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To appropriately fill in the blanks based on the context of the poem, you could use the following:
The author’s purpose in comparing each “mast and spar” to a **"prison-bar,"** is to **"create a sense of foreboding and emphasize the restrictions imposed by the British presence."**
This comparison helps illustrate the mood and setting of the poem, highlighting themes of oppression and the looming tension of the historical context.