"like a sunbeam" - it is used to give deeper meaning and description to what her face looks like in person so the reader can feel as if they are standing in front of her seeing that face.
Man vs. Nature
The natural forces of the Earth are acting against him.
The answer is: the sequence of events retold in an interesting way.
An autobiography is the story of the writer's life in the author's words. They can be written as fictional narrations or as an account of anecdotes, memories and crucial events, which lead to the author's revelation of his or her inner thoughts and feelings regarding relationships, family, sexuality and other personal conflicts.