Final answer:
Literature often uses rivers as symbols of life's challenges, thresholds of change, and connections to the spiritual or cultural realm. Authors like Wheatley and Twain use water imagery to express cultural ideals, transitions in life, and the quest for freedom, evident also in the narratives of the Lost Boys of Sudan and antebellum slave spirituals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The exploration of both "The Lost Boys of Sudan" informational text and A Long Walk to Water allows connections to be drawn regarding the views of different cultures on their world and the supernatural, and their relationships to rivers. The excerpts given emphasize how literature can capture cultural perspectives, such as in Wheatley's allusions to African beliefs about water being a barrier between life and death. Similarly, Twain's use of river and shore scenes in Huckleberry Finn reflects ideals inherent in nature and Americana. Rivers also serve as symbolic thresholds in the literature, crossing over which can imply a transformation or a passage - evident in the antebellum slaves' spirituals, seeing water as a conveyance to freedom and the Promised Land.
In literature, rivers often embody more than just physical entities; they represent life's challenges, transitions, and sometimes, the ultimate passage from life to death or from bondage to liberation. The references to crossing of water resonate with the larger human experience of overcoming obstacles and seeking out new horizons, a theme that is apparent in narratives from varying times and cultures, from the poignant experiences of the Lost Boys to the classic American literature of Mark Twain.
The provided information from multiple sources shows how water is interwoven into the fabric of several narratives - as a symbol of challenge, a threshold to be crossed, and an element deeply embedded in cultural and spiritual consciousness. This thematic importance is a rich area to explore in the study of literature and history, underscoring the universality of certain symbols across diverse human narratives.