Final answer:
Had Odysseus and his men not plundered the land of Ismarus, they could have avoided divine wrath and possibly expedited their return home to Ithaca.
Step-by-step explanation:
If Odysseus and his men had not plundered the land of Ismarus, as described in books one through eight of Homer's Odyssey, it is likely they would have avoided the severe consequences that followed their actions. Instead of facing divine retribution and suffering losses, they might have continued their journey home without further divine impediments. Their plundering attracted the wrath of the gods, particularly Zeus, which eventually led to severe punishment, including the loss of men and ships. Had they avoided this act, their voyage could have been smoother and perhaps their return to Ithaca more swift. It is an example of how, in ancient literature, moral choices directly impact the characters' fates.