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Comparing Powder And To Build A Fire

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In To Build a Fire by Jack London, a man travels through very cold temperatures, negative 75 degrees Fahrenheit, in the Yukon territory with his dog. In Powder by Tobias Wolf, a boy and his dad drive through heavy snow to try to get home in time for dinner while the main character thinks about his father and mother's relationship. The theme of Powder is to have trust in your family while in To Build a Fire, the theme is perseverance, two totally different themes, but despite this, they both have good messages. In Powder by Tobias Wolf, the theme is shown by the narrator's change in mood only after having confidence in his father. The author writes, "He was a great driver." All persuasion, no coercion. Such subtlety at the wheel, such tactful …show more content…

Except maybe to say this: if you haven't driven fresh powder, you haven't driven." This shows that the theme is to have trust in your family because only in doing that does the main character have a nice time. It's developed through being in a tricky situation, with the snow, the trooper, and the cold, all the while the main character finds joy in the faith he has in his father. In To Build a Fire by Jack London, the theme is shown as perseverance through the man's struggle and eventual positive viewing of his situation. London Writes, "At twelve 0'clock the day was at its brightest. Yet the sun did not appear in the sky. At half-past twelve, on the minute, he arrived at the divide of the creek. He was pleased with his speed. If he continued, he would certainly be with the boys by six o'clock that evening." This proves my claim because through the man's persistence, he is pushing past dangers, which is perseverance itself, developing the theme. Throughout the story, he encounters many obstacles, yet despite this, he goes on, and in the end, he is pleased to know he is going to benefit from it. Belief in family is the message of Powder and the message of To Build a Fire is clear

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