Books 21 - 24 Summary

Book 21 - 24: Penelope brings down Odysseus' bow and explains the game to the suitors, in which one of them will marry her if they win. All the suitors fail to string the bow. Odysseus reveals his identity in secret to Eumaios and Philiotos. They postpone the game to make a sacrifice and Odysseus asks to take a try at it, but Antinoos refuses. But Penelope lets him and he string the bow and shoots through the axeheads.
Odysseus proves himself by making the shot, and shoots Antinoos through the throat with a bow. The suitors freak out and look for weapons but can't find any, but they threaten Odysseus, and he threatened them back. Eurymachos attacks Odysseus but he kills him. Telemachos collects weapons and armor for his father, Eumaios and Philiotos but he leaves the storage room open and Melanthios took weapons and armor to the suitors. Athena appears in the form of Mentor, and the suitors threaten Mentor not to join Odysseus. After all the suitors die, Odysseus asks Euryclia which of the maids were disloyal. Odysseus makes the twelve disloyal maids clean up the blood and corpses of the suitors. Then, he had Telemachos hang them outside.
Penelope is told by Euryclia that Odysseus is back, but she does not believe her. Odysseus and Telemachos set up a fake wedding plan to make the people of Ithaca believe that the suitors are still alive. Later, Odysseus tells Penelope about their secret bed he maid with a tree trunk and she finally believes he is her husband, the rest of the night they talk. The next day Odysseus leaves to go visit his father with the herdsman and Telemachos.
Hermes lead the suitors into Hades, where they meet Achilles and Agamemnon. The suitor Amphimion tells Agamemnon how they all died. Agamemnon then responds with the comparison of the faithful Penelope to his own murderous wife. At the same time, Odysseus arrives at Laertes house. Laertes doesn't recognize him but Odysseus gives himself a fake identity and speaks of Odysseus. Laertes becomes very sad so Odysseus reveals himself and they reunite and go inside to eat. Meanwhile, in town, the goddess Rumor bandies spreads the word about the suitors death and all hell breaks loose when Eupeithes want revenge for his son Antinoos' death. Eupeithes leads a group of men to Laertes house but, Athena disguised as Mentor commands peace between them.