to build a fire essay questions

88 To Build a Fire Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best to build a fire topic ideas & essay examples, 📌 most interesting to build a fire topics to write about, 👍 good research topics about to build a fire, ❓ to build a fire essay questions.

• “To Build a Fire” a Story by Jack London Another of the details that support the postulation that the main idea of the story is that assumptions can kill is the inability of the main character to recognize his limitations.
• “To Build a Fire” by Jack London: Literary Analysis The author’s choice to use nature as the antagonist portrays an understanding of a force working against the main character, the man, as he struggles to endure in the cold.
• Man’s Doom: “To Build a Fire” by Jack London The man’s fallacy of not appreciating the realities again becomes evident in the fact that he decides to build the fire “under the spruce tree,” instead of building it “in the open”..
• Man-Animal Conflict: “To Build a Fire” by Jack London Out of a variety of the elements depicted in the story, the greatest impression is made by the conflict between the man and his wolf dog.
• “To Build a Fire” and “White Snow” by Jack London In order to analyze how patterns in writing occurs, I take the example of Jack London and the following paragraph will analyze the two short stories written by the author, ‘To Build a Fire’ and […]
• “A Blizzard Under Blue Sky” by P. Houston and “To Build a Fire” by J. London The nature is one of the greatest mysteries of the world; the value assumptions about the place of individuals in nature and their relationship to their canine companions is the issue discussed in two nice […]
• “Open Boat” and “To Build A Fire” Comparison Similar to the theme of natural forces, in ‘The Open Boat,’ Crane describes the plight of four men who have been shipwrecked and are isolated on the ocean in a tiny dinghy.
• Exploring Futility in “The Chrysanthemums,” “To Build a Fire,” and “The League of Old Men” The article explores the symbolism of Elisa as the main character in Steinbeck’s “The Chrysanthemums” and especially her representation of the ignored and oppressed women of her time.
• Courting Futility in “To Build a Fire,” “The League of the Old Men,” and “The Chrysanthemums” London’s “To Build a Fire” quite likely the most famous of the author’s short stories tracks the trail of a lone wanderer in the Yukon Territory at the turn of the 20th century.
• “To Build a Fire” by Jack London: Man and Nature By describing the protagonist’s challenges and his death at the end of the story, the writer emphasizes the power of nature and its indifference towards an individual’s life.
• Nature and Man in “To Build a Fire” by Jack London In conclusion, it should be noted that the theme of the struggle between man and nature is a wonderful aesthetic approach.
• “To Build a Fire” by Jack London The protagonist of the story is the man who “was a newcomer in the land, a chechaquo, and this was his first winter” and he is the prime tool at the hands of the writer […]
• ‘The Open Boat’ and ‘To Build a Fire’ In fact, the hard language in the narration and the twists and turns of the story make the man seem like a sideshow.
• Jack London’s “To Build a Fire” The dog that accompanies the man is also indifferent to the man even though it seems to be have more aware of the danger posed by travelling in that kind of weather than the man […]
• Naturalism in Jack London’s To Build a Fire and The Call of the Wild The validity of such an idea can be well explored in regards to the literary legacy of one of America’s greatest writers Jack London, as the extreme naturalism of many of his short stories and […]
• A Struggle With Nature in Jack London’s “To Build a Fire”
• The Role of Setting in “To Build a Fire” by Jack London
• Character That Display the Theme of Nature Versus Nurture in “To Build a Fire” and “White Fang” by Jack London
• Intellect vs. Instinct in “To Build a Fire” by Jack London
• Overconfidence and Arrogance in “To Build a Fire” by Jack London
• Comparing the Two Versions of “To Build a Fire”
• An Analysis of the Setting and Theme in “To Build a Fire” by Jack London
• The Awakening Journey in “Young Goodman Brown” and “To Build a Fire”
• The Man’s Portrait in Jack London’s “To Build a Fire”
• The Theme of Perseverance in “To Build a Fire” by Jack London
