To Build a Fire by Jack London
A man ventures into the Yukon wilderness during extremely cold weather, despite warnings from an old-timer about the dangers of traveling alone and unprepared in such conditions. The man's skepticism and overconfidence lead him to underestimate the severity of the environment, resulting in a series of poor decisions that ultimately prove fatal.
By Jack London · First published 1908 · Genre: Adventure, Naturalism, Short Story · 7,998 words
First lines
Day had broken cold and grey, exceedingly cold and grey, when the man turned aside from the main Yukon trail and climbed the high earth-bank, where a dim and little-travelled trail led eastward through the fat spruce timberland. It was a steep bank, and he paused for breath at the top, excusing the act to himself by looking at his watch. It was nine o'clock. There was no sun nor hint of sun, though there was not a cloud in the sky. It was a clear day, and yet there seemed an intangible pall over the face of things, a subtle gloom that made the day dark, and that was due to the absence of sun. This fact did not worry the man. He was used to the lack of sun. It had been days since he had seen the sun, and he knew that a few more days must pass before that cheerful orb, due south, would just peep above the sky-line and dip immediately from view.
What this Textopian page supports
To Build a Fire is listed on Textopian as a short story by Jack London, dated 1908 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Jack London
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Adventure, Naturalism, Short Story, Tragedy, Realism
- Length: 7,998 words
- Structure: 1 section, 40 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for To Build a Fire by Jack London
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
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Genres
- Adventure — The narrative follows a man's journey through the Yukon wilderness, highlighting survival against nature's harsh elements.
- Naturalism — The story emphasizes the indifferent and deterministic forces of nature, portraying the man's struggle against an unforgiving environment.
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative focusing on a single incident, with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
- Tragedy — The protagonist's hubris and lack of imagination lead to his downfall, culminating in a fatal conclusion.
Tags
Survival Story · Short Story · Alaska Setting · Winter Theme · Human vs Nature · Frostbite · Hypothermia · Man vs Environment · Isolation · Loneliness · Adventure · Perilous Journey