To Build a Fire or Die

Overview: To Build a Fire is classic Jack London: a straight- forward

adventure story. The version we read was published in 1908; it is a revision
of a version published in 1902 in which the protagonist survives. The story
may be regarded as a tale of Man v. Nature.
A key part of this activity is for students to analyze the protagonist (the
man) according to the traits of resilient people.
Character analysis should focus on the role of the protagonists (lack of)
experience and his expectations in his demise. Additional literary analysis
may focus on foreshadowing.
READ the excerpt To Build a Fire by Jack London. DO NOT WRITE on story.
DONT Forget to EVALUATE Protagonist on PERSONAL CH. Of Res. Person
CHART
(Dont forget of your ESSENTIAL QUESTION JOURNALS)

Addressing Essential Question(s):

What is the relationship between nature and American identity?

What is the relationship between self and society?
What is success?
Is knowledge dangerous?
How do we construct identity through our actions, interests, values and beliefs?

Closure:
Do you think there was something about the man that doomed him? Which of his character
traits, if any, would have needed to be different for him to have survived his ordeal?
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To Build a Fire or Die

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