C. who or what the passage is about
I believe its a metaphor.
The answer is: Except for A) Researching the background of the author.
It is not necessary for you to know the background of the author for you to comprehend a memoir.
The last one, Before his European travel- the highlight of his summer-... ect.
is the right answer
And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
