Final answer:
In 'The Odyssey,' Tiresias is a blind prophet in the Land of the Dead who provides Odysseus with the knowledge he needs to return to Ithaca and warns him of the challenges he will face.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Homer's The Odyssey, Tiresias is a blind prophet who inhabits the Land of the Dead. He plays a crucial role in the plot by providing Odysseus with essential information needed to successfully return to his home in Ithaca after the Trojan War. During a nekyia, which is a rite by which the living converse with the dead, Odysseus consults Tiresias to find out how to appease the gods and secure his journey back home. Tiresias forewarns Odysseus about the challenges he would face on his voyage, including the allure of the Sirens, the dangers of Scylla and Charybdis, and the consequence of his men eating the sun god Helios's cattle. This prophetic advice shapes Odysseus's actions moving forward and is instrumental in the development of the plot as it prepares Odysseus for the trials ahead and ultimately aids in his return to Ithaca.