Final answer:
The student's question involves the use of personification in literature, as exemplified in the passage, where natural elements like the 'small tree' and 'brutal wind' are given human-like qualities. This figurative language creates narrative conflict and enhances the reader's connection with the environment and characters.
Step-by-step explanation:
The small tree in the passage provides a vivid depiction of figurative language through the personification of nature. The brutal wind is characterized as an antagonist, creating a scenario in which the tree must 'fight' to stay intact. This personification imbues the tree with human-like qualities, turning a natural phenomenon into a narrative conflict.
The wind and stormy weather throughout various passages are consistently depicted as personified antagonists. Through the transformation of nature's elements, the wind conveys different emotions and actions, such as 'threatening', 'seizing breath', or contributing to the 'mourning, moaning wail' that characterizes the approach of a storm.
Such a use of language creates a relationship between the reader and the environment presented within the text, allowing us to empathize with the natural world and the characters affected by it. The passages imply a connection between the natural world and healing, transformation, and survival against odds, demonstrating the power of figurative language in literature.