Finally, the dog came straggling in the back door. which explains the meaning indicated by the underlined word? the dog came home soon after he left. the dog came home in the morning. the dog had been out in the rain. the dog had been gone for a while.

I would think The dog had been gone for a while.

The dog had been gone for a while

Explanation:

hello,

your answer is a) the metaphor suggests that the poetic themes are serious and dark.

collins is comparing the poem to a dark room. he is suggesting that the poems theme is serious and wants you to understand it. you don't need to understand the poet in order to understand the poem. you also don't need to move around while reading it. he is simply saying the poem has a dark and serious theme.

- i.a -