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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the narrator refer to the dog as in Part III?

2. What time is it in the beginning of To Build a Fire?

3. The narrator states in Part I, “North and south, as far as his eye could see, it was unbroken” what?

4. What refers to an object, action, or idea that represents something other than itself?

5. When did the Klondike Gold Rush begin?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the setting of To Build a Fire?What clues indicate this setting?

2. How does the narrator describe the protagonist’s experience of the cold in Part III?

3. How is the advice of the old-timer perceived by the protagonist in To Build a Fire?

4. What danger does the protagonist encounter at Henderson Creek in Part II?

5. When and where was Jack London born? Who were his parents?

6. What causes the protagonist to experience fear when he stops to eat lunch in Part III?

7. At what time does the story open?Who is present in the opening paragraphs of the story?

8. What were Jack London’s experiences like during the Klondike Gold Rush?

9. What role does the old-timer play in the narrative?

10. What are the most significant elements of the setting of To Build a Fire?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the literary element of repetition in the narrative. What are examples of repetition in Parts I and II of To Build A Fire? Why does the author use repetition? How does London’s use of repetition help to develop the tone of the story?

Essay Topic 2

According to the story, the "trouble" with the man is that he is "without imagination" and therefore never speculates about "man's place in the universe," his "frailty in general," or the fact that people are "able only to live within certain narrow limits of temperature." What is the result of this weakness in the story’s plot? Does the man reach any form of enlightenment through his travails?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the character of the old-timer in the story. Where is the old-timer from? What do you think he represents in the narrative? How does the protagonist feel about this character? How do his feelings evolve through the narrative?

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