The short story “To Build a Fire” written by Jack London was first published in 1908 and is seen as a “masterpiece of short fiction” (Reesman 39) and “his best short story” (Peterson 3). Jack London demonstrates in “To Build a Fire” a “strong narration, fresh fictional subject, and ability to create atmosphere” (Nuernberg XXXII). The story is furthermore claimed as his “most often cited example for naturalism” (Reesman 39), which came up in the 1880s and lasted until the 1940s. This literary movement is seen as an outgrowth of Realism with the addition of pessimistic determinism and was influenced by Social Darwinism (cf. Campbell). Thus the most characteristic for naturalist stories is the fact that people are helpless victims of unchangeable natural laws, a harsh environment and their inner “animal drives”. These attributes and the naturalist typical „man vs. nature‟-theme can also be found in “To Build a Fire” and other stories by Jack London, which is one of the most famous representative of naturalism. In the following pages the typical characteristics of stories written during the literary movement naturalism will be explained. Afterwards these elements will be pointed out in Jack London‟s story “To Build a Fire”. Last but not least, the question, whether “To Build a Fire” can be indicated as an example for naturalism will be discussed and finally answered.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Naturalism (1880s - 1940s)
2.1 History
2.2 Characters and Setting
2.3 Themes and Conflicts
2.4 Narrative Techniques and Naturalist Style
3 Jack London: “To Build a Fire” (1908)
3.1 Plot
3.2 Naturalist Elements
3.2.1 „Man vs. Nature‟-Theme and Determinism
3.2.2 Wilderness and Nature
3.2.3 Irony and Narrative Techniques
4 „To Build a Fire“ as a Naturalist Short Story
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper examines how Jack London’s short story “To Build a Fire” serves as a quintessential example of the literary movement of naturalism. By analyzing the protagonist’s struggle against the indifferent, harsh environment of the Yukon, the research investigates the deterministic forces of heredity and environment that define the naturalist genre, while evaluating how London employs specific narrative techniques to emphasize human vulnerability and the failure of free will.
- The historical and theoretical foundations of naturalism (1880s–1940s).
- The representation of “man vs. nature” as a deterministic conflict.
- The function of narrative irony and objective tone in conveying naturalist detachment.
- The contrast between human intellectual arrogance and animal instinct for survival.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2.1 „Man vs. Nature‟-Theme and Determinism
The probably most obvious and strongest naturalist element in “To Build a Fire” is the ‘man vs. nature’-theme. Although the man, who is travelling as a newcomer only with a big husky through the Yukon in the winter, is alert and aware of the dangers of his journey, he fails in his attempts to build a fire to dry himself and so finally dies. The dog, who knows from the very first in contrast to the man due to his instinct that “it was no time for traveling” (London 1058), leaves the body and seeks food and warmth in the camp of the man’s waiting companions. The drama of the story is unfolded in the venturous and dangerous journey of the man by the “conflicts between man and nature and between man and dog” (Peterson 3), including a conflict between civilization and nature.
Already at the beginning of the story when “day had broken cold and gray, exceedingly cold and gray” (London 1057) it is told that “the absence of sun from the sky, the tremendous cold, and the strangeness and weirdness of it all made no impression on the man” (London 1057). When the reader gets to know that more imminent dangers than the cold “was a thought that never entered his head” (London 1058), it becomes at the latest apparent that the man underrates the strength of nature. “The point of the story is not that the man freezes to death but that he has been confronted with the inadequacy of his conception of the nature of things” (4), states Clell Peterson in The Critical Response to Jack London.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Provides an overview of the significance of "To Build a Fire" within Jack London’s body of work and introduces the central research question regarding its status as a naturalist text.
2 Naturalism (1880s - 1940s): Defines the literary movement of naturalism, focusing on its philosophical roots in pessimistic determinism, Social Darwinism, and its reaction against realism.
2.1 History: Traces the origins of naturalism back to Émile Zola and examines its historical development within the context of 19th-century scientific and social changes.
2.2 Characters and Setting: Explores how naturalist authors typically depict characters from lower social classes governed by hereditary and environmental forces, often leading to tragic ends.
2.3 Themes and Conflicts: Details the core topics of naturalism, such as survival, violence, and the "man against nature" conflict, which highlight the indifference of the universe.
2.4 Narrative Techniques and Naturalist Style: Analyzes the shift toward objective, scientifically detached storytelling and the use of "slice-of-life" narration to maintain authorial distance.
3 Jack London: “To Build a Fire” (1908): Contextualizes the short story within London's experiences and defines it as his most cited work representing the naturalist movement.
3.1 Plot: Summarizes the narrative arc of the unnamed protagonist’s journey in the Yukon, his fatal mistakes, and his ultimately doomed struggle for survival.
3.2 Naturalist Elements: Sets the stage for the structural breakdown of why the story conforms to the key criteria of naturalistic literature.
3.2.1 „Man vs. Nature‟-Theme and Determinism: Examines the central conflict of the story through the lens of determinism, contrasting the man's hubris with the dog's survival-based instincts.
3.2.2 Wilderness and Nature: Discusses the role of the environment as an active, indifferent force and how precise, scientific description underscores this representation.
3.2.3 Irony and Narrative Techniques: Explores how London utilizes irony to highlight the disparity between the protagonist's perception and his objective reality.
4 „To Build a Fire“ as a Naturalist Short Story: Concludes the analysis by confirming that the story satisfies the necessary criteria to be classified as a successful example of naturalist fiction.
Keywords
Naturalism, Jack London, To Build a Fire, Determinism, Social Darwinism, Man vs. Nature, Yukon, Survival, Literary Criticism, Narrative Irony, Realism, Émile Zola, Instinct, Tragic Hero, Objectivity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research paper?
The paper explores the literary movement of naturalism and investigates how Jack London's 1908 short story "To Build a Fire" embodies the movement's key themes and stylistic characteristics.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The study centers on the themes of pessimistic determinism, the "man vs. nature" conflict, the impact of Social Darwinism, and the scientific/objective approach to storytelling.
What is the main research question or objective?
The objective is to determine whether "To Build a Fire" can be properly classified as a representative naturalist short story by comparing the text against standard naturalist criteria.
Which scientific methods are applied in the analysis?
The analysis utilizes a literary-scientific approach, evaluating textual elements such as characterization, narrative irony, and the depiction of the environment against established literary theory.
What is addressed in the main body of the work?
The main body breaks down the history of naturalism, explores specific naturalist elements within London's plot, and conducts a detailed comparative analysis of the protagonist's fall.
Which keywords characterize this study?
The study is characterized by terms like Naturalism, Determinism, Jack London, Survival, and Man vs. Nature.
Why does the protagonist fail in the story according to the author?
The author argues that the protagonist fails because he relies on human intelligence and civilization while underestimating the raw, indifferent power of nature and his own biological limitations.
How does the role of the dog contribute to the naturalist theme?
The dog serves as an "objective correlative" or a foil to the human character; its reliance on primal instinct rather than false logic illustrates the naturalist belief in natural survival over human will.
What is the significance of the irony mentioned in the final chapter?
The irony underscores the tragic failure of the human to recognize his own insignificance in a deterministic universe, which is a hallmark feature of London's naturalist style.
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- Stephan Katzbichler (Autor:in), 2010, Naturalism and Naturalist Elements in Jack London's Short Story “To Build a Fire” (1908), München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/262270
