Which method does the author use to present the information in this passage?

How does this passage contribute to the overall meaning of the story

The purpose of an informative essay is to express personal feelings about a topic. describe events from a certain point of view. instruct the reader about a topic. express and defend an opinion.

London includes a quote about john thornton as he is observing hal attempt to motivate the exhausted dogs "it was idle, he knew, to get between a fool and his folly". if the word "idle" is defined as "of no real worth, importance, or significance", what does this statement mean with regard to hal? who is the fool? what is hal's folly? why would john thornton think it of no real worth or useless to intervene?