The Challenge Alex Li and Tyler Dubbs

Home At Last Odysseus traveled for ten hard years after the Trojan war and is finally home. He has faced many difficulties and trials Sees that his wife has not cheated on him but is being pressured to remarry and his home is filled with Suitors Odysseus is disguised as a beggar to hide his identity

Characters Odysseus- a skilled and wise warrior who has just returned home after 20 years abroad, only to find his home infested with suitors trying to marry his wife. Penelope- Odysseus’ cunning wife who has avoided marriage in wait for Odysseus but is running out of time Suitors- men that wish to marry Penelope and gain control of the kingdom

Penelope’s Challenge Penelope is pressured by suitors and finally says she will marry the winner of her challenge. One must shoot and arrow through the handle sockets of 12 axes using Odysseus’ bow.

Odysseus’s Turn Other suitors fail Odysseus takes his turn, meticulously examining his old bow “See how he handles it, the sly old buzzard” line 1367 Conflict: Person vs. Person- the other suitors look down on what they see as old beggar and mock him Conflict: Person vs. Self- Odysseus must maintain his emotions to kill the other suitors

Stunning the Crowd Odysseus picks up the bow and plucks the bow string so that it sings like a swallow’s note The suitors are silenced and the sound impacts the gods “Then Zeus thundered overhead, one loud crack for a sign.” Line 1380 He knocks an arrow and fires through all 12 axe handles

Home At Last The winner is Odysseus “The hour has come to cook their lordships mutton” line 1398 Lessons: Don’t judge someone based on their appearance. Patience pays off.

Discussion Why did Odysseus choose to reveal his identity in this manner? What does this show about his personality? What if he missed?