Abstract
This paper explains that American author Jack London, who wrote novels and short stories at around the turn of the twentieth century, influenced many of the great authors throughout the twentieth
century. The author points out that Jack London, who was self-educated even learning to read and write on his own, had many life experiences such as being a sailor, working under the hard conditions of mills and factories, spending time as a hobo and joining the Klondike gold rush, which influenced his story writing. The paper reports on the theme of the cruelty of nature in two of London's works "To Build a Fire" and "White Fang" in which man struggles against nature and learns that there are no polite social rules about it but rather it is a cruel world of dog eat dog.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Biography
Cruelty of Nature
Conclusion

From the Paper
"London's time in the Klondike, however, was quite detrimental to his health. He went back to sailing after this but these experiences in the Klondike formed many of the impressions that were to be later found
in his stories. In his politics, London tended towards socialism. He made a lot of money from his stories and was well known during his lifetime, unlike many authors who have to die to become famous. London died in 1916 and left behind many famous short stories and novels, including famous short stories like "To Build a Fire" which he considered his best work, and novels like "White Fang" and "Call of the Wild" that are still being studied in schools to this day."

Tags:influence, self-educated, experiences, klondike, struggle

Abstract
This paper takes a look at the life of Jack London, an extremely successful author who has been described as one of the best selling America writers in the world during the early 20th century. The paper discusses how London possessed an uncanny understanding of nature and the confrontation between nature and man. The paper then reviews London's book, 'Martin Eden'.

From the Paper
"There are two aspects that fascinate about this novel. The first is that through the main character we encounter London's own internal struggle as an artist and writer living in the bourgeoisie society of the time. There is throughout the novel a thread of tension between the need for acceptance and the desire to be recognized as an individual without the restraints of convention and norms. This psychological dilemma is also a reflection of sociological aspects in the view that it provides of the class division and struggle in the early twentieth century. Some of the most important and poignant parts of the book is where Martin Eden sees through the hypocrisy of the norms and conventions of the world when he is lauded for the very works that were initially rejected by the publishers. He becomes aware of the falsity and emptiness of social acclaim and success."

Tags:society, class, identity, Ruth, Morse, establishment

Abstract
This paper examines how personal tragedy can often be an inspiration, how writing can serve as a reflection of events as well as therapy in many circumstances, and how one writer who displays such an example in his writing is Jack London. It attempts to show that, while London's writing is often overlooked, it should rather be considered a staple in the canon of American literature for its clarity and significant messages regarding man and his place in the world. It explores how London's personal experiences influenced his writing and, therefore, explains why his stories are important in modern literature.

From the Paper
"London's youth may have impacted him in a negative way that he was never completely able to overcome, but he did not allow this to stop him from writing. Rothberg describes London as an alcoholic who "destroyed his own talent" (Rothberg 1). He wanted desperately to be a success in business and failed much like Mark Twain. He makes a "brilliant beginning and then cannot develop from there" (1). London witnessed a pattern of failure experienced by his parents, who were always trying get-rich-quick schemes that forced them to move all over the San Francisco Bay area. Rothberg asserts that this pattern of "failure and flight" (2) scarred London permanently. In addition, London was illegitimate and this knowledge "weighed heavily" on him and, according to Rothberg, "was one of the most important factors in shaping his personality" (3). London died of a self-administered overdose of morphine, which was used to treat the pain of nephritis, caused by alcoholism."

Tags:call, wild, morphine, suicide, white, silence

Abstract
This paper explains that Jack London's works have received praise for their vivid descriptions of nature, and of the Klondike Territory in particular, and his works generally deal with the theme of the individual in opposition to an amoral, natural world. The author points out that an interesting perception of the inner logic that functions within London's work is the analogy to modern sports; the elements within the ethos of modern sports form a foundational perspective for understanding the works. The paper reveals that one of the most important aspects of London's work is the "discontinuity" that is revealed between man and nature and between civilization and instinct, which is particularly true with regard to the work, "To Build a Fire", where civilization and society are brought into extreme contrast with nature.

From the Paper
"Howard makes an important point to aid our understanding of naturalism in that naturalism contains within it some essential assumptions; one of the most important being that of "reality" as an external referential environment that is unquestioned. This runs counter to post-modern theoretical stance, which sees reality as relative and determined by the individual's perception. The critical literature also emphasizes an exploration of London's work from a socio-cultural and more time bound point of view."

Tags:nature, klondike, sports, discontinuities, genre

Abstract
Jack London was a creative American novelist and short story author whose works deal romantically with the overwhelming power of nature and the struggle for survival. This paper examines how his literature falls into the category of naturalism, since typical naturalist fiction places the human, a creature living by survival instincts, against a cruel world. It also discusses how through his literature such as "The Call of the Wild", London perpetuated the vision that for man to survive he must fight his environment.

From the Paper
"Fascinated with the Arctic region, London developed what has been called his code of the North. To survive, one must be as harsh as external conditions, and one achieves such toughness by imposing an austere discipline on oneself. Deeds are far more significant than words. One must shun pride and arrogance and must be unselfish and tolerant. When the individual reaches this level of personal advancement, he or she can be elevated into a mythical space beyond civilization and the material world. For instance, Buck, after surviving human brutality, numerous fights with other animals, and the harsh exigencies of nature, heads off into this primordial paradise at the end of the novel, a prime illustration of how Naturalism sometimes resembles Romanticism."

