“To Build a Fire”: An Ecocritical Reading

Abstract

A close reading and analysis of the

story reveals the fact that the unnamed lonely prospector in the Yukon is well-equipped

for reaching his destination safely: although the weather is extremely cold in this quite

northern part of the world and the land is full of dangers, the man has necessary clothing,

food and equipment in addition to a wolfdog as a company to protect himself from the

harsh conditions of the outer world. Moreover, he is bodily fit and personally skilled to

make necessary arrangements and take immediate actions to ensure his safety and

survival under such difficult conditions.

Keywords

• Ecocritical Reading,Jack London

“To Build a Fire”: An Ecocritical Reading

Abstract

References

1. Adams, R. George, “Why the Man Dies in ‘To Build A Fire,’” in Susan M. Nuernberg (ed.), The Critical Response to Jack B London.(Westport: Greenwood Press, 1995), pp. 27-35. Gifford, Terry. “Pastoral, Ant-Pastoral, Post-Pastoral,” The Green Studies Reader: From Romanticism to Ecocriticism. Laurence Coupe (ed.), (London: Routledge, 2000), pp. 219-222. London, Jack. “To Build a Fire,” in Ann Charters (ed.), The Story and Its Writers: An Introduction to Short Fiction.(New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2003), pp.920-931. May, Charles E. “‘To Build a Fire’: Physical Fiction and Metaphysical Critics,” in Susan M. Nuernberg (ed.), The Critical Response to Jack London.(Westport: Greenwood Press, 1995), pp.22-26. Peterson, Clell. “The Theme of Jack London's 'To Build a Fire,” in Susan M. Nuernberg (ed.), The Critical Response to Jack London. (Westport: Greenwood Press, 1995), pp.3-8.