For the man and the dog in Jack London’s “To Build a Fire,” fire is the key for survival. Fire provides warmth, light, and, most of all, reassurance that there is hope of survival in the subzero winter of the Yukon. Survival—usually in the Yukon, like in “To Build a Fire”—is a common theme found in London’s works. The dog in London’s “To Build a Fire” primarily serves as a foil to the unnamed male protagonist. For much of the journey back to camp, the man is confident, but the dog is anxious and tentative from the start. Physiologically, the dog is better equipped for survival, with its thick fur and high body temperature. In his roiling moment of suffering, the man sees the dog curl it’s fluffy tail over its paws, and he feels a sudden
