Final answer:
Jack London's 'To Build a Fire' is a naturalist story about a man's fatal struggle against the extreme Yukon cold, illustrating the conflict between man and the indifference of nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Jack London's short story To Build a Fire, we follow the harrowing tale of a man's struggle against the extreme cold of the Yukon wilderness. The unnamed protagonist sets out on a journey with his dog, underestimating the severity of the environment. Despite his efforts to build a fire and stay warm, his attempts are foiled by the merciless cold and his own lack of preparation and knowledge of the savage weather. The mounting desperation of the man trying to survive in the fierce terrain embodies a clear conflict between man and nature, illustrating the naturalist themes prominent in London's work. In the end, the man succumbs to the freezing temperatures, highlighting nature's indifference to human life and the insignificance of man in the face of nature's vast and unconquerable forces.