Question

He had forgotten to build a fire and thaw out. He chuckled at his foolishness, and as he chuckled he noted the numbness creeping into the exposed fingers. Also, he noted that the stinging which had first come to his toes when he sat down was already passing away. He wondered whether the toes were warm or numb. He moved them inside the moccasins and decided that they were numb.

–“To Build a Fire,”
Jack London

What effect does the man’s conflict with nature have on continuing the rising action?

As the man continues his journey to camp, he will never again forget to build a fire.
As the man gets colder and more numb, he will have a more difficult time getting to his camp.
As the man ponders his situation, he will realize that he needs to turn back to where he started from.

Answer 1

As the man gets colder and more numb, he will have a more difficult time getting to his camp.

Explanation: the physical effects of the cold increase the obstacles he faces (numb fingers and toes, slowed movements), which raises the tension and propels the rising action toward the crisis.