A list of possible answers would help...?
Answer:
Jack London spent some time as a prospector in the Klondike. He was aware of how dangerous ignorance could be in such harsh conditions. “To Build a Fire” reflects London’s experience with many foolish prospectors who died from the cold and of malnutrition.
The contextual information suggests why the unnamed prospector in the story might have been overconfident: He was new to the area and might have been misled by popular and sensational accounts of the gold rush. These accounts depicted the prospectors as heroes discovering new frontiers and making their own fortunes. They did not describe the suffering of life in the Canadian wilderness.
Contextual information also helps us understand the author’s purpose: to expose the truth about the dangerous conditions faced by prospectors during the Klondike gold rush. London informs his readers of what exactly prospecting involves and the importance of knowing the dangers of the environment and one’s own limits.
Explanation:
Answer: Twain greets readers with a "NOTICE" before he steps aside and allows Huck Finn to narrate the story. The following narrative, Twain warns, should not be analyzed for "motive" or "moral" or "plot" or punishment will follow. In the Explanatory, Twain notifies readers that characters will sound as if they live in the region in which the story takes place.
Explanation:
These statements serve three purposes. First, the warning is a satiric jab at the sentimental literary style, which was in direct contrast to Twain's brand of literary realism. Second, the warning introduces the use of satire, a harsh and biting brand of humor that readers will continue to see in the novel. Finally, the warning is a convenient method by which to ward off literary critics who might be eager to dissect Twain's work. Twain recognizes, no doubt, that his novel will incite controversy.
