The Bonfire - Kunikida Doppo

In Kunikida's story, "The Bonfire," there is a large difference between the reactions of the boys and the old man towards the fire. Whereas the boys express passing delight at the flames, the old man shows a more heartfelt appreciation and actually approaches it. This can be attributed to the difference in age between the groups. The boys are very young, the oldest being only twelve. In contrast, the old man is described as having "deep wrinkles" and "beard and hair flecked with gray" (Kunikida 34). Personally, the way the old man is described reminds me of a burned piece of wood, cracked all over with a grey-black color. The old man’s past “burning” reflects the experience and worldliness gained with age. This aspect helps to explain why the old man could get so close to the flames, as opposed to the boys who originally intended only to jump over them. The same worldliness can also be used to explain why the boys left the bonfire so quickly, as opposed to the old man who stayed with it for a long time and even replenished the wood. At the beginning of the story, there is a mention of a boy standing on the shore waiting for his father’s ship, which is long overdue. The things the young boys salvaged might have been on that ship before it shipwrecked. The boys would be too young to understand, but the inherent loss of the situation is probably something the old man has experienced. In this way, the old man is honoring the sailors who “provided” the wood for the fire by staying near and continuing to fuel it.



Discussion Question: How did the story being set in winter affect the way you perceived it (if at all)?