To build a fire by Jack London is a interesting short story based on the incident when a unknown man went to travel in extreme cold weather.The man had his dog as a travel partner.The story discuss why it’s important to listen to other’s advice when it’s a matter of life or death and you’ll read about this in below.
Author
Starting with writer introduction.Well “To build a fire” is a short story by John Griffith Chaney or Jack London,a famous American novelist and activist.He had more than 50 books that explores themes of struggle, survival and the natural world around us.
To Build A Fire Overview
It was written back in 1908 by Jack London when a unknown man went with his dog to reach his destination in cold weather.The story highlights how much he suffered in the way and the consequences of the cold weather.
TO Build A Fire Summary Analysis
To Build A Fire Summary
The story starts when unknown man in Yukon(territory of Canada)hike to meet his friends.The man had his dog as his companion in the journey.Author shared another character “sulphur Creek“who warned the unknown man before hike about the extreme cold weather.
The man spits in the way on the earth and before reaching ground it freez.This was first omen for him to ignore the journey and go back but he didn’t quit and ignored weather circumstance.Then,after walking for hours in the ice,the man realized that he can’t walk as his feets and hands were numbed,he lits a fire.The dog slept close to him.
After rest and taking lunch,the man continued the journey.His dog was anxious to start journey but the man was arrogant and rejected the weather harshness.Along way,he crossed the ice traps.After some time,he felt his hands are frozen and he can’t continue.He again tried to collect tree leaves to lit fire.His hands were so cold that he barley can hold matchbox.This time he wasn’t successful and think of an old idea to sacrifice the dog to warm his body.He tried to move close to the dog but somehow dog recognized what he wants to do.The dog moved far away from him.For some time,the man laid on the ground as silent as dark and then he slept and met his death.
To Build A Fire Analysis
The writing style was great and interesting with elegant rhythm.The concept used by author when man tired to kill his dog to feel warm make you amazed.
- Here are some points from the analysis of to build a fire:
Nature vs man
The story tells how sometimes nature can be cruel.That man ignored the harshness and even met his face in a bad way.
Pride
The protagonist of the short story seems a man or arrogant personality who even ignored advice of “sulphur Creek” or the the man who told him to not go forward in such weather.The man was keen and soon met his end.
Survival
The story shares some survival tips if one met such things.For example the idea of killing the dog by man to make his hand warm was mind blowing and show’s how survival is possible.
Death
The story shares the universal truth “death”.You can’t ignore it and the man also met by dominating his arrogancy, stupidity over him.
The worth of fire
Story used fire as motif and highlights how it’s important in cold weather.The inability of that man to lit fire shoes the harshness of mother nature.
Lessons From The Story
- Respect the mother nature
- Follow the good advice of others
- Never fight with nature
- Never cutoff from social connection(like the unknown man died in solitude)
- Never let the pride blind you
Review:To build a fire
To build a fire by Jack London was interesting to read.It had around 50 pages and I loved the author wrote it in delicate way.
Although it’s good to go for dreams like may be that man had dream to go in such weather but we can’t fight mother nature.Its like putting yourself in calamity.Sometimes pride can ruin us like the protagonist of the story.
Morever,loved the way author shared some steps to be taken in such conditions.
- Overall it was recommended short story and you’ll not regret it.
Conclusion:To Build A Fire Summary
In this article,I had discussed “To build a fire summary analysis”a short story by Jack London on a stupid adventure of unknown man in extreme cold weather.The story explores themes of survival,nature, pride and death.
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