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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. In what year did Jack London die?

2. What does the protagonist do in order to get the dog to come with him when he departs from eating lunch in Part III?

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

4. The protagonist is described in Part I as being “quick and alert in the things of life, but only in the things, and not in” what?

5. At 12:00 p.m., the sun is at its brightest but it is too far in what direction to clear the horizon?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the protagonist do after eating his lunch in Part III? How does the dog respond?

2. How does the author use symbolism to illustrate “instinct” versus “reason” in the narrative?

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

4. How is the protagonist described by the narrator in Part I?

5. What is the point of view of the narrative in To Build a Fire?

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

7. Where does the protagonist decide to eat lunch in the narrative? Why?

8. What symbolism is tied to the character of the dog in the story?

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

10. What stylistic elements characterize To Build a Fire?Give examples in your answer.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Define character action, objective, and obstacle in literature, and analyze the actions and obstacles of the protagonist in Parts I and II. How does the protagonist act in the face of the obstacle of the springs? What is the protagonist’s objective at the beginning of the story? What obstacles stand in his way? How does he overcome each of these obstacles?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze and discuss the theme of “Survival in the Wilderness” in To Build A Fire.What symbolism and imagery is used to reinforce this theme? How is the theme illustrated through the characters of the man and the dog?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the motif of the color white in the narrative. What does white signify symbolically to you? What does it signify to the protagonist? How many times does the author repeat the word “white” in the story? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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