Final answer:
In Book 16 of the Iliad, it is Patroclus who fulfills the prophecy and brings death to Sarpedon while wearing Achilles' armor. The intertwined themes of fate, divine intervention, and human valor are highlighted through this and other narratives within the epic. Option D is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Book 16 of the Iliad, the prophecy regarding Sarpedon, the son of Zeus, unfolds during a fierce battle. Sarpedon's fate is tied to the broader theme of the poem, where valor and heroism stand alongside destiny and the whims of the gods.
Among the notable characters of the Iliad, Achilles is a central figure whose life is also shaped by prophecy, and Ajax another hero meets a tragic end. Both heroes are depicted in the arts, such as on an ancient amphora that poignantly captures the essence of their fates. However, with regard to Sarpedon's death, it is Patroclus who, wearing Achilles' armor, fulfills the grim prophecy by bringing about Sarpedon's demise.
Thus, the correct answer to the student's question is d. Patroclus. This episode further accentuates the tragic nature of war, a pervasive theme throughout the epic poem. Also noteworthy is the interaction between the divine and mortal realms, with the gods often intervening in human affairs, as seen in the tragic episode of Laocoön and his sons.