To Build a Fire

by: Jack London

LA10 Honors
Ms. P + Ms. Kef
Why are we learning this?
Standards met:
● Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of
what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the
text.
● Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail
its development over the course of the text, including how it
emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an
objective summary of the text
● Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or
conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text,
interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop
the theme
Jack London
● American novelist, journalist and social
activist
● Wrote about the Klondike (gold rush)
and the South Pacific
● Passionate about animal and workers
rights
To Build a Fire: Themes
● Amorality lacking a moral sense; unconcerned with the rightness or
wrongness of something

● Instinct vs.
intellectualism
● Survival
Discuss!
What is the difference between
knowledge and instinct?
 Agree or
Disagree?
You only learn through trial and error
 Agree or
Disagree?
Animals are more equipped to survive
in nature, even when humans prepare
themselves.
 Agree or
Disagree?
Confidence can carry you through
any situation.
 Agree or
Disagree?
You should always listen to the advice
of your elders. They are older, wiser
and more experienced.
 Agree or
Disagree?
Intelligence outwits nature.
 Agree or
Disagree?
Anything that can be done with the
help of another can also be achieved
individually.
 Reading Activity: To Build a Fire
◍ Grab a sheet of paper (or create a Google Doc)
◍ As we are listening to the text (or as you are reading it) mark
when the narrator….
-has knowledge unknown to the characters themselves
AND
-provides his own commentary
You should find at least SIX examples in total (so 3 of each)
Today 1/27/23
● Begin reading the story
○ Make note of the narrator’s
commentary or knowledge

● Begin the comprehension

questions
 Resources: To Build a Fire
● Audio
● The story is in your textbook,
pages 331-346
○ PDF of the text (if needed to
finish the assignment)

Click the links above to get started!

“The proper function of
man is to live, not to
exist.”
-Jack London
To-Do 1/27/22
● Finish reading the story
○ Make note of the narrator’s commentary or
knowledge
● Finish the comprehension
questions
● Anything not done in-class is
homework!
To-Do 1/30
● Take out your completed
comprehension questions +
story annotations
● Complete the group activity
● Move-on to Stephen Crane