Odyssey+21

Summary:
Athene equipped Penelope to face the suitors with bows and axes made of iron. She calls down over the suitors, eyes filled with tears and says she will marry whoever can shoot Odysseus's bow through 12 axes without hitting any of them. Eumeaus and the cowman start crying when Penelope confronts them, ordering them to give the bow to the suitors. Antinous looks to them and tells them to stop their sniveling. Antinous is the first to try and fails. Telemachus even offers to try, not to win his mother's hand, but to prove to himself that he can win the grand prizes his father had won year earlier. When he attempts, he tries 4 times before giving up from a sign form Odysseus to quit. He whines that he is weak or perhaps simply to young. He then allows the competition to resume itself. After Leodes failed and spoke to the men, they decided to "even the odds" by warming and greasing the bow before stringing it. So far, stringing the bow was seeming to be the greatest challenge. During all of this commotion, Odysseus, still in disguise, snuck off to speak with the swineherd and cowman. He asked them if Odysseus were to return be some blessing from the gods, would they be on his side or the suitors'. Seeing that cowman literally started preying right then and there by asking Zeus to return Odysseus, Odysseus showed them a scar near his heart from a boar's tusk that they would recognize. The cowman and swineherd showered him with kisses in utter joy that he had returned. He hushes their tears and gives them strict instructions. They are to come in one at a time, their cue will be when suitors refuse to give him a try. Eumaeus then has to give him the bow. They have to tell the women to lock the door so they cannot hear the men because the noises might startle them. The cowman has to lock the courtyard gate. When he returns, he sees Antinous convincing the other men to wait until tomorrow to continue their attempts to fire the arrow. Odysseus asks for his turn, which angers the men. They fear that he might actually string the bow, but they refuse to admit it. Antinous and Penelope argue over if he should be allowed to or not. Eventually Telemachus cuts them off and tells his ,other to go to bed. Once she obeys, the swineherd and cowman go to work preparing the tasks that Odysseus had instructed them to do. Finally Odysseus takes the bow He examines it carefully. With a pluck of his right hand, it rings and Zeus sounds a thunderclap that draws the color from the astonished suitors' faces. This is when Odysseus grabs an arrow and strings all 12 axes without missing a single one. He dismisses everyone to dinner and Telemachus goes to his side.

Major Themes (and where they are):
Divine Intervention Female Role Growth and Development of Telemachus Loyalty Disguise

Locations Traveled (and mentioned):
Ithaca

Study Guide Questions:
Athene inspires Penelope to confront the Suitors in the palace with the bow and the axes of grey iron that were to be a test of their skill and the instruments of their destruction.
 * What does Athene inspire Penelope to do at the beginning of the chapter?**

Odysseus has a friend named Iphitus that is Ruueytus' son. Iphitus gives the bow to Odysseus when they met in Lacedaemon. But finally Iphitus was killed by Zeus' son Heracles.
 * Briefly describe the story behind Odysseus’ bow.**

Penelope says that whoever strings the bow most easily and shoots an arrow through every one of these twelve axes, she will go with that man.
 * Explain the challenge Penelope gives to the suitors.**

He also joins the contest. He says that if he win the contest, his mother will stay here and does not go with any men.
 * What does Telemachus do for the contest?**

Because he losses the contest.
 * Why is Telemachus frustrated?**

**What does Odysseus ask the cowman and the swineherd?** Odysseus asks the cowman and the swineherd if Odysseus suddenly came back, which line they will take? Would they be on the Suitor's side or his? "

**How do they respond?** They will stand the side of Odysseus. They want Odysseus comes back home as soon as possible.

**What does Odysseus do in return? **  In return, Odysseus gives Iphitus a sharp sword and a strong spear as a token on friendship.

 **What does Odysseus instruct the men to do? **  He tells the man to stop crying.

 **What is Eurymachus so upset about?**  the thought of the failure with the bow proves that they are weak compared to Odysseus and they will be in disgrace forever.

 **What does Antinous compare Odysseus’ “drunken” suggestion to?**  He compares Odysseus to Eurytion and how it was wine that stupefied him in Peirithous' palace during his visit to Lapithae.

 **What does Penelope say she will give the beggar if he strings the bow?**  a new clock and tunic, a javelin, a two-edged sword, and she will see him safely to wherever he wants to go.

 **What happens at the moment Odysseus strings the bow?** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> **a great thunderclap from Zeus came**