Question

In “To Build a Fire,” the man succeeds in building a fire after having fallen into the water, only to have the fire doused by a load of snow that falls off the tree boughs above it. This is an example of _____.
A.

falling action

B.

irony

C.

conflict

D.

imagery

Answer 1

the correct answer is irony

Definition of irony

irony >the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect

Answer 2

The correct answer to what would this situation exemplify is B. Irony.

When, after already struggling, the man succeeds in building a fire only to have it destroyed buy snow that suddenly falls from a tree without any apparent reason, but only by destiny's force, an example of irony can be observed. An irony can be a synonym of mockery or satire. It is, by definition, "a state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects". The man in the story probably felt relieved after struggling and being able to build a fire and overcome his obstacles, and the last thing he must have expected at the moment would be the fire's destruction. It configures a mockery or satire event orchestrated by a destiny that must have shattered the man's expectations. Therefore, the correct answer would be B. Irony.

The correct answer couldn't be A. Falling action, because a falling action is a moment in a story right after the climax and right before the end. The climax is the resolution of the main problem in a story. The situation presented doesn't show a resolution to the man's problems, on the contrary, which doesn't allow it to exemplify the moment of falling action. Thus, the correct answer couldn't be A. Falling action.

The correct answer couldn't be C. Conflict, because a conflict shows the contrast or disagreement between two forces, usually a protagonist and an antagonist. In the situation presented, there is only a man struggling with destiny's mischief, but there is no sign of an element that would involve two instances in a disagreement or even the presence of obstacles that should be overcome. Actually, after having fallen into the water and overcoming an obstacle, the man was surprised by an unexpected situation, which configures irony. Hence, the answer couldn't be C. Conflict.

The answer couldn't be D. Imagery, because an imagery is a descriptive or figurative language work that conveys visual symbolism. There is no apparent symbolism in the situation presented, just its rawness, which is very real. There isn't figurative language in the situation. Therefore, the answer couldn't be D. Imagery.