledge and experience with the environment, it becomes clear that he was going to run into some trouble.
Even the dog knew that it was dangerously cold for both of them, but the man was determined to meet the boys at camp. When they were hiking the dog “…was depressed by the tremendous cold. It knew that it was no time for traveling.” (London 125). Dogs sense a lot more things than humans do and most of the time they are correct more than humans. Besides that, dogs are equipped to handle harsh, not normal environments, the one that they were experiencing was beyond that. This hints that they are going to have a very difficult time surviving alone and without necessary