Final answer:
The subject deals with themes in literature, specifically fear, survival, and facing death, depicted through a character's response to extreme circumstances. The morlock is a fictional creature and serves to invoke imagery of danger in the excerpt.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passages provided suggest a theme that delves into the experiences of fear, survival, and the struggle against nature. The reference to being attacked by a morlock likely points to a work of fiction since morlocks are fictional creatures from H.G. Wells' novel "The Time Machine." The comparison of a character being curled up and likened to a dead six-toe cat, bloated and teeming with lice and maggots, vividly portrays a sense of discomfort and revulsion.
The second passage speaks to the human instinct for survival in the face of overwhelming odds. The character realizes the dire situation where it's not just about the risk of losing extremities to frostbite but about a life-or-death struggle against the cold. Despite the numbness in his feet, the character's strong will to survive pushes him to run, holding onto a sliver of hope that he might make it to safety.
Both excerpts illustrate characters confronting the brink of death, yet they react differently, reflecting the various ways individuals may cope with dire circumstances. In studying literature, such scenarios are crucial for understanding character development and themes related to human nature and resilience.