One of my very favorite short stories! I love everything I have read by Jack London, but this one and The Law of Life have always stuck with me.
To Build A Fire is a classic example of realism (or new realism as some might call this story to separate it from realism).
A classic example of Man versus Nature. The hard reality of nature's cold indifference towards humanity and man's hubris to think he can disrespect its power, fight against it, and win.