Tags:survival, wild, naturalism, call, animals

Abstract
This paper explains that, in Jack London's "Martin Eden", the sea, which is the central thread that binds this novel together, represents that Eden is a humble man who rises to great heights on the crest of a wave but cannot maintain or support those heights. The author points out that, throughout the book, the sea is a constant reminder of Eden's past as a seafarer who has found much success as a writer but finds that fame and fortune are not all he thought they would be; thus, he returns to the sea to commit suicide because it is the place he knows best and respects the most. The paper states that some readers might think that Eden's suicide did not fit with the rest of the book, which showed him as an extremely determined and strong individual who knew how to create the future he wanted; however, having to do "hack" writing to pay the bills, he was disillusioned with his own career and with his dreams.

From the Paper
"That is another important thread throughout the novel that ties into the element of the sea. Eden was innocent when the novel began. He was clumsy in society, his vocabulary was weak, and his social graces were nil. Yet, there was a charm about him that disappears by the end of the novel. He is no longer charming, he is passionate about his beliefs, but he has also grown beyond them intellectually. He understands more than the people he was trying so hard to impress, especially Ruth, and this realization shatters him. He discovers the woman he has put on a pedestal is really just a mere mortal, and not a very nice one at that."

Tags:crest, sailor, writer, suicide, success

Abstract
The paper explains that that, throughout Jack London's "Martin Eden", the sea serves as an allegory for the ebb and flow of Eden's life sea and serves as a powerful symbol of Eden's chaotic life. The author points out that Eden is so driven by his quest to improve himself that he loses sight of who he really is. The paper reviews several chapters so that, by the end of the novel, Eden concludes that all the goals he had set for himself were either false or took him in unexpected directions and that the one true and abiding love he has had is for the sea; therefore, it is no surprise when he ends his life by drowning in the sea he loved so much.

From the Paper
"By Chapter 11, Eden has embarked on his journey of self-improvement and has enrolled in classes. He also plans to use the stories he is writing to demonstrate to Ruth that he is serious about writing, so she will take him seriously. Even in his physics class, Eden is drawn to the sea, where he sees order in chaos: "..." Unfortunately for Eden, life does not follow the laws of physics, and the sea is only predictable when calm. This incident also foreshadows how the sea, and his tumultuous life, is going to disappoint him. Eden has idealized his memories of the sea, imagining tropical islands with scant attention to cold and forbidding waters, and now he imagines that the sea can be mastered, just as he thinks he can happily re-invent himself as a middle class young man."

Tags:allegory, sea, suicide, writing, false

Abstract
This paper describes the plot in Jack London's story "To Build a Fire" and explains how its plot works to create the main character in the story. The paper summarizes the story and explains how, through the plot, the character finally recognizes that he was wrong and should have heeded the advice of the more experienced travelers.

From the Paper
"We are told that the man is spending his first winter in Alaska, and the cold does not really register in his mind, for he has no imagination. He understands the things in life, but not the significance of the effect these things will have on him. He knows it is very cold outside, but he does not understand that it could be a matter of life and death. He has his coat, his mittens and earflaps for protection, and matches and bark to build a fire, but he does not realize that perhaps these few items will not be enough to save him from the bitter cold."

Tags:grey, yukon, newcomer, territory, knowledgeable, outdoors, extended, period, time

Abstract
This paper examines the life and writings of Jack London, born in San Francisco in 1876. It discusses his contributions to literary cannon and the major happenings during his life. Some of his works discussed include "Son of the Wolf" and "Call of the Wild".

From the Paper
"Jack wrote of the Polynesian people and culture of the islands, breaking the curse and popularizing Hawaii as a beautiful and pristine landscape with many natural phenomena. This untitled writing, which Jack published in many newspapers and tourist booklets proved to dispel the leprosy theory and catapulted Hawaii as a major tourist attraction."

Tags:griffith, san, francisco, writer, gold, rush

Abstract
The paper traces the life of Jack London, looking at the books he wrote and where he found the inspiration for his writing about the natural world and animals. The paper also brings to light the interests in his life, such as sailing and the outdoors.

From the Paper
"London became very wealthy at this point in his life, but spent the money almost as quickly as he received it. Spending thirty thousand dollars on a ship name the Snarck, and eighty thousand dollars on a mansion called the Wolf House. On the night of completion an unknown arsonist burned it down, sadly enough the house was not insured. He also lent many people money, which he never got back. Meanwhile, he had an appendectomy done and was warned about kidney problems. In 1907, London and his wife went on a voyage around the world on the Snarck. While sailing around the world he started writing Martin Eden. The Journey abruptly ended in Australia and London had very little money. To survive he bought plots for stories from Sinclair Lewis, a young struggling writer. Jack London was the most famous author in America but didn't have enough money to support him and his family. Soon after, he began drinking heavily and cheating on his wife, therefore, he couldn't hide his depression any longer. London took morphine to ease his pain and at the age of forty he was questioning his own sanity (www.online-literature.com)."

Tags:author, sailing, nature, animals, fiction