The Odyssey is an ancient Greek poem that tells the story of the 10-year journey of Odysseus, “the cunning hero,” as he tries to return home after fighting in the Trojan War. The opening lines are as follows: Speak, Memory — Of the cunning hero, The wanderer, blown off course time and again After he plundered Troy’s sacred heights. Speak Of all the cities he saw, the minds he grasped, The suffering deep in his heart at sea As he struggled to survive and bring his men home But could not save them, hard as he tried — The fools — destroyed by their own recklessness When they ate the oxen of Hyperion the Sun, And that god snuffed out their day of return.

Which of the following is the most likely explanation for how the structure of the poem contributes to its meaning?

A. The description of a hero’s journey, an epic characteristic, shows that the story will contain many parts.

B. The epic poem's depiction of suffering makes it clear that the purpose of the story is to offer a lesson in how to behave.


C. The lyric poem's lack of rhyming suggests that the author is a beginning poet who is more sincere than skilled.


D. The indented lines, a lyric characteristic, shows that deep feelings cannot always be communicated in words.