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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 refers to the condition in which core temperature drops below the required temperature for normal metabolism and body functions?

2. When was Jack London born?

3. In what year did Jack London die?

4. The Yukon lay hidden under how many feet of ice, according to the narrator in Part I?

5. Where was Jack London born?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is symbolized by the lack of a shadow cast by the protagonist in To Build a Fire?

3. Where is the protagonist traveling in the story? What supplies does he carry?

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

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

6. How is the dog described in To Build a Fire?What is his relationship to the protagonist?

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

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

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

10. What advice did the old-timer give to the protagonist?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the protagonist’s experience of cold in the narrative. What effects does the cold have on the man? How does the cold affect the dog? What role does the cold have in the plot progression of the story?

Essay Topic 2

Define the literary term “character foil,” and discuss how this term applies to the dog in To Build A Fire. How does the dog compare with the man? In what ways does the author juxtapose the two characters? Is the dog an ally or enemy to the man?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the author and the publications of To Build A Fire. Where was Jack London from? How successful was he as an author during his lifetime? What differences exist between the two versions of the story?

(see the answer keys)

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