To Build a Fire

A detailed Summary of To Build a Fire


Nature is always pushing man to his limits. When man heeds the warning signs that nature has to offer and those warnings of other men, he is most likely to conquer nature. When he ignores these warnings, nature is sure to defeat man. To build a fire is a prime example of this scenario. In the short story, "To Build a Fire" by Jack London, an inexperienced traveler in the Yukon travels alone with his dog, even though it is ill advised to do so. The man is strong and smart but nature humbled him during his quest to reach his friends. The man's inexperience with traveling in the cold subzero temperatures doomed him from the beginning, but his strong focus under extreme pressure and his keen sense of observation are what allows him to survive as long as he did. The ignorance of the old-timer's words of wisdom slowly haunts him and catches up with him in the end. The man's disregard for nature's power is his demise during his journey.

Although the man's inexperience is his demise, he has very keen observing skills and strong focusing abilities. London writes, "he was keenly observant, and he noticed the changes in the creek, the curves and bends and timber-jams, and always he sharply noted where he placed his feet." (Lo


The man is strong and smart but nature humbled him during his quest to reach his friends. The man is strong and smart, yet he is ignorant and inexperienced. What was the man's urgency to cross the Yukon? Possibly, there was no urgency but only his want to prove he is wiser than the old-timer is. The man may have been experiencing some sort of mid-life crisis and needed to prove to himself that he was stronger than Mother Nature.

ndon, 527) These skills allow him to make his way through the Yukon.

When his inexperience exposes itself to him, he remembers the old-timers words of wisdom. The man did not realize the prudence behind the old-timer's words of wisdom. He ignored the old-timers cautions and dangers of traveling alone, making him foolish and naive to his situation. "That man from Sulphur Creek had spoken the truth when telling how cold it sometimes got in the country. And he had laughed at him at the time!" (London, 528)



Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1027
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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