Telemachus leaves from Eumaeus's hut and goes to his palace and goes straight to his Mom. There he tells her of the news that he had received about Odysseus on the journey, not telling her that he has already seen him. At night, Odysseus and Eumaeus travel to town in hopes of going to the palace. When they arrive at the palace, they are offered food. Odysseus sees old dog Argos, he passes away when he sees him. Odysseus asks for some extra food from other suitors when a man named Antinous insults him unnecessarily. Odysseus insults back and Antinous hits him and even the suitors are disgusted. Penelope hears this happen and tells Eumaeus that he must offer the beggar a room to stay and that he must talk to Penelope. Odysseus thinks and does not go up because he does not want the suitors to see him go to see Penelope. Eumaeus then heads back to his hut and Odysseus, Telemachus, and the suitors remain in the room.

Odysseus arrives at the palace and sees he dog Argos who had waited for him the whole time. Then in the moment he dies in front of him. When he enters the building he is offereced scraps that he devours. He then asks the other suitors for extra food and is not offered. Then a man named Antinous beats him up. Odysseus then stays in the room hurt.

Telemachus goes to his Mom as tells her everything about the voyage except that he saw Odysseus. Later when Odysseus is beaten, he tells the suitor to stop.

Penelope hears the stories of Telemachus and is very happy to see him sage and healthy. Later in the night when she hears about the suitor attacking the beggar, she offers him up to talk to but he does not go up right away.

Was anyone suspcuois of Odysseus when Athena suddenly gave him more muscle for the fight with Irus?

Odysseus is forced to fight another beggar, Irus, because Antinous forces them to fight and the winner can stay in the palace. Athena gives Odysseus some of his muscle back and he is able to easily knock him out. Penelope then prepares herself and oils her skin to like a Goddess. Then Penelope announces to all the suitors that she will soon marry one of the suitors, this is because Athena inspired her to do so. Lastly the chapter ends when a slave girl, Melantho, who is sleeping with a suitor, Eurymachus, and speaks against Odysseus. Odysseus returns a comeback but then Eurymachus throws a footstool at him and then they all go home after their final drinks.

Odysseus does not want to but is forced to fight Irus because of Antinous. He wins because Athena grants him some more muscle but does not feel great about fighting him. Odysseus later feels grateful for when the suitors give Penelope gifts.

Irus is the city' beggar and always goes from door to door to steal food. He is forced to fight Odysseus and loses very quickly. He now sits outside the palace knocked out.

Penelope dresses herself and oils her skin then declares that she will marry someone soon.

Athena appears many times, the first is when she give Odysseus some strength back. Second is when she puts the thought of marriage into Penelope' head/thoughts.

Odysseus sends Telemachus to bed and then Odysseus arouses the slave women to get Penelope's attention. Then Penelope allows for him to come upstairs for her to ask about Odysseus. Odysseus begins by telling her his legend and then tells her a very detailed explanation of Odysseus. She then offers him a nice place to sleep but then he says he is fine. Then a slave women washes his feet and notices the scare and knows it is Odysseus. He quickly hushes her and she says she will find out which of the slave women are loyal. The chapter ends when Penelope decides she will find who she will marry by doing the twelve axe competition.

Penelope discusses Odysseus with Odysseus and discovers and begins to believe that he may return. But instead of waiting, she decides to hold a competition to find out who she wants to marry.

The old slave women, Eurycleia, washes Odysseus and sees a scar on his leg and recognized Odysseus. She says she will tell no one and that she will tell Odysseus who the loyal and the non-loyal slave woman are.

Odysseus arouses the slave women to get attention. Then he goes up to Penelope and tells him about his Crete allius. Afterward he declines her offer but is recognized when his feet are being washed. He hears her and they are fine.

Odysseus lies awake at the entrance of the palace and hears the slave women slip out of the palace to meet the suitors. This makes him mad but then Athena appears to him to tell him to relax and that he must sleep and he can let his guard down for the night. When Athena leaves, he prays to Zeus and Zeus responds with lightning. Then the slave women prepare the house and a second hersman, Philoetius, appears and shows loyalty to him. Then Odysseus and Telemachus guide the suitors for a meal when a man named Ctesippus hurls an ox-foot at Odysseus. Telemachus tells the suitors to relax their behavior and Athena then makes the suitors laugh uncontrollably and Theoclymenus foretells their death and he leaves the house.

Zeus hears the prayers of Odysseus and sends him messages through thunder that he is heard.

Theoclymenus prophecies that everyone will be killed and leaves immediately.

Athena appears to Odysseus and tells him that he can go to sleep and rest assure that he will not be killed and all will be fine.

Telemachus is taunted by the suitors but is not phased because he know he will get his revenge soon enough.

Odysseus lies awake at night enraged at the slave women and prays to Zeus who responds back to him. In the morning he helps prepare for the competion. After being insulted he acts normal as all the suitors laugh uncontrollably.

Penelope goes to the storeroom and fetches Odysseus' bow and axes. Telemachus puts the floor with his sword and put the twelve axes in the ground. Telemachus tries to string the bow and is unsuccessful on the fourth attempt when Odysseus tells him to stop. Then Antinous discussed by the suitors failed attempts asks for some fat and a fire to grease the bow. Even then they fail. Then Odysseus reveals himself to Philoetius and Eumaeus and they agree to help him and he tells them his plan. Antinous then says that they must give a feast away to Apollo because he is the god of archery. Then Eurycleia locks up the women in their quarters and Philoetius secures the gate of the house. Then Odysseus gives the bow an attempt and he easily strings the bow and shoots through the axes.

Penelope announces her plans and that she will marry whomever can accomplish the challenge of the ases and Odysseus' bow.

Telemachus helps set up the competition by digging a hole in the ground and then tries to string the bow but fails.

Odysseus reveals himself to Philoetius and Eumaeus whom both agree to help him. The book ends when he easily strings the bow and shoots through all the axes.

Eurycleia and Philoetius secure the slave women in their quarters and the gates of the house, as per request of Odysseus.

The suitors all try to string the bow but none are successful and then Antinous says they must give a feast day to Apollo for success.