• “To Build a Fire” as a Representation of Authors Attitude to Klondike Gold Rush
• Analysis of Traveller in Jack London’s “To Build a Fire”
• Human Flaws and the Importance of the Open Mind in Jack London’s “To Build a Fire”
• Significance of Words “Dying” and “Death” in “To Build a Fire”
• The Elements of Naturalism in the Short Story “To Build a Fire” by Jack London
• The Three Principle Themes in Jack London’s “To Build a Fire”
• Nature in Jack London’s “To Build a Fire”
• The Relationship Between Humankind and Nature Portrayed in London’s “To Build a Fire”
• The Harsh Reality of Life in “To Build a Fire,” “Genesis of the Tenements,” and “Men in the Storm”
• Choices and Responsibility in London’s “To Build a Fire” and Crane’s “The Open Boat”
• Comparison and Contrast of “To Build a Fire” and “The Open Boat”
• The Notion of Realizm in “The White Heron” and “To Build a Fire”
• The Definition of Nature in “To Build a Fire” by Jack London
• Realism in Jack London’s “To Build a Fire” and Stephen Crane’s “A Mystery of Heroism”
• The Fight of Survival in “To Build a Fire” by Jack London
• “To Build a Fire”: An Environmentalist Interpretation
• The Disregard and Discredit of Women’s Intelligence as a Result of Perception in “To Build a Fire” by Jack London
• Biographical Criticism in “To Build a Fire” by Jack London
• Man’s Struggles in the Domination of Nature in “To Build a Fire” by Jack London
• Fighting Nature: Animalistic Instinct in Jack London’s “To Build a Fire”
• Comparison of Krakauer’s “Into the Wild” and London’s “To Build a Fire”
• Life Theme in Jack London’s “To Build a Fire”
• Character Analysis of the Main Character in “To Build a Fire” by Jack London
• Evident Social Darwinism and Determinism in Jack London’s “To Build a Fire”
• A Symbolic Interpretation of “To Build a Fire” by Jack London
• The Importance of the Dog to Understand the Theme in “To Build a Fire”
• The Theme of Existentialism in “To Build a Fire” by Jack London and in the Film “Up in the Air”
• Chain Smoking: Causal Links in “To Build a Fire”
• Stability of Characters in “To Build a Fire” and “The Tell Tale Heart”
• An Analysis of the Winter Wonderland in Jack London’s “To Build a Fire”
• Foreshadowing in “To Build a Fire” by Jack London
• How Does “To Build a Fire” Reflect Key Naturalist Beliefs?
• What Was the Temperature in “To Build a Fire”?
• What Is a Chechaquo in “To Build a Fire”?
• What External and Internal Forces Must the Man Struggle Against in “To Build a Fire”?
• What Happened to the Matches in “To Build a Fire”?
• What Does the Man’s Failure in “To Build a Fire” Symbolize?
• What Is the Irony in “To Build a Fire”?
• What Was the Man’s Biggest Mistake in “To Build a Fire”?
• What Do the Man and Dog Represent in “To Build a Fire”?
• Why Does the Man Die in “To Build a Fire”?
• Why Did Not London Give the Man a Name in “To Build a Fire”?
• What Happened to the Man at the End of the Story “To Build a Fire”?
• What Motivates the Dog in “To Build a Fire”?
• What Is the Goal of the Author in Writing the Story “To Build a Fire”?
• What Does the Snow Symbolize in “To Build a Fire”?
• What Is the Foreshadowing in “To Build a Fire”?
• What Is the External Conflict in “To Build a Fire”?
• What Is the Relationship Between Man and Nature in the Story “To Build a Fire”?
• What Does the Boys Symbolize in “To Build a Fire”?
• How Many Attempts Did the Man Make in “To Build a Fire”?
• What Is the Climax in “To Build a Fire”?
• What Was Unusual About the Man’s Journey in “To Build a Fire”?
• What Is the Man’s Fatal Flaw in “To Build a Fire”?
• Where Was the Man Going in the Story “To Build a Fire”?
• What Does the Man Finally Learn From His Experience in “To Build a Fire”?
• How Is the Conflict Resolved in “To Build a Fire”?
• Who or What Is the Antagonist in the Story “To Build a Fire”?
• What Is the Plot of the Story “To Build a Fire”?
• Why Is the Man Out in the Cold “To Build a Fire”?
• Who Is the Main Character in the Story “To Build a Fire”?
• Allegory of the Cave Topics
• Call of the Wild Questions
• Lord of the Flies Research Ideas
• The Story of an Hour Essay Ideas
• A Rose for Emily Research Topics
• Young Goodman Brown Questions
• The Necklace Titles
• Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Essay Ideas
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2024, March 2). 88 To Build a Fire Essay Topic Ideas & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/to-build-a-fire-essay-examples/

