Final answer:
The literary examples highlight the importance of physical description in character development, showing changes over time and distinctive features that contribute to understanding relationships, and context within the story.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passages provided touch upon many facets of characterization and physical description in literature. We see descriptions of people who have undergone physical and personal changes over time or who have distinctive features that set them apart.
These descriptions contribute to reader's understanding of the characters, their relationships, and the context of their stories. Emphasis is often placed on aspects such as eyes, hair, and expressions which convey deeper emotional states or personality traits.
Vivid depictions of characters' appearances can reveal societal standings, like the portly man who enjoys good food or the woman with red-gold hair who exudes vitality.
Furthermore, the passages illustrate how characters perceive one another and interpret those perceptions. For instance, the man who has not aged considerably or the quotation that addresses the mixed feelings a character has about another's beauty and their place in the world.
These narratives provide rich examples for discussing how authors use physical descriptions to not only tell us what a character looks like but to hint at larger themes and dynamics within the story.