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What is the weather like at day break when the story begins? What do you think this foreshadows for the rest of the story?
Dark/cold/grey. A negative outcome
Why does the man “shy like a horse” from certain parts of the road?
Thin ice and cold, etc.
What happens to the man’s fire and why?
It goes out b/c snow fell from the tree
What are the 2 stories that London is best known for and placed him among the most popular American authors of his time?
"White Fang" & "The Call of the Wild"
Why do you think the protagonist is referred to as “the man” as opposed to being given a name?
The reader doesn't get attached as much to a nameless man
Why does London point out that the dog acts from instinct
To show the dog's natural instincts and he can tend to himself.
What difficulty occurs when the man finally lights all of his matches at once?
He lights his own hands on fire
What views were evident in London’s writings?
Socialism
London writes, “He was quick and alert in the things of life, but only in the things, and not in the significances.” What does this tell us about the man? What is his character like?
Overconfident but pays no attention to detail
What is alarming/absurd about the man’s reaction to the frostbite?
He's ignoring the danger in it. Unaware
When the man contemplates “using” his dog for survival, how does London emphasize the qualities of naturalism?
The dog senses that something isn't right and knows to escape. The man lacks the dog's instincts.
“To Build a Fire” was set during ____________. (“The Call of the Wild was also set during this time.)
The Klondike Gold Rush
How are the man and the dog similar? How are they different?
Similar - In a desperate situation
Different - The dog is aware of the situation
While eating, what startles the man? Why is this important?
His fingers are freezing. b/c of frostbite.
What is the flaw in the man’s plan when he begins to run to camp?
He has no endurance left.
How many versions of “To Build a Fire” were there?
2
Why do you think London continues to emphasize the coldness, and how the man had never felt such cold before?
To emphasize the man continues to ignore the signs of nature.
After deciding not to eat his lunch, how does the man’s outlook of his situation drastically, albeit briefly, change?
He becomes frightened from the cold and realizes he underestimated it
Why does the man start to berate(scold) the dog?
He is jealous of the dog's warmth and endurance.
How does the dog know to leave and head to the camp?
The dog smells/senses death.