Final answer:
The solution to the riddle is Fire, as it describes the unique properties of fire, which lives with fuel and dies with water, contrasting with the thematic use of fire and water in the provided literary excerpts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The answer to the riddle you've presented is Fire. The description within the riddle directly correlates to characteristics of fire. When the riddle says, "A spirited jig it dances bright," it describes the flickering, lively movement of flames. The subsequent line, "Banishing all but the darkest night," suggests how fire dispels darkness but cannot eliminate it completely.
Further, "Give it food and it will live; Give it water and it will die," is referring to the fact that fire requires fuel to burn, while water extinguishes it.
This aligns well with the theme of transformation and contrast used in the literary excerpts, where fire and water are often used metaphorically to express deeper meaning, such as change, passion, or the cry for rest.