Mike Tapia “To Build a Fire” Jack London, an American writer in the early twentieth century, wrote one of his many short stories, “To Build a Fire” (1902), that is based on his own experiences and events he witnessed while visiting the Yukon. In the story, “To Build a Fire”, London develops a theme of Man vs. Nature with a panicky tone of concern toward to the male character and his dog while they both face the harsh environment traveling the Klondike to return to camp, which is miles away. London describes the characteristics and actions in the setting to paint a picture of the naturalism in the imagery inside the reader’s mind. This story shows how common sense takes place through tough times and the matter of life and death.
First Writing Assignment The interesting American short stories that are Jack London’s “To build a fire”, it is about the man who travel with his dog in the freezing temperatures and danger part of the world. John Updike’s “A&P”, a young man who chose to defend the honor of an anonymous customer and stood up for what he thought was right. Both stories refer to naturalism of human. In this essay, comparing for theme these two stories have similar theme. Also, there are different points in the similar theme.
This can be seen in source A where Diels specified, “the voluntary confession of Van der Lubbe made me believe that he had acted alone.” Diels’s point was also further supported as it can be seen where he suggested Van der Lubbe’s possible actions, “he could have easily set fire to the old furniture, the heavy curtains and the bone dry wooden panels.” Source B was able to support this idea where in Van der Lubbe’s speech he stated that; “I set fire to the Reichstag building myself.” The ambiguity of source A may also support source B even though they were no clear statements was made. Source B suggest that the Communists “might also have helped him with the Reichstag fire.” Source A was able to support this idea by stating, “the other defendant (including the communist) are in this trial, but they were not in the Reichstag.” Van der Lubbe who states this statement did deny that the Communists are in the Reichstag but did not confirm whether the Communist have any involvement with the fire. This may suggests that the Communists did not directly start the fire but may be responsible in planning the fire. They’re also points from source A that was not supported in source B. This can be seen where source A mentioned that, “Communists who had helped him start these other fires, might also have helped him with the Reichstag fire.” However, source B did not collaborate with this idea where Van der Lubbe stated that, “the other defendant (including the communist)
Even the forest fire in the end of the story, that was meant to destroy, ended up being the boys key to rescue. In the beginning of this book, one of the most important parts is when Jack let the fire go out to go hunting. Although hunting is not necessarily barbaric or a loss of civilization, it is still what leads up to the loss of civilization. When Ralph realizes the power of the fire and admits that if everyone does not do their duty and cooperate in keeping the fire going, all hopes in contacting civilization outside are shattered. The fire is their
Robert Frost's short poem, “Fire and Ice”. The frequently asked question about the destruction of the world and how it is going to end is put into the readers mind, wondering if the world is more likely to be destroyed by fire or ice. Only nine lines long, this little poem is a brilliant example of Frost’s literary style. People are on both sides of the debate, and Frost introduces the reader to provide his personal opinion on the question of the end of the world. Frost first concludes that the world must end in fire after considering his personal experience with desire and passion, the emotions of fire.
Two decades later, in 1904, Upton Sinclair, a young socialist, commissioned to write a serial novel about the meatpacking districts of Chicago, discovered the ugly truth behind the immigrant’s pursuit of the “American Dream.” He saw that the hordes of previously deprived and persecuted immigrants did not find the land of freedom in their destination; instead, they entered a world of wildness, a “jungle”. In January 1905, in the interview with the journal “Appeal to Reason,” Sinclair predicted that his book will "…shake the popular heart…and blow the top off of the industrial tea-kettle" . Although Sinclair’s novel is best known for describing the conditions of the meatpacking industry, his objectives were much wider. Titling his work “The Jungle,”
The Circle of Life In the passage of Cormac McCarthy’s Novel The Crossing, the main character realizes that all creatures role in the world transcends their physical life. One’s existence in the world helps regulate an worldly equilibrium – or the circle of life. McCarthy achieves this balance through fire symbolism, repetition of the word “cold”, and Biblical allusions. McCarthy utilizes the dying fire to symbolize the death of the wolf. Like the wolf, “the fire has died” and likewise, his futile attempts “to coax it back and feed [it]”, in essence – save the wolf – fails.
Occurrences such as Occupy Wall Street can be seen as the influence of leaders like Gandhi. In a time of violence and inequality, Gandhi was responsible for fighting fire without any form of fire but rather, calm rationality. Like several notable leaders, this man was responsible for inspiring movements of civil rights and freedom across the globe. Gandhi began his civil rights movement by experiencing the power of injustice while being thrown off of a South African train and sitting in a first class section, while having a first class ticket. As a business man and lawyer, this type of injustice was
Jack London has always been known to have a fascination with nature. His books from The Call of the Wild to the epic of White Fang show his unique interest, but also the visions of nature his fellow Americans developed with the ideas of ‘the frontier’(Wilcox, 12-17-07). He personifies animals in a way that is interesting, and in a way introduces us to the natural order. The ‘survival of the fittest’ is one of his main themes. In To Build a Fire, the wolf who is with the man survives because it is ultimately more adept to the conditions brought on by the harsh winter in the story.
This symbol is the fire. The fire is a repeating symbol in London’s story because it is a life-sustaining force that is barley keeping the man alive. In the deadly cold of the Yukon area the fire is used for warmth to keep the body going. It’s also used as a protection from wild animals and to make food so you don’t die of starvation. The fire is what keeps the man alive until he accidentally puts it out in the end which eventually kills him.