Answer to Question #105376 in English for Troy

Question

To Build a Fire...How does the dog’s behavior differ from the man’s behavior, and what is the end result for the dog?

Answer 1

In Jack London's short story, "To Build a Fire", like many dogs in Yukon, the dog in the story is a husky, bred to survive in harsh climate. It serves as a foil and a warning system to the man who is a new comer in the wildness. Unlike the Man who fails to consider the dangers of his environment, the Dog follows its instincts to sense both natural pitfalls and the danger of man’s desire to kill him. When the man fall through the ice, the dog knew it was in danger of being killed for warmth and it stayed away. For this reason, the Man dies and the Dog survives.