Read the excerpt from part 2 of the odyssey. we would entreat you, great sir, have a care for the gods' courtesy; zeus will avenge the unoffending guest.' he answered this from his brute chest, unmoved: 'you are a ninny, or else you come from the other end of nowhere, telling me, mind the gods! we cyclopes care not a whistle for your thundering zeus.
what theme is best revealed by this conflict?
a. it is important to use manners in new situations.
b. it is wise to know the enemy you face.
c. guests should honor the traditions of their hosts.
d. guests should offer gifts to their hosts.

B. It is wise to know the enemy you face.

Explanation: In the given excerpt from part 2 of "The Odyssey" by Homer, we can see the development of the theme that it is wise to know the enemy you face. This is expressed in the way the Cyclops is warned to have a care for the gods and to be polite because "Zeus will avenge the unoffending guest" but the Cyclops doesn't care about what Zeus says or wants, and he thinks he doesn't need to have any courtesy.

The correct option is B. It is wise to know the enemy you face.

Further Explanation:

The excerpt from the epic speaks about the proud nature of Odysseus. When Odysseus and his men landed on the island of Cyclopes, they got caught by Cyclops. Cyclops was the son of Poseidon, the Lord of the Sea, who had an eye. It was an evil creature who captured Odysseus and his men in his cave. With shrewdness and trick, Odysseus blinded him and escaped from his cave. As they were sailing off the Island of Cyclopes, Poseidon started to avenge them by turning the weather into a fatal one. In this process, the crew and their ship sailed to the place far off from their intended one. After Odysseus blinded Cyclopes by deceiving him, he raged in proud of himself and his bravery. He stands as an example of proud which humans fall into after they achieve something. Later, he had to face the outcome from the enemy's side as a reaction from Cyclopes father when they were in the sea. One of the themes which are revealed by the given excerpt is that a clear vision should be used to understand the strength of the enemy.      

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Answer details:

Grade: Higher

Subject: English

Chapter: “Odysseus”

Keywords:  Odysseus, island of Cyclopes, the son of Poseidon,  blinded Cyclopes.