"88 To Build a Fire Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." IvyPanda , 2 Mar. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/to-build-a-fire-essay-examples/.

IvyPanda . (2024) '88 To Build a Fire Essay Topic Ideas & Examples'. 2 March.

IvyPanda . 2024. "88 To Build a Fire Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." March 2, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/to-build-a-fire-essay-examples/.

1. IvyPanda . "88 To Build a Fire Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." March 2, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/to-build-a-fire-essay-examples/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "88 To Build a Fire Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." March 2, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/to-build-a-fire-essay-examples/.

To Build a Fire

51 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Story Analysis

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Literary Devices

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Early in the story, the man is “without imagination” (2). In the end, as he slips into death, he vividly imagines the boys discovering his body. Why has his imagination become so active? What purpose does this serve for the story?

Although the man is alone and no one will ever exactly know the events leading to his death, he wants to die in a way that is dignified. Why? What does this say about his character?

Jack London prospected in the Klondike. Consult outside resources and discuss how his own experiences did (or did not) parallel those of the protagonist .

Related Titles

By Jack London

A Piece of Steak

Martin Eden

South of the Slot

The Call of the Wild

The Iron Heel

The Law of Life

The Sea-Wolf

Featured Collections

View Collection

• study guides
• lesson plans
• homework help

To Build a Fire Essay Topics & Writing Assignments

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the author and the publications of To Build A Fire. Where was Jack London from? How successful was he as an author during his lifetime? What differences exist between the two versions of the story?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and discuss the Klondike Gold Rush. When did the gold rush take place? How many people were involved? What environment did these people encounter? How is this period related in the story?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and analyze the setting of To Build A Fire.What are the outstanding elements of the setting? How does the setting play a part in the plot of the narrative? What clues in the text reveal the setting?

Essay Topic 4

Analyze the imagery that the author uses in depicting the setting of To Build A Fire. Consider lines such as: “the spittle crackled…in the air.” How does this imagery develop the...

(read more Essay Topics)

FOLLOW BOOKRAGS:

• Paired Texts
• Related Media
• Teacher Guide

For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your web browser.

• CommonLit is a nonprofit that has everything teachers and schools need for top-notch literacy instruction: a full-year ELA curriculum, benchmark assessments, and formative data. Browse Content Who We Are About

• Ask LitCharts AI
• Discussion Question Generator
• Essay Prompt Generator
• Quiz Question Generator

• Literature Guides
• Poetry Guides
• Shakespeare Translations
• Literary Terms

To Build a Fire

Jack london.

Ask LitCharts AI: The answer to your questions

• Quizzes, saving guides, requests, plus so much more.

Mobile Menu

• Find a Tutor
• Connection User
• Edit Profile
• Forgot Password
• Novelguides by Title
• Reports & Essay by Title
• Quotes by Author
• Novelguides by Author
• Ask a Question
• Novelguides
• Connections
• Reports & Essays
• Ask Question
• Tutor's Market Place
• How it Works

What are You Studying?

Novelguide rooms, novelguide: search by author, novelguide: search by title.

