Final answer:
The question pertains to high school English, focusing on literary analysis of various scenes that depict social gatherings, personal moments, and atmospheric settings in literary works.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scenes presented suggest excerpts from literary pieces that are likely to be studied in high school English classes. These passages appear to be centered around social gatherings, moments of personal reflection, and atmospheric settings, all of which are common devices used in literature to convey themes, character development, and plot progressions. They each describe different scenarios that a cast of characters find themselves in, indicating moments from various stories or plays.
For example, the first passage refers to the communal effort of transforming a sitting-room into a dining-room and the social dynamics involving the guests. The atmosphere is brought to life with the removal of presents from a table, setting out dishes, and dealing with the protests of children regarding the use of flowers as decor. Action like this is typical of social realist narratives or domestic dramas.
As the scenes vary from a person observing dancers, to a detailed depiction of a table setting after an event, to an intense personal reaction ('Bernice's heart throbbed violently'), and chromatic descriptions of settings ('crimson lamp... ivory landing'), it becomes apparent that each passage is a snapshot of a larger narrative. These extracts are rich in descriptive language and character actions, providing ample material for discussion regarding author's technique, character analysis, and thematic exploration.