Original Text(~250 words)
THE TRIAL OF THE AXES, DURING WHICH ULYSSES REVEALS HIMSELF TO EUMAEUS AND PHILOETIUS 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. She went upstairs and got the store-room key, which was made of bronze and had a handle of ivory; she then went with her maidens into the store-room at the end of the house, where her husband’s treasures of gold, bronze, and wrought iron were kept, and where was also his bow, and the quiver full of deadly arrows that had been given him by a friend whom he had met in Lacedaemon—Iphitus the son of Eurytus. The two fell in with one another in Messene at the house of Ortilochus, where Ulysses was staying in order to recover a debt that was owing from the whole people; for the Messenians had carried off three hundred sheep from Ithaca, and had sailed away with them and with their shepherds. In quest of these Ulysses took a long journey while still quite young, for his father and the other chieftains sent him on a mission to recover them. Iphitus had gone there also to try and get back twelve brood mares that he had lost, and the mule foals that were running with them. These mares were the death of him in the end, for when he went to the house of Jove’s...
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Summary
Penelope announces a contest that will determine her future husband: whoever can string Odysseus's mighty bow and shoot an arrow through twelve axes will win her hand. This isn't just a random test—it's the perfect setup for Odysseus to reclaim what's his. The suitors eagerly accept, confident in their strength, but none can even string the bow. Meanwhile, Odysseus reveals his true identity to his two most loyal servants, Eumaeus the swineherd and Philoetius the cowherd, showing them his famous boar-hunting scar as proof. Their emotional reunion demonstrates the power of unwavering loyalty—these men never stopped hoping for their master's return. When Odysseus, still disguised as a beggar, asks for a turn with the bow, the suitors mock and threaten him. But Penelope and Telemachus support his request, recognizing something the suitors miss. The chapter builds to its climactic moment: Odysseus strings the bow effortlessly, like a skilled musician tuning his instrument, and sends an arrow clean through all twelve axes. Thunder crashes overhead—Zeus himself signals approval. This moment represents the culmination of twenty years of suffering, planning, and patience. Odysseus has proven he's still the man he always was, and now the real reckoning begins. The contest reveals character under pressure and shows how true skill, once mastered, never truly leaves you.
That's what happens. To understand what the author is really doing—and to discuss this chapter with confidence—keep reading.
Terms to Know
Contest of Strength
A public competition designed to prove worthiness, often for marriage or leadership. In ancient cultures, physical prowess demonstrated a man's ability to protect and provide. The bow contest isn't random—it's specifically Odysseus's bow, meaning only he can truly master it.
Modern Usage:
We still use competitions to prove worthiness—job interviews, sports tryouts, or even dating apps where people showcase their best qualities.
Divine Intervention
When gods directly influence human events. Athena puts the contest idea in Penelope's mind, and Zeus sends thunder when Odysseus succeeds. The gods are actively orchestrating this reunion and the suitors' downfall.
Modern Usage:
We talk about 'signs from above' or 'everything happening for a reason' when events align perfectly.
Recognition Scene
A dramatic moment when someone's true identity is revealed through proof like scars, birthmarks, or special knowledge. Odysseus shows his scar to prove who he is to his loyal servants.
Modern Usage:
We see this in movies when the long-lost relative proves their identity, or when someone returns home after years away.
Loyalty Test
Situations that reveal who can be trusted when everything is at stake. Odysseus tests his servants before revealing himself, and their unwavering faithfulness proves their character.
Modern Usage:
Crisis situations show who your real friends are—who stays when times get tough versus who disappears.
Hubris
Dangerous overconfidence that leads to downfall. The suitors are so arrogant they can't imagine the beggar could be their superior. Their pride blinds them to the obvious signs.
Modern Usage:
When people get so cocky they stop paying attention to warning signs and walk into disaster.
Ritual Combat
Formalized fighting or competition with specific rules that everyone agrees to follow. The bow contest has clear terms, and once begun, it must be completed according to tradition.
Modern Usage:
Legal proceedings, sports championships, or any formal competition where rules matter more than raw power.
Characters in This Chapter
Penelope
Strategic wife
She announces the bow contest that will determine her fate, but this isn't surrender—it's brilliant strategy. She knows only Odysseus could string his own bow, so she's creating the perfect opportunity for his return.
Modern Equivalent:
The spouse who sets up the perfect scenario for their partner to succeed
Odysseus
Hidden protagonist
Still disguised as a beggar, he reveals himself to trusted allies and prepares for his moment. When he strings the bow effortlessly, twenty years of patience and planning culminate in this perfect demonstration of his identity.
Modern Equivalent:
The undercover boss about to reveal themselves and clean house
Eumaeus
Loyal servant
The swineherd who never lost faith in Odysseus's return. His emotional reaction to learning his master's identity shows the depth of true loyalty and the pain of long separation.
Modern Equivalent:
The employee who stayed loyal to the company through all the tough times
Philoetius
Faithful cowherd
Another servant who remained true to Odysseus despite twenty years of uncertainty. His inclusion in the recognition scene shows Odysseus values loyalty over social status.
Modern Equivalent:
The blue-collar worker who proves more trustworthy than the executives
The Suitors
Overconfident antagonists
They eagerly accept the contest, certain of victory, but fail completely at stringing the bow. Their mockery of the beggar's request to try shows their fatal arrogance.
Modern Equivalent:
The bullies who pick on someone they think is weak, not knowing they're about to get schooled
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to separate genuine capability from impressive presentation, especially when stakes are high.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when pressure situations reveal who actually delivers versus who just talks—during busy shifts, family crises, or workplace emergencies.
