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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. When was Jack London born?

2. The “dark hair-line” of trail visible in Part I is said to be the main trail that leads south how many miles to the Chilcoot Pass?

3. What refers to an obstacle located outside the protagonist, including nature, the supernatural, or society?

4. The protagonist steps through the ice and wets himself how high in Part IV?

5. In literature, what refers to an incompatibility in how two or more individuals relate to one another?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Why does the protagonist eat quickly when he stops for lunch in Part III?

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

5. How is symbolism tied to the character of the protagonist in To Build a Fire?

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

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

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

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

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

Describe and analyze the setting of To Build A Fire.What are the outstanding elements of the setting? How does the setting play a part in the plot of the narrative? What clues in the text reveal the setting?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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