Book navigation

• To Build a Fire: Novel Summary
• To Build a Fire: Pages 1-2
• To Build a Fire: Pages 3-4
• To Build a Fire: Pages 5-6
• To Build a Fire: Pages 7-8
• To Build a Fire: Pages 9-10
• To Build a Fire: Pages 11-12
• To Build a Fire: Pages 13-14
• To Build a Fire: Pages 15-16
• To Build a Fire: Pages 17-18
• To Build a Fire: Character Profiles
• To Build a Fire: Metaphor Analysis
• To Build a Fire: Theme Analysis
• To Build a Fire: Top Ten Quotes
• To Build a Fire: Biography: Jack London

To Build a Fire: Essay Q&A

1.  Outline the relevance of the title . The necessity of building a fire is the driving force of the latter stages of this short story because without fire, the man knows that he will freeze once his feet and legs are wet. When the fire he builds is extinguished by snow, and he still needs to get dry, the title becomes an urgent command as he knows he is facing death if he fails to re-build it. The title is repeated in the narrative and this reiterates its importance to the story and to the man’s survival. It also highlights how spare the story is as it focuses on one unnamed man and his dog; fire is instead made central because if one is lit the man will be able to live. The ability to build a fire is often cited as the reason why humans are superior to animals and suggests that humans are capable of mastering nature. In this case, nature overpowers the man and the story is a reminder that the ability to build a fire does not necessarily indicate humankind’s empowerment. 2. Consider the man’s treatment of the dog. The dog is used to being treated harshly by the man and is wary when the man changes his behavior in the hope of getting closer to kill it. It is ironic that the man’s previous cruelty means that the dog does not trust his kindness, and the man is critiqued and condemned for this. It is possible to argue that the dog is treated with more sympathy in the narrative than the man and the man’s cruelty is in keeping with his arrogance. The desire to master the dog by subjecting it to his will has a parallel with his decision to travel alone and both examples demonstrate a wish to subdue nature to his will. The dog, however, is depicted as a symbol of nature and unlike the man it has adapted to its environment. It is more aware of the dangers of travelling in this freezing temperature and the man’s cruelty to it emphasises his false sense of superiority all the more. 3. Examine the implications of the man not taking the old-timer’s advice. The old-timer, who is named as such by the man, has already imparted his greater knowledge of the area and how to travel in it before the story begins. It is of interest that the man does not heed this information because this highlights his arrogance as an outsider, a newcomer and as a younger man. The term ‘old-timer’ may be seen as condescending even if possibly affectionate and suggests that the man is not fully convinced by this help from the older generation. It is poignant and ironic that he only comes to realize the import of the advice once it is too late. 4. Analyse the use of nature and its relationship with humanity. By having the Yukon as a backdrop for this story, an extreme climate is used to demonstrate the potential force of nature and the insignificance of humanity. The freezing winter temperatures of north-west Canada are depicted as a sharp contrast to what the man has previously known and, therefore, remind the readers of how the will of man – and woman – is potentially under threat by the environment. Nature is given the role of the man’s enemy and the dramatic tension arises from the battle he has with the freezing cold. His attempt to survive in these conditions, and his failure to do so, mean that the story is given a final element of poignancy. As he approaches death and at first panics and then decides to sleep, it is possible at last to feel empathy for him. 5. Consider the style of this short story and how it affects the content. The style of this story may be described as spare and driven by the central premise of the man attempting and failing to reach the camp. Its sparseness is exemplified in the use of few characters and those that appear are not given a name. Only a character called Bud is mentioned in passing when the man wishes he had devised a protective mask as Bud had done before. The focus rests mainly on the man, the dog and their surroundings. The effects of the cold are given the majority of the space and this emphasizes how dangerous it is as well as showing the arrogance of the man in presuming he would be able to travel this distance without a human companion. Repetitions are used as a stylistic effect and this allows the attention to remain on the main narrative thread: that the man is in mortal danger from the freezing temperature and only realizes this gradually. His reported lack of imagination is re-enacted in the story to a degree at least, as the narrative is as purposely restricted as the man’s way of thinking. It is only when he accepts the likelihood of his death that his imagination comes to life. Similarly, it is only at this point that the narrative switches to encompass the scene of his death.

