Why does the extreme cold “make no impression” on the man?
The man does not have the imagination to understand the significance of the cold or to imagine the possible consequences of traveling in such weather
. Compare the dog's relationship with nature to the man's relationship with nature.
Why did the strange landscape of the Yukon make no impression on the man?
The temperature was somewhere between 50 -75 degrees below zero
. This made no impression on the man. To him, the temperature just meant that he would be cold and uncomfortable.
Why is the man out in the cold?
The man is a bit frightened because it is so cold, but
he builds a fire and gets warm
. … Now he has to build a fire to thaw out his wet feet. He is pissed because he thinks this will make him late to reach camp. He knows it's important to build a fire because the Old Timer from Sulphur Creek told him last fall.
Why did the man not appear worried about cold harsh conditions as he should have been?
The man doesn't worry about the cold
because he doesn't recognize the frailty (weakness or delicateness) of himself
. What is alarming and absurd about his reaction to frostbite is that if he merely just covers up with some of his clothing, he will be able to endure the harsh conditions outside.
What does the reader understand about the old timer's advice that the man does not?
Because the old-timer's warnings are based on years of experience, readers know that
the man is running a terrible risk by ignoring them
. Each time he recalls the old-timer's advice and laughs, it is a reminder of the fatal danger he faces.
What traps is the man careful to avoid?
The newcomer worries consistently about falling through the ice. He knows that if his feet get wet that he must warm them immediately in order to avoid
frostbite, hypothermia, and death
. Unfortunately, he chooses to ignore the other “traps” mentioned by the oldtimer back at the camp.
How does the main character in the story realize it is actually colder than 50 degrees below zero?
The man's spit crackles and freezes in the air
, before it even hits the ground. When the man sees his spit freeze in the air, he realizes that the temperature was below even 50 degrees below zero, but he does not know how much colder. He does not seem fazed by this, and continues onward toward the camp.
How does the man determine that it is colder than fifty below zero?
By Jack London. An unnamed man is making his way through the white snow of Alaska. …
Spitting into the air, the man hears a sharp crackle and realizes that his saliva has frozen before hitting the snow
. This means that it must be colder than fifty degrees below zero.
How do the man's recollections of his conversation with the old man from Sulphur Creek foreshadow the end of the story?
How do the man's recollections of his conversation with the old man from sulphur creek help you predict the end of the story? The old timers warnings are based on years of experience, readers know that
the man is running a terrible risk by ignoring them
.
Where did the man come from in To Build a Fire?
In “To Build a Fire,” the man is going to a
camp in Henderson Creek, in the Yukon Territory of Canada
, to meet up with the rest of his party.
Why is it hard for me to get warm?
It could be a symptom of
a problem
with your nutrition, red blood cells (anemia), blood vessels, thyroid gland, or the brain's thermostat. Try to note how often it happens, how long it lasts, and if it's getting worse. Your doctor might do some tests to narrow down the cause.
What does the man fear in to build a fire?
The protagonist's desperation is evident throughout the majority of the story. It is noticeable soon after the man falls into a frozen-over river. … His desperation for survival and his
fear of death cause him to
panic, leading to his final demise as he freezes to death at the end of the story.
What is the man scared of as he walks along the trail?
He is
afraid of using them all up
. He feels they are burning his flesh. He does not need them any more. He sees they are burning his flesh.
How does the dog know not to trust the man in to build a fire?
But I think the real question, the one that London is suggesting, is “Why didn't the man trust the dog?” The dog has “natural” instincts that allow him to survive. It
knows instinctively that the man will not survive in the conditions
; it knows that must live with and respect nature if you are going to survive.
What does the dog do after the man dies in to build a fire?
After the man dies in “To Build a Fire,” the
dog waits for him to move again
. Eventually, the dog comes closer, realizes the man is dead, leaves his corpse, and heads back to the camp to seek safety, fire, and food.
Did the man finally gain knowledge at the end of the story?
Expert Answers
Evidence that the man does indeed gain knowledge at the end of “To Build a Fire ” can be seen in his last words: “
You were right, old hoss; you were right
.” The man is addressing “the old-timer of Sulphur Creek,” a veteran of the Yukon who had given…
