Question

In “To Build a Fire,” Jack London contrasts the man’s overconfidence in his abilities to handle the extreme cold with the dog’s “menacing apprehensions” about the conditions and its eagerness to seek warmth and shelter. This contrast is an example of _____.
irony

resolution

conflict

setting

Answer 1

Answer:

Conflict.

Explanation:

Settling in literature is when you define the place, the time and context of the story. Resolution is the final plot of a story where it comes to an end of the conflict. Irony is the use of words to express the opposite mean of it, such as mocking a situation or a character.  While conflict is a very important literary element for a narrative; it can be defined by “the struggle between opposing forces”. Conflicts can be divided in internal (the character with himself) or external (the character with nature, society, or other man).  This contrast between the man’s overconfidence and the dog’s eagerness about how to handle cold is an example of conflict between man and nature.

Answer 2

Answer:

The correct answer is "irony". This irnoy has to do with the theme of the helplessness of humanity before nature: it seems ironic that the human mind, the brightest expression of evolution, capable of measuring and comprehending the universe, is incoherent enough to underestimate nature whereas the dog, a simple creature, often a victim of human wimps, is "intelligent" enough not to do so.