A symbol is a mark, sign or word that is meant to indicate or represent an idea, object, or relationship. Symbols create linkes between concepts that would otherwise be very different. In this case, the impact and influence of the council is described as smoke that other nations will be able to see. Therefore, smoke is used as a symbol.
Elizabeth should ask, "Which traits show Theseus's heroism?" using a current article from a scholarly website for research. A scholarly website is a more reliable source of information than a newspaper article published in 1990 that most likely didn't have anything to do with this subject.
