The correct answer to fill in the blank is facility.
Transcendentalism is a philosophical movement developed in the USA in the 1820s, which focuses on the kindness of people and nature, as well as on people's independence and ability to depend on oneself. It was born in opposition to the intellectualism and spirituality of the time. Consequently, Thoreau's quote reflects his conscious and intentional decision to move to the forest in order to discover the meaning of life and his own independent self.
The key reason for hyperbole is 1:add humor and 2: heighten the effects
One of the main reasons why Bierce use a flashback in section 2 of "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" instead of proceeding with the events taking place is because he wants to appeal to the common reader, who is more familiar with this.