Immediately Odysseus reveals himself and kills Antinous with an arrow.  Eurymachus tries to convince him that Antinous is to blame for everything and that the other suitors shouldn’t be killed.  Odysseus gives them the chance to run away, but they choose to fight – led by Eurymachus.  Odysseus, Telemachus, and the two servants skill everyone except Phemious and Medon.  Odysseus asks Eurycleia to identify the maids who have been unfaithful and bring them to him.  He makes them clean up the blood and the bodies.  Telemachus kills them.  Melanthios is cut up and fed to the dogs.  The maids and servants come and celebrate the return of Odysseus.

  1. What did Odysseus prove about his abilities when he shot the arrow through the twelve axes?  Why is that important now?
  2. Who gets killed first and why?
  3. How does Eurymachus plea his and the other suitor’s case?
  4. Who raids the storeroom?  What happens to him?
  5. How are the unfaithful maids identified?  What happens to them?  Do they deserve this fate?