The best response to how the interaction between the speaker and the sage develops the theme of the poem is:
B It creates a positive change in the thoughts of the speaker.
In the poem, the speaker initially expresses feelings of being lost in their mind and struggling with darkness and troubles. The presence of the sage and the wisdom shared provides a shift in perspective, leading the speaker to realize that they are not confined to their troubled thoughts and that there is a way to rise above them. The realization at the end indicates a transformation from being lost to a sense of clarity and enlightenment.