To Build a Fire Study Questions



To Build a Fire Study Questions

1. What mechanical thing is mentioned in the first paragraph? a watch is mentioned

When you next see this thing mentioned in the story, write the sentence on the back of this page. It was 10 o’clock.

2. What are the prevalent feelings and sights in the first paragraph? It is gray and gloomy but he isn’t worried.

3. What is the total length of the trail mentioned in paragraph two? Why do you think the author wants to be so specific? 3070

4. What is chechaquo? a new-comer to the territory

5. Why may the man’s lack of imagination be a serious flaw? He could not imagine the effect the temperature could have on him; he couldn’t imagine the danger he was in or that he could die

6. What experiment does the man perform? He “spat” or spit to see if it froze in the air, and it did.

7. Why is the man not with the rest of “the boys” at the camp on Henderson Creek? He came back from Indian Creek country a different way than they had so that he could look for places to get logs in the spring

8. How is the dog’s reaction to the cold different than the man’s? Why is it different? The dog’s instincts made it aware of the danger of travelling when it was so cold. In a way, the dog was much smarter than the man. “It’s instinct told it a truer tale than than was told to the man by the man’s judgement.” In this case, instinct is more important than intelligence.

9. Before this man, when was the trail last used? Why may this be so important? It was used one month ago. This is important because if the man gets into trouble, it’s likely that there will be no one along to help him. It also shows the idea that this might not be the best trail to use in the winter.

10. Comment on these lines “He was not much given to thinking…” and “Empty as the man’s mind was of thoughts…” The man is portrayed as being not very intelligent, at least not in his awareness of what was going on around him.

11. What precaution has the man failed to take? He had not made some kind of covering for his face, so he was getting serious frostbite on his cheeks and nose.

12. Read the paragraph beginning “Empty as the man’s mind was of thoughts” through “when one broke through he kept on breaking through for awhile…” Predict what you think will happen later in the story. (Answers will vary)

13. What happens to the dog? What does it instinctively know to do? The dog fell through the ice when the man pushed it forward. It instinctively licks and bites the ice off of its paw.

14. What is happening to the man’s fingers and toes? They are numb and freezing.

15. What do we learn about past generations of man that is different from past generations of wolves? Wolves pass along instincts and lessons learned about survival. Man does not.

16. What had the old-timer on Sulpher Creek told him the previous fall? He said that no man should travel alone in the Klondike when it is colder than 50 below.

17. How does the man react to the old-timer’s advice once he gets the fire going? He feels confident and still thinks the old timer was too cautious. “Rather womanish” he had thought.

18. What does the author mean by this sentence? “The wires were pretty much down between him and his finger ends." His brain was unable to communicate with his fingers because his fingers were numb and not sending any information to the brain.

19. What mistake did the man make when he chose the location for his fire? He placed it under overhanging branches holding snow. When the snow melted from the fire’s warmth, the water and snow fell on the fire, putting it out.

20. What does the dog do which shows that it is in no danger from the intense cold? Once the fire is out, it sits calmly with its tail keeping its legs and feet warm.

21. How is the man’s opinion of the old-timer different now? He realizes that the old-timer was right.

22. When the man fails to build a fire, what wild idea does he get? He thinks that he will kill the dog, cut it open, and warm his hands inside of it.

23. What must the man do when he first stands up? Why? He must look at his legs and feet to see if he is actually standing because he has no feeling at all in his legs.

24. In his panic, what does the man do? He runs.

25. As the man sits and rests, what strange sensation does he feel? He feels warm and relaxed.

Internet Bonuses: What does the dog do at the very end of the story? It trots off towrd camp. What does the man do? He lays down and sleeps until he dies.

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