You have the foundation. Now let's look closer.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"As when a man skilled in the lyre and in song easily stretches a string about a new peg, making the twisted sheep-gut fast at either end, so without effort did Odysseus string the great bow."
Context: When Odysseus finally gets his hands on his own bow after twenty years
This simile compares stringing the bow to tuning a musical instrument, emphasizing skill over brute strength. It shows that true expertise, once mastered, never leaves you—and that Odysseus is still the man he always was.
In Today's Words:
Like a guitarist who can tune their instrument in the dark, Odysseus made it look effortless because he'd done it a thousand times before.
"Zeus thundered loud from Olympus, and the heart of Odysseus was glad at the omen from the son of crooked-counseled Kronos."
Context: Right after Odysseus shoots the arrow through all twelve axes
The thunder is divine approval—Zeus himself signals that justice is about to be served. This moment marks the transition from hiding to action, from patience to payback.
In Today's Words:
The universe itself seemed to say 'It's about time' when everything finally came together.
"My master, if only he might come home and take vengeance on these men who woo his wife and devour his substance!"
Context: Before he knows the beggar is actually Odysseus
This shows the depth of loyal servants' pain watching their master's home being destroyed. Their wish is about to come true in ways they can't imagine.
In Today's Words:
If only the boss would come back and fire all these people who are ruining everything!
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Proving Ground Truth
Authentic skill and character are revealed only when tested under real pressure, separating genuine capability from empty posturing.
Thematic Threads
Identity
In This Chapter
Odysseus reveals his true self to loyal servants while maintaining his beggar disguise with enemies
Development
Evolved from earlier disguises—now identity becomes strategic weapon
In Your Life:
You might reveal different aspects of yourself to different people based on trust and circumstances
Class
In This Chapter
Servants show more loyalty and wisdom than aristocratic suitors who mock the 'beggar'
Development
Continued theme showing worth isn't determined by social position
In Your Life:
You might find your most reliable allies aren't always the ones with the highest status
Skill
In This Chapter
True mastery (stringing the bow) can't be faked and doesn't fade with time
Development
New focus on how genuine competence differs from pretense
In Your Life:
You might discover that skills you've truly mastered stay with you even after long periods of not using them
Recognition
In This Chapter
Penelope and Telemachus sense something special about the beggar while suitors see only surface
Development
Building on earlier scenes of gradual recognition
In Your Life:
You might recognize authentic quality in people that others overlook or dismiss
Patience
In This Chapter
Twenty years of preparation culminate in this perfect moment of opportunity
Development
Climax of the patience theme—showing how long preparation pays off
In Your Life:
You might find that years of steady work suddenly pay off when the right opportunity appears
Modern Adaptation
When the Promotion Goes Sideways
Following Omar's story...
After eight years as a line cook, Omar applies for head chef at the diner where they've quietly kept things running. Management announces they'll decide based on who can handle the Saturday night rush solo—the ultimate test. Three other candidates step forward: the flashy new hire who talks about culinary school, the day-shift supervisor who's never worked a weekend, and the owner's nephew who shows up late most days. They all act confident, dismissing Omar as 'just another lifer.' But when Saturday hits—three birthday parties, a bus tour, and two servers calling in sick—the truth emerges. The culinary school grad burns the steaks while trying to impress. The supervisor hides in the office. The nephew disappears entirely. Meanwhile, Omar moves like water through the chaos: adjusting orders on the fly, coaching the remaining servers, keeping food flowing while maintaining quality. By closing time, even the skeptical owner sees what the regular customers always knew—some skills can't be faked when the heat is on.
The Road
The road Odysseus walked in ancient Greece, Omar walks today. The pattern is identical: when pressure reveals truth, authentic skill separates from empty posturing, and those who've done the real work finally get recognition.
The Map
This chapter provides the Proving Ground Navigation System—how to recognize when someone's real capabilities are being tested versus their reputation. Omar can use it to prepare for moments when their actual skills matter more than their job title.
Amplification
Before reading this, Omar might have doubted their worth because they lack formal credentials or flashy achievements. Now they can NAME the difference between performance and competence, PREDICT when pressure will expose truth, and NAVIGATE their own proving ground moments with confidence in what they've actually mastered.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why does Penelope choose the bow contest specifically, and what does it reveal about her understanding of her husband?
analysis • surface - 2
What's the difference between how the suitors approach the bow versus how Odysseus does, and what does this tell us about true skill versus assumed ability?
analysis • medium - 3
Think about job interviews, sports tryouts, or performance reviews you've experienced. When have you seen someone's real abilities exposed under pressure?
application • medium - 4
If you were preparing for your own 'bow contest moment' - a high-stakes test of your abilities - how would you build genuine confidence rather than false bravado?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter suggest about the relationship between patience, preparation, and the right moment to reveal your true capabilities?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Design Your Own Proving Ground Test
Think of a skill or quality you claim to have - leadership, reliability, problem-solving, etc. Design a specific, practical test that would actually prove whether you possess this ability under pressure. What would separate real competence from just talking a good game?
Consider:
- •The test should involve real stakes or consequences, not just comfortable practice
- •Consider what would expose the difference between theory and actual experience
- •Think about how stress or time pressure might reveal authentic ability versus surface-level knowledge
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you discovered your actual abilities were different from what you thought they were - either stronger or weaker than expected. What did that moment teach you about the difference between confidence and competence?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 22: Justice and Consequences
The coming pages reveal to recognize when someone's actions have crossed the point of no return, and teach us the difference between justice and revenge in restoring order. These discoveries help us navigate similar situations in our own lives.