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
- 5 Works Cited
Objectives and Key Themes
The objective of this paper is to analyze Jack London's "To Build a Fire" through the lens of naturalism. It aims to explore the story's key naturalist elements and determine whether it can be definitively classified as a naturalist work. This involves examining the historical context of naturalism, its characteristic features (characters, setting, themes, narrative techniques), and how these manifest in London's story.
- Naturalism as a literary movement and its historical context
- The characteristics of naturalist characters and settings
- The thematic concerns of naturalism, particularly the "man vs. nature" conflict
- Narrative techniques employed in naturalist literature
- An analysis of "To Build a Fire" in relation to the above themes
Chapter Summaries
1 Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the analysis of Jack London's "To Build a Fire," establishing the story's critical acclaim and its significance as a prime example of naturalism. It highlights London's narrative skill and his ability to evoke atmosphere. The chapter also briefly introduces the literary movement of naturalism, emphasizing its pessimistic determinism and the theme of humans as helpless victims of natural laws and their own instincts. The chapter concludes by outlining the paper's structure: exploring the characteristics of naturalism, analyzing their presence in "To Build a Fire," and ultimately determining the story's classification as naturalist fiction.
2 Naturalism (1880s - 1940s): This chapter provides a detailed overview of naturalism as a literary movement, tracing its origins and development. It emphasizes naturalism's roots in realism but highlights its distinctive pessimistic determinism and materialistic worldview. The chapter discusses the influence of scientific developments and Social Darwinism on naturalist thought, particularly the notion that heredity and environment shape human behavior. It also explores the varied interpretations of naturalism among authors, acknowledging both the deterministic and the ethical aspects often present within naturalist works. The chapter contrasts naturalism with realism, emphasizing its focus on the lower classes and its willingness to tackle taboo subjects.
3 Jack London: "To Build a Fire" (1908): This chapter focuses on Jack London's short story "To Build a Fire," analyzing it in terms of its plot and naturalist elements. It delves into the narrative techniques and stylistic choices used by London to achieve his effect and establishes the story's framework. A detailed discussion of how the "man vs. nature" theme plays out, emphasizing determinism, explores the role of the wilderness, and illustrates London's use of irony to highlight the protagonist's fate. The chapter prepares the ground for a final assessment of the story's adherence to naturalist principles.
Keywords
Naturalism, Jack London, "To Build a Fire," determinism, man vs. nature, realism, Social Darwinism, narrative techniques, literary movements, wilderness, pessimism, environment, heredity.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Jack London's "To Build a Fire"
What is the main objective of this analysis?
The primary goal is to analyze Jack London's "To Build a Fire" through the lens of naturalism. This involves examining the story's key naturalist elements and determining if it can be definitively classified as a naturalist work. The analysis explores the historical context of naturalism, its characteristic features (characters, setting, themes, narrative techniques), and how these are present in London's story.
What key themes and topics are covered in this analysis?
The analysis covers naturalism as a literary movement, its historical context, and its characteristic features. It delves into the thematic concerns of naturalism, particularly the "man vs. nature" conflict. It also examines the narrative techniques employed in naturalist literature and provides a detailed analysis of "To Build a Fire" in relation to these themes, including plot summary and exploration of naturalist elements within the story.
What are the key characteristics of Naturalism discussed in this analysis?
The analysis explores naturalism's roots in realism, its pessimistic determinism, and materialistic worldview. It discusses the influence of scientific developments and Social Darwinism on naturalist thought, the notion that heredity and environment shape human behavior, and the varied interpretations of naturalism among authors (both deterministic and ethical aspects).
How does the analysis approach the study of Jack London's "To Build a Fire"?
The analysis provides a chapter-by-chapter breakdown of the story, examining its plot, naturalist elements (such as the "man vs. nature" theme, determinism, the role of the wilderness, and irony), and narrative techniques. It aims to determine whether the story adheres to naturalist principles.
What is the structure of the analysis?
The analysis is structured with an introduction setting the context and outlining the scope of the paper. Subsequent chapters delve into naturalism as a literary movement, a detailed analysis of "To Build a Fire," and a conclusion summarizing the findings. A table of contents and keywords are also provided for easy navigation and reference.
What is the conclusion of the analysis regarding the classification of "To Build a Fire"?
While the provided text gives a detailed overview of the analysis’s approach and methodology, it doesn't explicitly state the final conclusion on whether "To Build a Fire" can be definitively classified as a naturalist work. The analysis aims to determine this classification, but the final answer is not included in this summary.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
The keywords include: Naturalism, Jack London, "To Build a Fire," determinism, man vs. nature, realism, Social Darwinism, narrative techniques, literary movements, wilderness, pessimism, environment, and heredity.
- Quote paper
- Stephan Katzbichler (Author), 2010, Naturalism and Naturalist Elements in Jack London's Short Story “To Build a Fire” (1908), Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/262270
