Final answer:
The passages deal with themes of terror, imagination, and discerning patterns in ambiguity, showcasing how humans can ascribe intent or emotion to unclear stimuli.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passages provided convey scenarios filled with terror and the unsettling presence of a shadowy figure and inanimate objects coming to life through the power of the imagination. In both texts, the human mind's tendency to find or ascribe meaning and emotional intent to ambiguous visual stimuli is a central theme. The first passage describes a horseman of large dimensions as a source of fear, while in the second, the wallpaper's pattern becomes a source of irritation and a reminder of the everlastingness of the watcher's imprisonment.