To Build A Fire Analysis

Jack London’s “To Build a Fire” is an adventure story of an unnamed protagonist’s futile effort to wander out in the below zero tundra of the Yukon Territory, joined by his dog, to visit his friends. Overlooking the risks of venturing out alone, the man then underestimates the harsh weather conditions and slowly begins to freeze to death in the snow. Willa Cather’s “Neighbour Rosicky” is a character study of Anton Rosicky, a man who, confronting the approach of death, reflects on the meaning and value of his life.
1) In a setting as bitter and harsh as the one introduced in “To Build a Fire,” fire means the difference between life and death. The title indicates to the reader the important role that fire plays in the story. The man’s goal is to build a fire, which he fails to do so later in the story. Through the word choice in the story, it is evident that fire is affiliated with security and life. The importance of fire is established early on when the …show more content…
This quote demonstrates an important aspect of Realism, and that is in making the reader relate to the story. As the story begins, the reader is made aware that the man is on a long, strenuous hike that includes many obstacles. In the quote, as the man reaches the top of a hill, he has to stop in order to catch his breath, all while looking at his watch to convince himself it’s more than just a break. Many people go through their lives needing a break in their routine, however, are unwilling to admit to themselves that they need to take one. Because of this, they often come up with excuses in order to give themselves that needed break while also being able to maintain the idea in their heads that it is not a break at all. This truthfulness, and the way it represents an act that is common in humans, is a fundamental part of