How does Odysseus prove identity to Penelope?

Answer 1

First, Odysseus told Penelope that he is Odysseus. But Penelope wanted to make sure that it was the real Odysseus and not one of the suitors. So she gave him a challenge. ANd the challenge is: in their master bedroom...there was a bed and all 4 of the legs of the bed looked like a tree stump. And only 1 of the legs were a real tree. ANd only Odysseus and Penelope knew that. SO odyseus answered by saying pretty much that you are crazy and I can move that. SO therefore i is the real Odysseus!!!!

Answer 2

He tells her how he built their bed.

She told him that she would move his bed. The bed was made from a living olive tree that Odysseus had planted; nobody but Odysseus and Penelope knew this. Odysseus was outraged as moving it would have damaged the bed greatly, and would be near to impossible. He tells her about the history of the bed and what it actuallly is, how it got in their house, and how their house was built around that tree.
Penelope, still not quite sure that the beggar was indeed her husband, tested him. She ordered her maid to make up Odysseus' bed and move it from their bedchamber into hall outside his room. Odysseus was initially furious when he heard this because one of the bed posts was made from a living olive tree - he himself had designed it this way, and thus it could not be moved unless done by a god; he told her this, and since only Odysseus and Penelope knew this, Penelope accepted that he was her husband. She came running to him, hoping that he would forgive her. He forgave her, because he could understand why she had tested him and because he had passed the test.

Answer 3

Penelope tests Odysseus identity by cleverly suggesting that they move their bed to another room so that she can get used to Odysseus, whom has been away for so long. The test is that the bed is unmovable since it is built into the trunk of a tree, but only Odysseus and Penelope know that.

Answer 4

Athena disguised Odysseus as a beggar, in order to carry out his plan to kill the suitors, and therefore he is unrecognizable to Penelope as Odysseus.

Further, even after Odysseus reveals himself to Penelope, it has been 20 years since she last saw him, and she is scared that he may be an impostor.

Finally, Odysseus pretends to be a beggar, crafting wonderful stories about his past life which included meeting with Odysseus before the war of Troy.

Answer 5

Penelope orders the removal of her marriage bed. Odysseus knows it cannot be removed as one of the 'legs' is a growing tree which he himself planted when he built the bed. He reminds Penelope that only he, she and one maid have ever entered the room.

Answer 6

Odysseus proves his identity to Penelope by recounting a secret about their bed that only he would know, as it was constructed by him and is immovable. This knowledge convinces Penelope that the man before her is truly her husband, Odysseus, and not an imposter.

Answer 7

Penelope finally is convinced that it is Odysseus when Odysseus tells her how their marital bed was made from the trunk of an olive tree.

Answer 8

She asks him to move the bed in there bedroom to test him. Only Odysseus knows that there bed and house was centered around an olive tree because he built it.