What literary device describes when the weather reflects a character's emotions?

The literary device that describes when the weather reflects a character's emotions is called pathetic fallacy. This concept is a specific type of personification where natural elements, particularly weather, are attributed with human emotions or feelings. When writers use pathetic fallacy, they do so to create a deeper connection between the characters' inner experiences and the external environment. For instance, a storm might rage during a character's moment of distress, reflecting their turmoil and enhancing the emotional impact of the scene.

Using this device effectively helps convey the mood and tone of a narrative, allowing readers to intuitively grasp the emotional state of the characters without the need for explicit statements. This technique enriches the storytelling by providing readers with a vivid understanding of how the characters are feeling in relation to their surroundings.