Authors: 260
Books: 2,712
Poems & Short Stories: 3,817
Forum Members: 50,380
Forum Posts: 577,669

Subscribe for ad free access & additional features.
Teacher Accounts with student management and more.

Summary Book XXI

Book 21
Penelope brings forth Odysseus' bow and announces the contest of the axes. The suitors attempt, in turn, to string the bow but none can bend it. Odysseus reveals his identity to Eumaeus and Philoetius and orders them to have all the gates barred. Meantime, Eurymachus and Antinous decline to enter the contest. Odysseus demands a try but the suitors are afraid lest he succeed where they have failed. Eumaeus brings him the bow, which Odysseus strings, and he shoots an arrow clean through the axeholes. At a sign from Odysseus, Telemachus straps on his sword and stands by his father.

Attention Bookworms:

Buying from Amazon.com? Check out the Amazon Coupons first so you get the best deal.

Shakespeare wrote over 150 sonnets!
Join our Sonnet-A-Day Newsletter and read them all, one at a time. As Seen In: USA Today "Hot Sites"