Which of the following describes a 'pathetic fallacy'?

Pathetic fallacy is a literary device that attributes human emotions or characteristics to inanimate objects, allowing a natural setting to reflect or enhance the emotional state of characters or the overall mood of the narrative. This technique creates a connection between the environment and the characters' feelings, often to evoke a stronger emotional response from the reader. For example, describing a stormy sky when a character is feeling sad illustrates how nature can mirror human emotions, effectively enhancing the emotional landscape of the story.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of pathetic fallacy. Exaggerated speech refers to hyperbole, which intensifies descriptions without the emotional connection to inanimate nature. Unreliable narrators focus on perspective and truth, not emotional projection onto objects. Conflicting emotions in dialogue highlight character interactions and complexity, but they do not relate to the attribution of feelings to non-human elements as seen in pathetic fallacy.