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Analyzing Jack London's To Build a Fire

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1. How would you describe the main character (his attitude, his motivations)?

2. What mistakes contribute to his death? Which was more important?

3. What does the story say about free will? Does the man have it, or is he guided by destiny or other forces? What would his opinion be?

4. What does London say about "man's place in the universe"? How does this establish the theme?

5. London moves back and forth from the man's to the dog's consciousness, why so? What is the effect?

6. Explain who is the protagonist and antagonist of this story? Why so? Now argue them the opposite way, or How can the man be considered the antagonist in this story?

7. What is the theme of this story?

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Solution Summary

Discussion questions over the short story To build a Fire by Jack London which have multiple possible answers and supporting reasons from the text.

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This story from Jack London features a man and a dog in the wilderness of the extreme North.
There are often several answers, or arguably correct answers, for these questions. The reasons for your answers matter more than the answers themselves. If you have good reasons for your answers, and can explain them, that is what is important, and that you took your reasons from the text of the story to support your answers.

1. How would you describe the main character (his attitude, his motivations)?

The main character is most commonly thought to be the man, although arguably the main character could be the wolf-dog. The dog, after all, is the survivor of the story. However, we who read the story are humans, and traditionally, the main character is thought to be the human man. He is motivated by his goal - he is determined to reach his friends at the camp, despite the severe cold of the weather through which he travels on foot, alone (except for the dog).

2. What mistakes contribute to his death? Which was more important?

The most important mistake is a matter of opinion (yours!). There are several mistakes that the man makes. First, traveling at all; second, traveling alone in this severe cold weather. He regrets that his cheeks and nose will be frostbitten, and continues on his trip anyway, knowing that he is doing damage to his own ...

Solution provided by:
Dianne Stephens, EDd (IP)
Education
  • BFA, University of Georgia
  • BSEd, University of Georgia
  • MED, University of Georgia
  • EDd (IP), Northcentral University
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