Read the passage from The Odyssey - Teiresias.

Question

But anguish lies ahead;
the god who thunders on the land prepares it,
not to be shaken from your track, implacable,
in rancor for the son whose eye you blinded.
One narrow strait may take you through his blows:
denial of yourself, restraint of shipmates.
When you make landfall on Thrinakia first
and quit the violet sea, dark on the land
you'll find the grazing herds of Helios
by whom all things are seen, all speech is known.
Avoid those kine, hold fast to your intent,
and hard seafaring brings you all to Ithaka.
But if you raid the beeves, I see destruction
for ship and crew.

Which theme is reflected in the passage?

It is important to take responsibility for your actions.
Long-term goals are more important than short-term gains.
The true measure of wisdom is overcoming your pride.
The advantage of travel is that it teaches you to value home.

Answer 1

The theme reflected in the passage is "It is important to take responsibility for your actions." This is evident through the warning given by Teiresias to Odysseus about the consequences of his past actions, specifically blinding the son of the god who thunders on the land. Teiresias advises Odysseus to avoid the grazing herds of Helios, as raiding them would lead to destruction for his ship and crew. This suggests that Odysseus must take responsibility for his actions and refrain from committing further mistakes.