Well a theme is the central message and lesson, so the way I learned is to come up with possible morals of the novel, then find evidence for each one, see which one is best supported, and use that one. If you think that will take too long, just find possible morals, then keep ruling them out until the one that makes the most sense is left, then find evidence for only that one.
Hope I helped you.
The answer is: D. understatement.
An understatement is the display of something as minor, worse or less significant than it actually is. In this case, the idea is treated casually or downplayed, which means somebody makes it appear less important than it is.
The rest of the options are incorrect because a hyperbole is an exaggeration not meant to be taken literally; a paradox is a statement that sounds reasonable but its conclusion does not make sense or is contradictory, and an irony means the opposite of what is being said.
Antinous protests that Penelope (his mother) has led the suitors on, and held them there longer with tricks ' like weaving of laertes' pall'
