Final answer:
The literary excerpts provided primarily deal with themes of mortality, death, and the human condition in various historical and fictional contexts. They illustrate how characters respond to the loss or the impact of death within a narrative.
Step-by-step explanation:
The excerpts provided are from various literary works and focus on scenarios describing death, illness, and the respective historical or fictional context these events occur within.
The key element tying these snippets together is the depiction of mortality and how characters react to or cope with death.
In 'The Story of an Hour', the news of Mr. Mallard's death is carefully delivered to Mrs. Mallard, while in other excerpts, we see the fate of characters like Peyton Farquhar and the hardships faced by settlers in Virginia.
These narratives provide a glimpse into the authors' exploration of the themes of life, death, and the human condition.
Understanding the historical context alongside the fictional portrayal can deepen one's appreciation for the narrative and the characters' responses to adverse events, such as death or illness.