Final answer:
The phrase exemplifies personification, endowing the hills with the ability to affect the weather, revealing a common literary device used to highlight nature's influence in literature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase "The hills influence the weather" is a representation of the literary device known as personification, where inanimate objects or abstract concepts are given human attributes or feelings. This figurative language is often used in literature to evoke imagery or convey a mood, and in this specific case, it implies that the hills have the power to affect the weather, as though they had a will or intention of their own. The concept of nature's influence, particularly the hills or mountains, is a recurring theme in literature, indicating its significance in shaping the human experience, history, and personal narratives.