• Facebook share

Top Novelguides

Quotes by topic, report & essay.

• Thomas Jefferson: the Man, the Myth, and the Morality
• JFK: His Life and Legacy
• Gerald Ford
• Harry Shippe Truman
• Herbert Hoover
• The Presidency of FDR
• J.F.K. Biography
• James Madison

Popular Novelguides

• To Kill A Mockingbird Discuss & QA
• The Great Gatsby Discuss & QA
• Lord of the Flies Discuss & QA
• Adventures of Huck Finn Discuss & QA
• The Catcher in the Rye Discuss & QA
• Animal Farm Discuss & QA
• 1984 Discuss & QA
• Fahrenheit 451 Discuss & QA
• Odysseus Discuss & QA
• Great Expectations Discuss & QA

William Shakespeare Novels

Quotes: search by author, search reports and essays.

Novelguide.com is the premier free source for literary analysis on the web. We provide an educational supplement for better understanding of classic and contemporary literature. Novelguide.com is continually in the process of adding more books to the website each week. Please check back weekly to see what we have added. Please let us know if you have any suggestions or comments or would like any additional information. Thanks for checking out our website. More Details

Our Networks

• novelguide.com
• studyhall.novelguide.com
• Homework Help
• flashcard.novelguide.com/
• video.novelguide.com
• Share Report & Essay
• Join a school
• Join a teacher group
• Test Prep Material

Useful Links

• See what's new on our blog
• All Question
• Novelguide Authors
• Search Your School
• Teacher ratings

Join Now to View Premium Content

GradeSaver provides access to 2365 study guide PDFs and quizzes, 11012 literature essays, 2781 sample college application essays, 926 lesson plans, and ad-free surfing in this premium content, “Members Only” section of the site! Membership includes a 10% discount on all editing orders.

To Build a Fire Lesson Plan

Discussion of thought questions, what is the significance of the following quote in the context of the story "the trouble with him was that he was without imagination. he was quick and alert in the things of life, but only in the things, and not in the significances.".

Strong answers will interpret imagination as forethought and a sense of reflection on his place in nature at this time. They will reference the extreme conditions and the fact that the man did not immediately interpret them as dangerous despite his lack of experience in such situations. Students may also discuss the difference between the man's and the dog's understandings of their predicament and of the conditions around them. Having only...

Already a member? Log in

To Build a Fire Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for To Build a Fire is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

The author’s descriptions of the cold weather suggest that —

A. the cold should never be underestimated.

what motivations do the man's thoughts reveal? how could these lead to a dilemma that advances the plot

The man has hubris or pride. He thinks that he can outsmart nature and make it to the boys at Henderson Creek. He thinks he knows better than his very apprehensive husky and the old timer's advice. If the man respected nature he would have...

. Works of naturalism often address the theme of survival of the fittest. Give examples that show how London’s story develops this theme. What message does the story convey about the survival of the fittest?

Jack London specialized in stories about the wilderness. His running theme involved the raw majesty and power of the elements. Naturalism was London's mantra and this story is a perfect example of this. In "To Build a Fire" the setting is in the...

Study Guide for To Build a Fire

To Build a Fire study guide contains a biography of Jack London, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About To Build a Fire
• To Build a Fire Summary
• To Build a Fire Video
• Character List

Essays for To Build a Fire

To Build a Fire literature essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of To Build a Fire.

• Chain-smoking: Causality in "To Build a Fire"
• Realism: Compare and Contrast
• Literary Naturalism: A Comparison of Maggie: A Girl of the Streets and To Build A Fire
• Our America: The Abiding Question of Nation and National Identity in American Literature
• A War Against Nature: Instinct in "To Build a Fire"

Lesson Plan for To Build a Fire

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to To Build a Fire
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• To Build a Fire Bibliography

E-Text of To Build a Fire

The To Build a Fire e-text contains the full text of To Build a Fire by Jack London.

• Full Text of To Build a Fire

Wikipedia Entries for To Build a Fire

• Introduction