Final answer:
The story 'The grasshopper and the bell cricket' employs repetition of words and phrases related to the natural soundscape, like the humming of gnats and the chirping of a cricket, to build the story's atmosphere.
Step-by-step explanation:
From the story 'The grasshopper and the bell cricket', we find that the author Yasunari Kawabata uses repetition as a powerful rhetorical device to give certain motifs emphasis and depth.
Words and phrases related to nature and its elements, particularly the sounds made by various creatures, are commonly repeated to build the story's atmosphere.
For example, the humming of gnats, the beating of wings, and a lonesome cricket chirping are all indicative of the natural soundscape that is recurrent within the narrative.
More specific phrases aren't repeated verbatim in the provided excerpts, but there is a clear recurring motif of the sounds and presence of small creatures such as insects and birds. This suggests that they may play a significant role in establishing the setting and mood.