Telemachos awakes and decides to check on his mother, Penelope. He leaves orders that Eumaios is to bring the known beggar to town during the day so that he can beg for food. Penelope is very excited to see that her son is alive, and asks Telemachos the status of her husband Odysseus. Telemachos tells her to be patient. He then demands her to take a bath, then when she's done, to pray to Zeus that he will help them with their revenge against the suitors.
Book 18
The beggar Iros, who begs at Odysseus's hall, sees the new person and says that the town isn't big enough for the both of them.
They start insulting each other.
Antinoös, seeing these two going at each other, spurs them on, since everyone loves a good fight. He promises a prize of fat blood pudding to the winner.
Telemachos reassures beggar Odysseus that the crowd will watch his back.
Iros is hesitant to be in this fight and wants to back out, but Antinoös threatens to have him beaten and castrated if the new beggar wins against him.
Odysseus decides to be merciful and strike Iros only once in the jaw. Amphinomos restores the peace by turning their attention to the banquet and away from the fighting.
Book 19
Odysseus, still disguised as the beggar, tells Telemachos to remove the suitors' weapons from the great hall, as planned.
Telemachos tells Eurykleia to go hide the women in their rooms while he does so.
Penelope hears that her husband will be retiring soon, she is very happy to hear that news.
The beggar describes Odysseus's clothing, weapons, and men so perfectly that Penelope weeps.
Penelope is a little unsure, yet she offers the man a bath, clothes, and bed for the night.
Penelope really starts to lose hope and isn't convinced. She tells him that she's so tired of the courtship that she'll end it tomorrow with a contest: the suitors must string Odysseus's old bow and shoot an arrow through twelve consecutive axe heads. She will marry the suitor who wins it.
Yet the Beggar still tries to reassure her. Still unconvinced she leaves him and goes to bed.
Book 20
Beggar Odysseus goes to bed on the floor outside of Penelope's room, but has trouble falling asleep, because of his anticipation for the contest the next day.
He sees some of the maids slipping out to go sleep with the suitors. He's disappointed at the maids' betrayal but doesn't say anything.
Athene arrives and to give Odysseus some advice, while Penelope cries in her room.
She prays for death and then dreams that Odysseus comes back, but of course doesn't believe the good omen.
Odysseus wakes up the next morning and asks Zeus for a sign that he was meant to come home.
Zeus hears and sends a thunderclap through a perfectly clear sky.
A maid hears the thunder clap and knows Zeus must be around and listening. She prays that all her hard work to feed the greedy suitors will soon be over.
Everyone seems to be really high-strung and just anticipating bloodshed.
Characters:
Telemachos
Odysseus
Penelope
Zeus
Athena
Eurymachos
Artemis
Melanthios
Anphinomos
Antinoos
Eumaios
Iros
Euryclia
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