Answer:
Step-by-step explanation:
In the first paragraph of the excerpt, the narrator uses vivid imagery to describe the view from the train window. The narrator notes the "dreary wilderness of sand and heath" that suddenly gives way to a "blossoming land" with fields of corn, wheat, and vineyards. This imagery conveys the narrator's perspective as an American visiting France for the first time. The contrast between the "dreary wilderness" and the "blossoming land" emphasizes the beauty and richness of the French countryside, which the narrator finds striking and novel. The use of words like "blossoming" and "verdant" suggests that the narrator sees France as a place of abundance and growth, in contrast to the sparseness and austerity of the American landscape. The imagery also hints at the idea that the French landscape is cultivated and shaped by human hands, as evidenced by the fields of crops and vineyards. This reinforces the idea that France is a place of culture and refinement, a theme that will continue throughout the rest of the excerpt. Overall, the imagery in the first paragraph conveys the narrator's sense of wonder and appreciation for the beauty and richness of the French landscape, and establishes the idea of France as a place of culture and refinement.