He's trying to describe a physical feeling that he's experiencing. He used a metaphor to try to explain his heartache and what he feels about his loss.
Answer: The dank tropical night that was palpable as it pressed its thick warm blackness in upon the yacht.
Explanation: This is a form of personification, because the sentence states that the tropical forest is pressing a thick warm blackness on the yacht. Personification is giving human like qualities to inanimate objects.
The conflict between Laocoon and the Trojans was that when
the Trojans saw the Greek ships leaving, they thought the war was over. When they saw the wooden horse, they thought
it was a gift and wanted to bring it inside Troy. Laocoon objected thinking it was a trick but
the Trojans disregarded his warning.
Laocoon insisted but Athena had two serpents from the sea attack him and
this enabled the Greeks to sneak in and conquer Troy.
