Which ballad convention is used in “Ballad of Birmingham”?
I. the use of a refrain
II. a story about a tragic event
III. an innocent questioner and wise responder

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 -

the answer is definitely option c. "sonnet xxxi best illustrates the division. in the octave, the poet observes that the moon is in love. in the sestet, he gives his reaction to the fickleness of woman's love."