Question

Read the excerpt from Jack London's "To Build a Fire," a naturalist short story about a man traveling in the frozen Arctic Circle with only his dog for company. Which sentence in the excerpt demonstrates a blunt portrayal of natural life? He unbuttoned his jacket and shirt and drew forth his lunch. The action consumed no more than a quarter of a minute, yet in that brief moment the numbness laid hold of the exposed fingers. He did not put the mitten on, but, instead, struck the fingers a dozen sharp smashes against his leg. Then he sat down on a snow-covered log to eat. The sting that followed upon the striking of his fingers against his leg ceased so quickly that he was startled. He had had no chance to take a bite of biscuit. He struck the fingers repeatedly and returned them to the mitten, baring the other hand for the purpose of eating. He tried to take a mouthful, but the ice-muzzle prevented. He had forgotten to build a fire and thaw out. He chuckled at his foolishness, and as he chuckled he noted the numbness creeping into the exposed fingers.

Answer 1

Answer:

The sting that followed upon the striking of his fingers against his leg ceased so quickly that he was startled

Explanation:

The sentence in the excerpt that demonstrates a blunt portrayal of natural life is The sting that followed upon the striking of his fingers against his leg ceased so quickly that he was startled.

This shows that nature is indifferent to the suffering of humans. Nature tries to numb the man's fingers while he was about having a meal and despite the man's best efforts at gaining sensation to his fingers by striking his finger on his legs, it was useless because nature was unrelenting and indifferent to his suffering.

Answer 2

Answer:

The sting that followed upon the striking of his fingers against his leg ceased so quickly that he was startled.

Explanation:

The answer shows that nature is daunting. Nature attempts to numb the man’s fingers when he is eating, and even the man’s attempt to strike his finger into his leg repeatedly to bring back some sensation proves fruitless as nature continues to stop his blood circulation.