Questions About To Build a Fire

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Answered Questions (7)

Ezra I believe Jack London wrote mostly in the modern setting so it would have been early 20th century late 19th. As for the location London wrote a lot ab…moreI believe Jack London wrote mostly in the modern setting so it would have been early 20th century late 19th. As for the location London wrote a lot about the Yukon, Alaska Gold rush, and Klondikers. Although I remember him being a coal miner not a gold miner.(less)

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What are the differences between the 1902 and the 1908 versions, and how can you tell them apart?

Johnny There are a few differences, with the 1908 version being the more popular and darker of the two.

If the edition you're reading identifies the man by th…moreThere are a few differences, with the 1908 version being the more popular and darker of the two.

If the edition you're reading identifies the man by the name of Tom Vincent and there's no dog, it's the 1902 version. If he's nameless and there's a dog, it's the 1908 edition.

Besides that, the differences are (with spoilers):

— 1902 Edition —
- Man is named Tom Vincent, and a light back story is given.
- There's no dog.
- The man finds an uninhabited hunter's lodge.
- A brief description of liquid water in freezing temperatures.
- No old-timer who advised against traveling alone.
- The man survives.
— 1908 Edition —
- Man is nameless.
- There's a dog.
- The man dies.
- The story has a slightly darker tone.(less)

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Have there been any short films or video adaptations of this book?

Johnny As of 2022, there's been:

- To Build a Fire (1969)
IMDb #tt2629506 - 0h52m - 7.0/10 - Low Popularity
- To Build a Fire (2003) (Short)
IMDb #tt0387635 - 0h…moreAs of 2022, there's been:

- To Build a Fire (1969)
IMDb #tt2629506 - 0h52m - 7.0/10 - Low Popularity
- To Build a Fire (2003) (Short)
IMDb #tt0387635 - 0h20m - 6.2/10 - Low Popularity
- To Build a Fire (2011) (Short)
IMDb #tt2572904 - 0h20m - 8.8/10 - Low Popularity
- To Build a Fire (2016) (Short)
IMDb #tt5693634 - 0h13m - 7.4/10 - Low Popularity
- To Build a Fire (2019) (Short)
IMDb #tt7752560 - 0h17m - N/A Rating - Trivial Popularity

There may have been more, depending on how loosely the story was adapted. None seem to have garnered widespread mainstream popularity, so they may be a bit hard to track down.(less)

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What does the man seem to think about his own abilities?

Johnny Initially, he's confident, thinking "Any man who was a man could travel alone". Eventually he realizes the folly of his ways, and the wisdom of the ol…moreInitially, he's confident, thinking "Any man who was a man could travel alone". Eventually he realizes the folly of his ways, and the wisdom of the old-man who said that one should never travel alone when it is minus 50 degrees.(less)

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How experienced is the man? is he a novice? prepared?

Johnny Are you trying to get people to do your homework for you? Anyway, he's experienced enough to know the basics, but he's young enough to feel invincible…moreAre you trying to get people to do your homework for you? Anyway, he's experienced enough to know the basics, but he's young enough to feel invincible and lacks the modesty to recognize that perhaps he should heed the warnings of his elders. He wasn't really as prepared as he should of been, as the story tells. He incorrectly judges the temperature, he didn't bring any face-covering, and he brought little more than a scant lunch.

So yeah, he was too optimistic, and he paid the price for it. But hey, the dog probably got along fine in the end.(less)

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