Gianfranco Ocampo
Mrs. O' Kane
Ap English Literature
30 October 2012
Short Story and Poetry analysis
Jack London's stories are written to display the philosophy of Naturalism. His short story "To build a fire" is no exception as he writes the typical battle of man vs. wild, with the typical result of man losing the battle. Timothy Steele does not write a man vs. wild story; he does however write the dependency man should have for the beauty of nature. London's short story and Steele's poem center on a Naturalist philosophy and both use imagery, and personification as literary techniques to display a perfect Naturalist work of literature.
London's message of the fierceness of nature works as central themes in his literary works. Call of the Wild and White Fang revolve around animals, and how humans fail around them in a habitat unsuited for their existence. "To Build a Fire" works as a Naturalist story because the unnamed protagonist attempts to defy nature and become successful in life, but because he underestimates nature his impending doom meets him. London urges the reader to realize that defying nature is the worst idea possible, and learning to adapt and living naturally in the natural order is the best tactic for survival. The poem "Summer" is not written in a naturalism style to display the folly of man but to write that man thrives best in life with nature. The human in the story rests and relaxes "Chewing the sweetness from long stalks of grass" (Steele 861), observing the beauty of his surroundings. It should also be taken into account that the enjoyment of nature should be, natural. "summer is Neglectful of the earnest ones who've sought her" (Steele 861). Naturalists do not believe humans can have any say in how nature operates. It can't be possible for humans to force an enjoyment of the beautiful summer, that love for Summer is natural. Both London and Steele write with the Naturalism philosophy to display their theme, to live in the Naturalist philosophy. London and Steele however, do not simply write and expect the reader to understand the power and beauty of Naturalism; they tactically use literary devices to display this theme.
Both London and Steele have apparently an adamant respect for nature and a tactic they use for readers to understand the influence nature has is to use personification to show that with human characteristics nature can be more powerful than even imagined. In "To build a fire" the winter cold had give him "several similar traps" (London 123). The unnamed protagonist in many instances tried to defy the obstacles nature had set for him, but because he underestimated nature he had failed. Giving nature human qualities by setting obstacles and traps allow the extent of how powerful nature is and how foolish it is to defy it exemplifies the Naturalist message that is supposed to be sent. Steele's approach to the Naturalist philosophy uses personification as a literary tactic by having summer neglect the unworthy. Neglect is a human action yet Steele allowed Summer to be personified into neglecting the unworthy. With that tactic in personification it shows that humans must subjugate to the standards of nature in order to live in happiness in nature's beauty, supporting the theme of Naturalism philosophy.
Imagery is also a literary tactic incorporated into both literary works. London uses imagery to display the dangerous power of nature and its consequences for defying nature. The harsh images of the spit freezing instantly as he spit showed how desperate his situation was "he spat speculatively... there was a sharp explosive crackled...before it could fall into the snow the spit crackled" (London 120). With the use of imagery the reader can know that the unnamed protagonist is in major trouble and will lose against the power of nature. "Summer" imagery functions to show how the beauty of nature is worthy of being subjugated by. Steele uses descriptions such as "Lakes windless in which high-grassed heat grows thick; the one lane country road" (Steele 861). The use of imagery in both works serve as a function to show Naturalism at its finest. To either show the danger our beauty of nature, both works accomplish its goal.
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