Compare and Contrast `To Build a Fire` and `The Tell-Tale Heart`

Compare and Contrast `To Build a Fire` and `The Tell-Tale Heart`

Two short stories , To Build a Fire ' by Jack London and The Tell-Tale Heart ' by Edgar Allen Poe , both deal with the of life and death . However , the authors strive for different results and therefore leave the reader with different impressions about the stories Jack London creates a forceful depiction of man 's struggle against nature . The result is a piece of literature that will endure the test of time spanning human experiences across the boundaries of time and place In

contrast , Edgar Allen Poe presents a gripping and entertaining story that will impress the reader , although for most people it is difficult to connect with the actions and happenings in this story

In To Build a Fire , the setting forms an important part of the story , presenting the majestic Alaskan landscapes . Anybody who has seen wild natural habitats in their picturesque places will easily imagine and admire the mysterious , far-reaching hair-line trail , the absence of sun from the sky , the tremendous cold , and the strangeness and weirdness of it all . The man fails to appreciate all the beauty of nature , and this is perhaps the only trait that can dissociate the protagonist from the audience . Still the writer describes the setting with enough detail and implicit admiration for the reader to experience the awe that the traveller is missing

This setting of wilderness is deeply meaningful . It allows London to juxtapose the man 's struggle for survival with the deep tranquillity of natural surroundings that leave their own , independent life . This is the feeling most of us have had at least once , wandering in the woods or other natural landscapes . Unlike the protagonist , the reader is encouraged to meditate upon his frailty as a creature of temperature and upon man 's frailty in general , able only to live within certain narrow limits of heat and cold . In this way , portrayal of nature allows the writer to reveal the essence of human existence as a continuous struggle with circumstances , a struggle in which a person can either win or lose . The protagonist 's battle clearly ended with defeat This is the experience that is understandable and close to many of us as we strive every day to overcome our problems

Jack London also uses the setting to demonstrate the effect struggle with nature has on the man . The man in the story balances between fear and panic and the recognized need to die with dignity . Eventually when he gives up his fight , he understands that a peaceful death will not be painful as there are lots worse ways to die . The protagonist in the story undergoes a moral evolution and somewhat changes his perception of nature and himself under the influence of his terrible experiences . His thoughts and ideas appeal to the reader to rethink one 's attitude towards life and death and challenge one to reflect on how one would act in a similar situation

In The...