Final answer:
Annemarie was informed about the passing of her sister Lise through a letter, which brought about profound and immediate grief, a common emotional response to the loss of a loved one in literature.
Step-by-step explanation:
Annemarie was told about the death of her sister Lise in a somber and indirect manner. The grim news came in the form of a damp letter with a blurred foreign postmark detailing that Lise had passed away. Such news often brings a storm of grief and a sense of profound loss, similar to the sorrow experienced by characters in other literary works when they lose a loved one or are faced with their impending death. The significant impact of such news is evident in the immediate and visceral response it elicits, and it is a common theme in literature to explore the depths of human emotion in the face of tragedy.