English 11
Mr. Price
"To Build a Fire"
Step 1 – Character Analysis: Read the selection and then write a brief (one solid paragraph)
character analysis of "the man".
Here are a few questions you may want to ask yourself when writing your analysis (please don't
feel limited by these questions; they are merely suggestions):
1. How would you describe the man in London's story?
2. How experienced is the man? Is he a novice? Prepared?
3. What does the man see to think of his own abilities?
4. How does the man behave in relation to his environment?
Step 2 - Setting:
Part A: Reread the opening (the first paragraph) of "To Build a Fire" and write down the
adjectives. You should be able to find at least nine:
Part B: Now look at the list of words you have created above and answer these questions:
1. How would you describe he setting in this opening paragraph?
2. What is the mood of this opening paragraph?
3. How does this opening make you feel as a reader?
4. What is the man's reaction to the landscape?
Step 3 – Narration:
Identify passages in the story where the narrator either has knowledge unknown to the
characters themselves or where the narrator provides his own commentary.
2. How would you describe the tone of the narrator?
3. Does the narration foreshadow subsequent events? How?
4. How does the narrator feel about the character(s) at this point in the story?
1.
Step 4 – Relationship:
How is the relationship between the man and the dog discussed at first?
2. What did the dog instinctively understand that the man did not?
3. How does the man and dog's relationship symbolize the man's relationship to his
environment?
1.
Step 5 – Conclusions
1
2
3
4
What does the man's failure to "build a fire" symbolize?
Does the man have either knowledge or instinct?
Did the man finally gain knowledge at the end of the story?
What is the significance of the dog's final movement towards civilization at the end of the
story? What does this suggest about the dog's relationship to nature? Is instinct driving
this movement?