What happened in Book 21 of the Odyssey?

What happened in Book 21 of the Odyssey?

Summary: Book 21 Penelope gets Odysseus’s bow out of the storeroom and announces that she will marry the suitor who can string it and then shoot an arrow through a line of twelve axes. Telemachus sets up the axes and then tries his own hand at the bow, but fails in his attempt to string it.

What line does Odysseus string his bow?

I will set before you the great bow of divine Odysseus, [75] and whosoever shall most easily string the bow in his hands and shoot an arrow through all twelve axes, with him will I go, and forsake this house of my wedded life, a house most fair and filled with livelihood, which, methinks I shall ever remember even in …

What is the theme of the Odyssey Book 21?

A theme of Book 21 is love because Odysseus comes back disguised as someone far lower than him, just to win Penelope back. A symbol in the story is the bow which represents how life was before all of the suitors came and when Odysseus was still king.

Why do Athena Minerva and Penelope set up the test of the bow and the axes?

Minerva now put it in Penelope’s mind to make the suitors try their skill with the bow and with the iron axes, in contest among themselves, as a means of bringing about their destruction.

Why did Odysseus string the bow?

Odysseus then goes outside and reveals his identity to Eumaeus and Philoetius, who promise him their loyalty. Odysseus tells them their part in his plan to slaughter the suitors and goes back to the contest. He strings the bow and shoots his first arrow through the 12 axes and signals Telemachus to begin the slaughter.

Why did Odysseus not take his bow with him to Troy?

Why hadn’t Odysseus taken the bow to Troy? The bow was full of memories of his friend Iphitus; he only used it round the estate. She will marry whoever strings the bow & shoots an arrow through all 12 axes.

What did Odysseus give Eurytus?

But back when Iphitus was searching for them, he had met Odysseus, and given him the bow that mighty Eurytus carried of old, and that, dying in his palace, he had left to his son. And Odysseus had given Iphitus in return a sharp sword and a fine spear as a token of the start of a loving friendship.

What is the summary of book 21 of the Odyssey?

The Odyssey Book 21 Summary & Analysis. LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Odyssey, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Penelope sets out Odysseus’s bow and axes, and announces to the suitors that the archer that can shoot an arrow cleanly through the axes will have her hand in marriage.

How does the LitCharts work in the Odyssey?

LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Odyssey, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Penelope sets out Odysseus’s bow and axes, and announces to the suitors that the archer that can shoot an arrow cleanly through the axes will have her hand in marriage.

How did Penelope set out Odysseus’s bow and axes?

Penelope sets out Odysseus’s bow and axes, and announces to the suitors that the archer that can shoot an arrow cleanly through the axes will have her hand in marriage. Telemachus tries it first, to set an example, but he can’t even string the bow.

What did Odysseus advise Eurymachus to do?

Ancient ideas of glory give way to more human notions of honor. Odysseus reenters the palace, where Eurymachus has just failed to string the bow. Odysseus -the-beggar advises the suitors to rest and pray to the archer god while he himself tries the bow, just to amuse them.