Final answer:
References to dogs barking in literature often provide atmospheric details, set the mood, or parallel character emotions within a narrative. Examples include symbolizing distress, illustrating solitude, and enhancing the sense of the natural world around the characters.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase "somewhere a big dog barked" and similar references to canines in literature often serve to set a mood, define a setting, or underscore the emotions of characters. Authors use these mentions to create a sense of realism or to invoke an atmospheric element in their narratives.
For instance, barking dogs in literature can imply solitude, foreboding, or outline an aspect of the natural world encroaching upon the human experience. We see diverse contexts: dogs barking as a representation of distress and desolation, suggesting vigilance or a protective presence, indicating isolation, or simply as a background to human activity.
Examples from the given texts unveil various situations where these references are vital to the story. In the scenario of the bull terrier dying of gastritis, the barking is a prelude to introspection and perhaps a hint at the suffering around the protagonist. While the answer of coyotes barking in the sage adds a depth of loneliness mixed with an intertwined sentiment of safety in nature's cradle.
The roaring, which resembles a dog's bark in the third example, creates tension and the anticipation of danger. Observing such literary techniques enhances comprehension of the rich layers behind the narrative and its emotional landscape.