Final answer:
The description of the Patuxet and their environment uses 'Imagery' to create vivid mental pictures for the reader, engaging multiple senses through detailed and descriptive language.
Step-by-step explanation:
The literary technique the author is using by describing the Patuxet living overlooking a harbor with 'park-like' fields and forests, and fish that are so plentiful they jump out of the water with 'silver bodies gleaming in the sun,' is C. Imagery. This technique involves using descriptive language to create vivid pictures in the mind of the reader. It can appeal to all of the senses, not just sight, by describing how things look, sound, smell, taste, and feel. The phrase 'silver bodies gleaming in the sun' invokes a strong visual image, while the description of the setting creates a picturesque scene, helping to immerse the reader in the story.