Close life fiction is referred to as realism. It is an accurate portrayal of verisimilitude. In literature, a realistic novel puts a strong focus on accurate portrayal of the actual setting. In general, the realist is a pragmatist, and the truth he tries to explore and convey is a relativistic fact synonymous with distinct implications and provable by experience (Caudwell & Christopher).
True scenarios and characters are defined in realism, as are real life situations. Incorporating realism in fictional works involves four stages: the use of typical characters, the use of typical vocabulary, and the use of realistic narrative. My essay will be focused on the novel build a fire by Jack London where I will identify notions of realism in the novel which include naturalism and then conclude on whether realism is essential as a literate style.

Realism in the novel build a fire is achieved when we are introduced to a normal man who is struggling to survive in the cold arctic around Alaska. He is an average man travelling by foot and is accompanied by his dog. In this context, realism has been adopted where the main protagonist is just a usual character with no special abilities or capabilities as such. The protagonist behaves in a normal way where his thoughts and actions depict those of usual people (London).

Realism in the novel build a fire is evident from the fact that just like we have no choices over our fate and are only led into the future by nature, the protagonist in the novel has no choice over his fate and only believes in his determination. He believes that his determination can lead him to conquer the world which is a reality in today’s world where we all believe that with determination, we will get through the troubles and problems we are facing. The protagonist in the novel believes that he will conquer all the dangers in the wild defying what the old man at sulphur creek told him about the risks of walking alone in the cold under such temperatures (London).

Another episode of realism is evident where the protagonist's cheekbones got numb, a situation which is a reality in normal living in the exposure of cold. An aspect of naturalism is also evident at this part where the protagonist has no control over nature at all and the only choice he has over the cold is to persevere and stay determined where he attempts to create heat and feel warm by rubbing his cheeks and the end of his nose (London).

Another aspect of realism which depicts the usual normal struggle to survive is evident in the novel where the protagonists tries to survive the cold in every way possible. He tries to rub the end of his nose against mitten and to rub his cheekbones to generate heat. Although he does not triumph against nature, he is seen to always struggle in the quest for survival (London).

A form of realism that depicts the way actual activities are done is evident where the protagonist needs a match stick to make fire and a map to find directions to certain locations, a scenario which would apply in actual life situations, realism is employed by London in setting up an actual plot in the novel (London).

An aspect of realism deployed in the novel is where the protagonist is in the cold region of Alaska. A technique of realism is evident as Alaska is the coldest region of North America. The struggle against the harsh cold weather seems true when the author points that the protagonist was in the Arctic around Alaska (London).

Elements of ignorance from the protagonist when he seems to struggle against nature is a reality of humanity, even though the protagonist knows that he cannot fight against the forces of nature, apart from being determined he displays some element of ignorance by trying to fight against nature, yet he knew he would ultimately lose. His ignorance is also evident where he ignores advises from other people who tell him not to go alone into the cold (London).

Another aspect of realism is portrayed in the novel where the dog sticks to his master all through even after the master who is the protagonist gave a run to generate heat for his body. The dog also stayed with his master when he died till it smelt death on the body then it howled maybe as a sign of respect and tribute before it left. Realism is evident here is the dog which is man’s best friend also proved the same in the novel (London).

The dog follows the man regardless of the uncomfortable weather conditions surrounding them proved by the reluctance portrayed by the dog in leaving the fire to continue with the journey in the cold. The dog portrays loyalty as in normal life hence portraying realism (London).

Conclusion

Realism helps one understand the events in the novel vividly as realism incorporates normal life situations happening in a usual manner. Realism gives the reader a platform to imagine what is happening in written works. I therefore conclude that realism is an important relevant technique that should be embedded in current writing.



































Works cited

Caudwell, Christopher. Romance and realism: a study in English bourgeois literature. Princeton University Press, 2015.

London, Jack. To build a fire. Bantam Classics, 2007.

Shmoop Editorial Team. "To Build a Fire Summary." Shmoop. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 12 Aug. 2017.



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