To Build a Fire
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Themes
All Themes Instinctual Knowledge vs. Scientific Knowledge Chance and Human Error Fight for Survival vs. Acceptance of Death The Power of Imagination Indifferent Nature
Quotes
Characters
All Characters The man The dog
Symbols
All Symbols The Main Yukon Trail The Boys The Old Man at Sulphur Creek Fire
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices Dramatic Irony Foreshadowing Genre Imagery Irony Mood Setting Similes Situational Irony Style Tone
Quiz
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To Build a Fire

by Jack London
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Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
Themes
  • All Themes
  • Instinctual Knowledge vs. Scientific Knowledge Theme Icon
    Instinctual Knowledge vs. Scientific Knowledge
  • Chance and Human Error Theme Icon
    Chance and Human Error
  • Fight for Survival vs. Acceptance of Death Theme Icon
    Fight for Survival vs. Acceptance of Death
  • The Power of Imagination Theme Icon
    The Power of Imagination
  • Indifferent Nature Theme Icon
    Indifferent Nature
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • The man
  • The dog
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • The Main Yukon Trail Symbol Icon
    The Main Yukon Trail
  • The Boys Symbol Icon
    The Boys
  • The Old Man at Sulphur Creek Symbol Icon
    The Old Man at Sulphur Creek
  • Fire Symbol Icon
    Fire
Lit Devices
  • All Literary Devices
  • Dramatic Irony
  • Foreshadowing
  • Genre
  • Imagery
  • Irony
  • Mood
  • Setting
  • Similes
  • Situational Irony
  • Style
  • Tone
Quiz
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
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To Build a Fire Characters

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The man

The man

The protagonist is a lone hiker on a side trail in the Yukon Territories. His age and other physical details included are not provided. He seems to be a young adult to middle-aged. He has… read analysis of The man

The dog

The man’s traveling companion is a wolf-like dog with a gray coat, an animal native to the area, and described as not so different from a wild wolf. The dog, unlike the man, does… read analysis of The dog
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The man
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The man

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