Final answer:
The texts are examples of descriptive narrative writing from English literature that depict the survival challenges faced by humans and animals in severe winter conditions, as well as the contrasting behaviors and instincts of each.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passages provided are indicative of descriptive narrative writing, often found in English literature, and they primarily explore themes of nature, survival, and human-animal relationships. Specifically, these excerpts present characters encountering harsh winter conditions and their interactions with animals, highlighting the instinctual behavior of dogs in contrast to human decisions and the sense of comfort or security offered by the warmth of a fire in the cold.
Phrases such as "It was seventy-five below zero" and "the dog wanted fire, or else to burrow under the snow" serve to illustrate the extreme cold the characters face and their reliance on natural instincts or learned behaviors to survive. Moreover, the texts tap into the emotions and thoughts of the humans and animals alike; through their actions and reactions, a vivid story is told about enduring and coping with the elemental forces of winter.