Final answer:
The term 'dark clouds' in the examples refers to a narrative setting that creates a suspenseful or foreboding mood, enhancing the emotional response and often reflecting the internal states of characters.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the provided examples, the type of setting that is described by the term "dark clouds" is indicative of a mood or atmosphere that foreshadows conflict, change, or tension within a narrative. This setting often serves as a backdrop to create an emotional response or to symbolically reflect the internal states of characters. In literature, such environments are typically used to build suspense and to communicate the tone of the scene to the reader.
For instance, the setting described as having purple and dark clouds that obscure the sunset, accompanied by rolling thunder, conveys a sense of impending drama or turmoil in the narrative. This atmospheric detail sets the stage for events to come, much as a 'threatening, misty morning' can signify conflict ahead. In contrast, the description of a meadow with bleak aspects and scattered snow alongside an eagle’s nest provides both a literal and a metaphorical landscape for the story or scene. Additionally, in theater, the use of a dark and stormy setting, like the one in the scene from Lear, serves to enhance the play's themes and the emotional intensity of its plot points.