How did french artist jean-françois millet give realist and naturalist characteristics to the gleaners?

a millet took the figures from mythological sources but rendered them with lifelike detail.
b millet used real people for the figures, but painted them with colors from his imagination.
c millet painted the figures as they really appeared by using solid shapes and earthy colors.
d millet realistically modeled the figures after his friends who posed for him in his studio.

i'm not sure i completely understand your question, but i will do my best.

i think the answer you are looking for is sequence. (see below)

a repeated melodic fragment would be best defined as repetition, while repeated chords (different or the same) could be a chord progression. however, you then mentioned the chord and melodic fragment beginning on higher or lower pitches, in that case, the answer could be best defined as a sequence. the definition of a sequence is as follows: "the restatement of a motif or longer melodic (or harmonic) passage at a higher or lower pitch in the same voice."

let me know if this !