Final answer:
In the context of English literature, door scenes often represent significant narrative moments where characters arrive or are summoned, symbolizing both literal and figurative thresholds in the story. These moments can illuminate character identities, set the mood, and advance the plot.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passages provided reflect various scenarios where characters arrive or are greeted at the door in different literary contexts. From the provided text excerpts, we can discern that these events often serve as pivotal moments in the narrative -- signifying arrivals, departures, or significant encounters. This can be tied to numerous key story elements, such as setting, plot development, and character interaction.
Consider the extract where Nora enters humming and in high spirits, holding parcels -- the description sets the tone for a cheerful holiday scene in Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House. Similarly, Sarah Penn standing in the doorway like a queen establishes her as a figure of authority in Mary E. Wilkins Freeman's The Revolt of 'Mother'. Each doorway scene can represent a threshold, both literally and figuratively, and the character's actions upon arrival or when summoning another character through the door can reveal significant insights into their personalities or foreshadow future events.
Characters such as Sister Sara and Sylvia become central in initiating interactions at the door, thus propelling the narrative forward and often indicating shifts in the story. Whether it's an invitation to view a garden or the tension of concealing the whereabouts of a white heron, these moments by the door have lasting impacts on the characters and the unfolding plot.