Jack London Flashcards
What theme do the shorter works of fiction explore?
Climate change
The works include a classic short story by Jack London and pieces from the genre of ‘CliFi’ (Climate Fiction) that depict survival.
What is the significance of the term ‘chechaquo’ in the context of Jack London’s story?
A newcomer
This term describes the unnamed man in the story who lacks experience in the extreme cold.
What does the phrase ‘fifty degrees below zero’ emphasize in the story?
The harshness of the setting
This phrase reinforces the bleakness and the extreme conditions faced by the protagonist.
How does the setting contribute to the mood of the story?
It emphasizes coldness and isolation
Repeated descriptions of the missing sun and cold temperatures create a sense of loneliness.
What does the main Yukon trail symbolize in the story?
Security and certainty
The protagonist’s choice to leave the trail symbolizes risk and lack of understanding.
What is a key theme related to the protagonist’s character in the story?
Limits of self-reliance
The man’s overconfidence highlights his inexperience and the theme of man versus nature.
What role does the dog play in the story?
It represents instinct and awareness of danger
The dog contrasts the man’s lack of understanding about the extreme cold.
What does the narrator’s detached tone reveal about nature?
Nature’s indifference to man
The lack of emotional detail emphasizes the insignificance of man in the face of nature.
Fill in the blank: The man believes that frostbite is _______.
never serious
What advice does the man remember that symbolizes respect for nature?
The advice from the old man at Sulphur Creek
This advice is crucial for the man’s survival in the extreme cold.
What does the fire symbolize in the story?
Protection and the difference between life and death
The man’s ability to start a fire is critical for his survival.
What happens when the man removes his mitten to help the dog?
His fingers quickly grow numb
This action foreshadows the man’s later struggles with the cold.
How does the man’s perception of safety change in the story?
He feels safe but is actually in danger
This situational irony emphasizes the man’s disconnect from reality.
What does the dog’s instinct reveal about survival?
It understands the dangers of the cold
The dog represents a natural understanding that the man lacks.
What does the phrase ‘the trouble with him was that he was without imagination’ suggest?
The man’s inability to foresee danger
This highlights a key flaw in his character and foreshadows his fate.
What does the man’s journey symbolize?
The struggle against nature
His unpreparedness and decisions lead to dire consequences.
What situational irony is introduced when the man feels ‘safe’?
The reality of his situation is very different from his feeling of safety
This irony emphasizes the man’s misunderstanding of nature.
What does the man initially succeed in doing to survive?
Building a fire
He appreciates the advice of the old man.
What does the man think of the old man’s warning about not being alone?
He decides that the old-timer is ‘womanish’
This reflects his hubris and lack of respect for nature.
How is the man’s blood described in the text?
His ‘blood was alive’ and compared to the dog wanting to hide from the cold
This description emphasizes the danger he is in.
What event causes the man to understand his mistake?
An avalanche of snow falls from the tree and puts out his fire
He realizes he should have traveled with someone.
What simile is used to describe the man’s socks?
‘Thick German socks were like sheaths of iron’
This emphasizes that his legs are trapped in icy socks.
What does the falling snow symbolize in the story?
It symbolizes danger and the climax of the man’s struggle against nature
The snow puts out his fire when he believes he is safe.
What does the man attempt to do after realizing he has lost the fire?
He tries to gather grass, twigs, and larger branches to rebuild the fire
He is determined to fight for survival.
