Book+XXI

=The Odyssey-Book XXI (: = = = = Odysseus = ​ In book XXI, Penelope, like many unwilling princesses of myth, fary tale, and legend, proposes an impossible task for those who wish to marry her. The test involves stringing Odysseus' huge bow, an impossible feat for anyone except Odysseus himself.

Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, travels to his own home with the swine heard. Telemecus knows his father is the beggar and "plays along" pretending his father is really a beggar. When Odysseus arrives at his own home he is treated very badly. The suiters treat him badly especially Anntioos. He wouldn't give Odysseus food scraps when he asked the suiters. When Antinoos became angry with Odysseus he threw a foot stool at him, it didn't harm or move Odysseus. Penelope wishes to speak to the beggar (Odysseus, although she doesn't know it). She wants to know if he has any news on her husband. Because she still loves him and believes he is still alive. The beggar sends a message to Penelope telling her that he has seen her husband and asked her to wait until sunset to meet with him, because he doesn't want to cause a riot with the suiters. When The beggar finally meets with Penelope he tells her that Odysseus will return home and when he does he will reclaim his kingdom and kill the suiters.Odysseus has still not returned home, and the suiters are bothering Penelope, telling her that Odysseus is dead and it's time for her to choose one of them. So Penelope proposes a test. She says that the man who can String Odysseus' big bow, and shoot an arrow through three axe heads, can marry her. Secretly Penelope is hoping that none of the suiters would be able to string the bow. She is still faithful to Odysseus even though it has been around 20 years since she has seen him. **Penelope**

The most important event in the book is when the suiters attempt to string Odysseus' big bow and shoot the arrowns through the tree axe heads, which none are successful, so Odysseus (the beggar) asks if he could try to string the bow. The suiters laugh at him and mock him. Then Odysseus reveals himself and strings his bow and shoots the arrow through the axe heads. The suiters are surprised and angry. Then can't believe Odysseus is alive, and all of their hope of marrying Penelope is gone.

Odysseus is at the part of his hero cycle when he gets revenge on the people who betrayed him. In this case the suiters who have been tormenting his wife. Some of the suiters would fight, others would beg for thier lives.
 * //"Spare me Odysseus, i pray! Have mercy apon me! I declare that i never meddled with the women in this house..."//**