Final answer:
The discussion of quilts in literature often symbolizes heritage and personal attachment, revealing characters' traits and broader cultural themes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question addresses the topic of quilts within the context of literature, specifically focusing on why characters in a story are interested in quilts and what significance the quilts hold. In the provided texts, quilts serve not only as practical objects but also carry deeper meanings related to heritage, memory, and personal attachment. The act of quilting versus knotting is also symbolic, potentially indicating the level of care and intention put into the object. These excerpts suggest that quilts are used in literature as a narrative device to reveal character traits and relationships, as well as broader themes surrounding culture and history.