Read the excerpt from the odyssey. but when he knew he heard odysseus' voice nearby, he did his best to wag his tail, nose down, with flattened ears, having no strength to move nearer his master. and the man looked away, wiping a salt tear from his cheek: but he hid this from eumaeus. which theme do these lines support? loyalty and fidelity are precious traits. overconfidence can lead one to danger. making snap judgments is often very unwise. love and family make a homecoming worthwhile.

The theme that these lines support is loyalty and fidelity are precious traits.

This excerpt presents Odysseus's dog, Argos, who waits for his master to return home for more than 20 years and, unlike his friend Eumaneus, recognizes Odysseus at once, even though he is in disguise. This shows that, although many years have passed, Argos has remained loyal to his master. However, when he sees him, he is not capable of greeting Odysseus because he is too sick and old. Moreover, Odysseus does not greet the dog either in order for people not to realize who he truly is.