Conflict and Theme in "To Build a Fire," Part 2 — Quiz
Question 10 • 191 CR ELA 9
Read the excerpt from Part 2 of "To Build a Fire.” Well, he was bound to freeze anyway, and he might as well take it decently. With this new-found peace of mind came the first glimmerings of drowsiness. A good idea, he thought, to sleep off to death. It was like taking an anesthetic. Freezing was not so bad as people thought. There were lots worse ways to die. A theme in this passage is that death can be faced gracefully. Which clue from the resolution best points to this theme?
Answer
A
The main character recognizes that he is “bound to freeze.”
B
The main character decides to sleep off to death “decently.”
C
The main character feels like he has taken “an anesthetic.”
D
The main character experienced “glimmerings of drowsiness.”
Explanation
The theme is that death can be faced gracefully, so the strongest clue is the character’s choice to meet death with dignity. He thinks he might as well take it “decently,” showing acceptance and composure. The other details describe his certainty, calmness, or drowsiness, but do not point as directly to facing death gracefully.
AI-written and checked against the verified answer.