Essay on Solemn Mood in “to Build a Fire”

Jack London, the author of “To Build a Fire”, uses setting detail to set a solemn mood. For example, London describes the atmosphere as “It was a clear day, and yet there seemed an intangible pall over the face of things, a subtle gloom that made the day dark, and that was due to the absence of sun (London 76).” London uses the words gloom, intangible, and dark to illustrate a solemn feeling for the reader. In addition, London reports the environment as a “mysterious, far-reaching hairline trail, the absence of sun from the sky, the tremendous cold, and the strangeness and weirdness of it all (London 78).” In this example, the words strangeness, mysterious, and absence show normality, comfort and support are void. Finally, London delineates the surroundings “He plunged in among the big spruce trees. The trail was faint. A foot of snow had fallen since the last sled had passed over, and he was glad he was without a sled, traveling light.” (London 78). In this last example, the words faint, and plunged creates a feeling of being disconnected from society. When combined, these key details create a solemn mood in “To Build a Fire”.