Final answer:
The passages explore the theme of cold and its various effects, ranging from physical sufferings such as hunger and frostbite to the metaphorical use of cold in literature to describe emotional states or encounters with nature. Personal hardships and cultural divergences in the experience of cold present a rich tapestry of interpretation and significance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passages presented refer to various experiences with cold climates and the discomfort they can bring. These accounts range from personal hardships, like lack of clothing and shelter, leading to severe physical discomfort such as frostbitten feet, to emotional and metaphorical references where cold is used to describe a state of being or feeling. The varying contexts of cold from a physical, psychological, and emotional perspective are all explored in these passages, indicating the diverse impacts cold weather can have on individuals.For example, in one passage, the speaker feels the literal cold due to inadequate protection from the elements during winter, suffering from both hunger and the biting cold.
In contrast, another passage explores the indifference of a newcomer to the harsh winter conditions, highlighting a lack of imagination rather than physical discomfort. Yet another passage from Nigeria mentions how the weather, in this case the absence of cold, is not a topic of conversation, implying that cold and its effects are not universal. Furthermore, poetic references to the cold in diverse contexts—from the literal challenges faced by early colonists to the figurative language found in literature—serve to illustrate that the experience and interpretation of cold are as varied as the individuals and cultures that encounter it.