It can be inferred that the leaf contributes to the extended metaphor and the theme in the story given that "The leaf represents the fragility and resilience of life."
The leaf is the story's expanded metaphor and theme. It not only depicts endurance and the delicate aspect of human existence, but it also represents faith, since a picture of it may ultimately keep a person alive who attaches their life to it.
The leaf represents the patient's belief in life, whilst the artist confronts the fragility and impermanence of his own life as he undertakes the job of painting and getting the leaf onto the tree while dying himself.
An extended metaphor is one that continues for several words, paragraphs, or perhaps the whole length of a book, poem, or other work.
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