Final answer:
The excerpts relate to literary themes of survival and the human versus nature conflict in English literature, suitable for the High School curriculum.
Step-by-step explanation:
The narrative excerpts provided are indicative of a literature-based discussion, specifically focusing on the theme of survival and human versus nature conflict. They come from various stories where characters face the harsh realities of their environments and must find ways to build a fire for warmth and survival. These excerpts are steeped in detailed descriptions of the setting and the characters' struggles, which are often emblematic of literature studied within the High School English curriculum. One of the mentioned stories, "To Build a Fire," is associated with the author Jack London, known for his works that often emphasize the unforgiving elements of nature and the human spirit's resilience.
The solution to the problem of the coal mine fire involves the concept of a fire burning underground. Different methods to extinguish it are proposed, such as flooding the mine or cutting off oxygen to smother the fire, which also ties into real-world problem-solving and scientific understanding, but the primary focus in this context is the literary analysis of fire within a narrative.