Final answer:
The question deals with Western or Frontier Literature, which portrays the lives of cowboys and outcasts in the American West and emphasizes themes such as solitude, the struggle against the environment, and personal survival.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passages provided are indicative of a Western or Frontier Literature genre, which typically explores the themes of isolation, the struggles of living in a harsh environment, and the cowboy way of life. The writing style is descriptive, focusing on the setting and internal monologue to convey the often grim realities of life in the American West. Characters are shown dealing with the solitude of the open range, the challenges of outlaw life, and horseback riding as a means of transportation and herding, commonly tied to the iconic image of the cowboy.
Western literature typically uses the landscape not just as a backdrop, but also as a character in its own right, influencing the plot and the development of the human characters. Frontier life is another key component, as it showcases individuals battling the elements and sometimes each other to survive and assert their independence.
The cowboy way of life and associated values such as stoicism and rugged individualism are recurring themes. Characters often display 'strong and silent' traits and face not only their enemies but also the challenges posed by their environment, be it the dense forest, the vast sage-covered uplands, or the oppressive darkness of the night.