“To Build a Fire” Reading Questions
Directions: Type your answer to each question on this document. You
will then upload your document to the wiki.
1. Why do you think the protagonist is referred to as “the man” as
opposed to being given a name?
2. What is the weather like at day break when the story begins? What do
you think this foreshadows for the rest of the story?
It is very cold, and the sun is not in the grey sky. It’s 50 degrees below zero.
I think this foreshadows that the story will be dark and sad, with no life or
happiness.
3. 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?
The man is very matter-of-fact and straightforward. He does not think about
what something means, only what is happening. He does not think of he cold
when it is fifty below zero and dropping, he simply acknowledges that it is
fifty below zero; eighty below freezing.
4. How are the man and the dog similar? How are they different?
I think the man and the dog are different and yet alike. I think the dog is
more sensible than the man in the way he knows they should turn back, but
foolish like the man in the way he keeps going, ignoring his survival instinct.
5. Why doesn’t the man worry more about the cold? What is
alarming/absurd about his reaction to the frostbite?
The man is not bothered by the frostbite, thinking of it as a small pain and
nothing else. The man does not worry about the cold because he thinks he
can overcome it.
6. Why do you think London continues to emphasize the coldness, and
how the man had never felt such cold before?
I think London wants to show us that the man was inexperienced with this
type of weather, and how cold it really is, even though the man continues to
ignore the cold.
7. Why does the man “shy like a horse” from certain parts of the road?
The man is walking over a creek, and when he feels the ice crack under his
feet he tries to find a more solid patch of ice so as not to fall into the water.
8. Do you agree or disagree with the man when he sends the dog ahead
of himself to aid in his own safety? What would you do?
I agree with the man’s decision, because nothing really happened to the dog
except that his feet were wet and iced over. Also, the man helped the dog
pick out the ice, taking off his mittens and leaving his hands numb.
9. Why does London point out that the dog acts from instinct?
Because he wants to express what has happened to the dog, how cold he is
and how much he simply wants to turn around and get warm again. London
is also showing how cold it is outside, and how the man and the dog are both
acting against their survival instincts.
10.While eating, what startles the man? Why is this important?
His feet and fingers turn numb very quickly. This shows again, how cold it
is, and only now does the man realize how dangerous it is to be traveling in
this kind of temperature.
11.After deciding not to eat his lunch, how does the man’s outlook of his
situation drastically, although briefly, change?
The man knows that it is now very cold, and that he must be careful. He
knows it is dangerous and that he should stop and warm himself.
12.What do you think London means when he says, “This man did not
know cold”?
This man was not bothered by the cold; he knew how to endure it. He did
not care about the cold, and kept walking in the dangerously low
temperature.
13.When he falls in the river, the man curses his bad luck. Do you agree
with where he places his blame? Why or why not?
I think he blames the fact that there were no signs; no way to tell that it was
dangerous to walk on this ice. I think he was right, because he had been
carefully watching for some sort of sign to tell him to be careful. However, I
also think it is partly the man’s fault for traveling in such cold conditions.
14.In the paragraph where the man reflects on “old-timers” and “men
who are men” what do you think of his mentality and beliefs?
I think he had very old-fashioned beliefs, and was prejudiced towards
women. I also think it had nothing to do with a man being a man, but with a
man knowing when to stop and wait, instead of diving into dangerous
situations.
15.What happens to the man’s fire and why?
The fire is out because snow falls on it from the tree above.
16.What difficulty occurs when the man finally lights all of his matches
at once?
The fire from the matches begin burning his hands. The man has to keep
holding the burning matches with his arms and try to light the fire, for if they
fail he will have no other way to light a fire.
17.When the man contemplates “using” his dog for survival, how does
the dog react?
The dog senses fear in the man’s voice, and is suspicious. This is the reason
the dog moves away from the man instead of coming toward him when
called.
18.What is the flaw in the man’s plan when he begins to run to camp?
The man lacks the endurance to keep going, and he is cannot beat the
freezing of his body.
19.Why does the man start to yell at the dog?
The man yells at the dog to come towards him so he can kill the dog and
warm up with his carcass.
20.How does the dog know to leave and head to the camp?
The dog had never seen the man lying like that before, and when he came
closer he smelled death.