"To Build a Fire: Does it meet Poe's requirements for a short story?"

Jack London uses setting, plot, and theme in this short story, "To Build a Fire," to convey his message that nature will win every battle with humans. Fate and hopelessness place a man alone in the middle of the freezing Yukon trail where he meets his death. London shows man's utter helplessness in the fight against nature by illustrating the setting in Alaska along the Yukon River. It is close to the end of winter, …

…menacing throat sound" (London 13). Because the man does not stop to warm himself more and keeps braving the bitter cold, he dies a hopeless failure. London emphasizes man's despondency through theme. London employs setting, plot, and theme in this short story, "To Build a Fire," to communicate that nature will win every battle with humans. Fate and hopelessness place a man alone in the middle of the freezing Yukon trail where he meets his death.