# The Fire People — Before Adam character guide

> The Fire People in Before Adam by Jack London.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the Fire People, The Fire People

**First appearance:** 0012-xi

## Snapshot

A cave-dwelling people with bows, catamarans, and fire, expanding into the Folk's territory and driving them steadily before them.

## Who they are

The Fire People live in caves much like the Folk's, but with fires burning in their open space, women in animal skins, and boys shooting bows. Their prosperity has pushed them outward, and their expansion presses the Folk back — a slow calamity the horde only dimly registers. When Lop-Ear and Big-Tooth stumble into their stronghold and escape by stolen catamaran, the encounter reveals a rival species already ahead, and the widening gap between what the Folk are and what they might become.

## Relationships

### [The Folk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/before_adam_se/characters/the_folk)

_rivalry_

The Fire People are a more advanced group that often dominates or threatens The Folk.

### [The Swift One](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/before_adam_se/characters/the_swift_one)

_rivalry_

The Fire People are a source of danger and conflict for The Swift One, representing a hostile other tribe.

### [Lop-Ear](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/before_adam_se/characters/lop_ear)

_rivalry_

Lop-Ear is threatened by The Fire People, who represent a hostile and more powerful group.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/before_adam_se/chapters/i)

Referenced as part of the narrator's dream world, along with their squatting places.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/before_adam_se/chapters/ii)

Mentioned as a threat from which the narrator's dream-self fled.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/before_adam_se/chapters/vii)

First appearance of a Fire-man, who uses a bow and arrow to kill Broken-Tooth and wounds the narrator.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/before_adam_se/chapters/xii)

Mentioned as the destination of the journey; the narrator and Lop-Ear arrive at their country.

### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/before_adam_se/chapters/xiii)

Encountered camping on the south bank; their fire, weapons, and physical traits are described in detail.

### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/before_adam_se/chapters/xv)

Ambush the horde at the carrot patch, killing the Hairless One and the narrator's sister with arrows. Their weapons and cooperation make them the most feared predators.

### [The Fire People's Conquest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/before_adam_se/chapters/xvii)

Organized attackers who systematically exterminate the Folk using fire and arrows.

### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/before_adam_se/chapters/xviii)

Appear in a dugout canoe, landing on the beach and examining the caves, causing fear.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/before_adam_se/characters/the_fire_people
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/before_adam_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/before_adam_se/characters