Conflict and Theme in "To Build a Fire," Part 2

Read the excerpt from Part 2 of "To Build a Fire." As the twilight drew on, its eager yearning for the fire mastered it, and with a great lifting and shifting of forefeet, it whined softly, then flattened out its ears down in anticipation of being chidden by the man. But the man remained silent. Later, the dog whined loudly. And still later it crept close to the man and caught the scent of death. This made the animal bristle and back away. A little longer it delayed, howling under the stars that leaped and danced and shone brightly in the cold sky. Then it turned and trotted up the trail in the direction of the camp it knew, where were the other food providers and fire providers. Which statement about this excerpt is correct?

NOT This excerpt is part of the conflict resolution. It expresses the theme that death is part of the life cycle and must be faced with dignity. This excerpt is part of the conflict resolution. It expresses the theme that animals are better prepared to survive nature's elements than humans.

Read the excerpt from Part 2 of "To Build a Fire." "You were right, old hoss; you were right," the man mumbled to the old-timer of Sulphur Creek. Then the man drowsed off into what seemed to him the most comfortable and satisfying sleep he had ever known. What conflict is resolved, and what theme is conveyed in this passage?

The conflict resolved is between the man and nature's elements. The theme conveyed is that wisdom can be gained by listening to those who have gone ahead.

Read the excerpt from Part 2 of "To Build a Fire." And all the time the dog ran with him, at his heels. When he fell down a second time, it curled its tail over its forefeet and sat in front of him, facing him, curiously eager and intent. The warmth and security of the animal angered him, and he cursed it till it flattened down its ears appeasingly. This time the shivering came more quickly upon the man. He was losing in his battle with the frost. Which statement about this excerpt is correct?

This excerpt is part of the falling action. It expresses the theme that nature is a powerful force.

Read the excerpt from Part 2 of "To Build a Fire." He should not have built the fire under the spruce tree. He should have built it in the open. But it had been easier to pull the twigs from the brush and drop them directly on the fire. Now the tree under which he had done this carried a weight of snow on its boughs. No wind had blown for weeks, and each bough was fully freighted. Each time he had pulled on a twig he had communicated a slight agitation to the tree—an imperceptible agitation, so far as he was concerned, but an agitation sufficient to bring about the disaster. High up in the tree one bough capsized its load of snow. This fell on the boughs beneath, capsizing them. This process continued, spreading out and involving the whole tree. It grew like an avalanche, and it descended without warning upon the man and the fire, and the fire was blotted out! This is an example of which type of conflict?

character vs. nature

Which are the common conflicts found in literature? Choose all that apply.

character vs. nature character vs. self character vs. others character vs. society

Read the excerpt from Part 2 of "To Build a Fire." He got on his hands and knees and crawled toward the dog. This unusual posture again excited suspicion, and the animal sidled mincingly away. Which is the best synonym for the underlined word?

daintily

Read the excerpt from Part 2 of "To Build a Fire." The cold of space smote the unprotected tip of the planet, and he, being on that unprotected tip, received the full force of the blow. The blood of his body recoiled before it. Which words from the excerpt provide context clues for the underlined word?

force; blow

Read the excerpt from Part 2 of "To Build a Fire." There were no signs of a fire to be made, and, besides, never in the dog's experience had it known a man to sit like that in the snow and make no fire. As the twilight drew on, its eager yearning for the fire mastered it, and with a great lifting and shifting of forefeet, it whined softly, then flattened its ears down in anticipation of being chidden by the man. But the man remained silent. Which is the best synonym for the underlined word?

scolded

The resolution of a story happens when

the conflict is solved.