presented by 林玲芷
dominant mood of the story ： isolation helplessness depression melancholy
Evidence and Data
1. A man is climbing the high earth-bank in Yukon alone, and the man has no experience of climbing in -75. ---- These two sentences show the mood of isolation and helplessness.
Байду номын сангаас
First style---The author from two aspects tell us the theory of
Naturalism: natural selection and survival of the fittest .
On the one hand, between different species, the story shows the competition of human beings and dog. In the extreme cold environment, if one can't adapt to the harsh natural environment, there is only one outcome - turned out to be the victim of the nature. In the story, the man failled to fight against the nature, and in the end, he is dead. On the contrary, the dog survived. On the other hand, in this story, we describe many of the natural environment, which is to highlight strong power of nature and human's wekness, helplessness. Although the man is trying to compete with the natural, but ultimately failed to break the control of the natural environment for human.
Second style----The author operates as a third
his dialogue stereotyped.
In this story, we can see that London establish and intensify the mood of isolation, helplessnee, depression and melancholy through two kind of prose style. First, Social Darwinism( the survival of the fittest) Second, Third-person Omniscient (all knowing---he/she/it/they/them told by the author; all characters’ feelings/thoughts are revealed)
1.What is the dominant mood of the story? How does London’s prose style (particularly his use of imagery ) serve to establish and to intensify that mood? 2.What comment does the story make about the relationship between man and nature? 3.Does the story have a theme? If it does, describe
London’s Writting Style
Social Darwinism: the survival of the fittest
Naturalism mingled with Romanticism Forceful and colorful
Subjectivity and enthusiasm His characterizations were often stiff and
Group 6
What is the dominant mood of the story? How does London's prose style(particularly his use of imagery) serve to eatablish and then to intensify that mood?
4. The whole story shows the depression and melancholy.
How does London's prose style(particularly his use of
imagery) serve to eatablish and then to intensify that mood?
2. “day had broken cold and gray，exceedingly cold and grey”. ---- This sentence hints at the depressing atmosphere.
3.He is shocked when the fire dead.(P53) ---- This sentence shows the mood of helplessness.