The theme that best established the conflict in this passage is:
Advances in technology can lead to devastation.
In a way the author tries to explain that even with our incredible technological advances and superior knowledge, the gods can have the possibility of destroying themselves with nuclear weapons.
Personification has been used
I would have to say it's part of the theme.
Morality and politics is the ethos of the story, aka origin aka theme.
With-out a theme there would be no plot...and no setting.
So...
C. Theme
I would say its D because it rhymed best to me like seeming (a) then appear(b) esteeming(a) where(b) spring (a) and d is only with ababa