Final answer:
Christina Rossetti's "Up-Hill" uses both symbolism and allegory, with symbolic images such as the journey up a hill reflecting life's challenges and the inn representing a final place of rest, which could symbolize heaven or the end of life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The poem "Up-Hill" by Christina Rossetti uses both symbolism and allegory to convey its message, making option (c) the correct answer. Rossetti employs figurative language, such as metaphors and symbolism, by describing the journey up a hill as a challenging and possibly wearisome life journey. This journey symbolizes the various trials and tribulations one might encounter throughout life. Furthermore, the poem serves as an allegory for a spiritual voyage towards salvation or perhaps the afterlife, wherein the inn represents heaven or rest at the end of a life well-lived.
As a literary device, an allegory is a story that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral, religious, or political one, whereas symbolism involves using images and symbols to represent ideas or qualities in a more layered and nuanced manner. "Up-Hill" does not provide a straightforward narrative devoid of deeper meanings; instead, it is rich with symbolic and allegorical elements. The imagery used throughout the poem suggests a universal journey, with the 'inn' symbolizing a final place of rest - a metaphor for the end of life or a spiritual destination. This multilayered approach to storytelling is characteristic of Rossetti's poetic style.