The climax of Odysseus' story is the moment when he reveals his true identity and wins the bow contest, signifying his return to power and reclaiming his home. The slaying of the suitors represents his ultimate triumph and the resolution of the challenges he faced during his journey. Together, these events mark the peak of tension and lead to the resolution of the story.
Odysseus shot the suitors with his bow and arrows.
He shot them with a bow and arrow.
Odysseus shoots a bow at Antinous... and it killed him
Odysseus killed them all. Odysseus also put them to shame, and made a mockery of their masculinity as he easily threaded his bow and shot it through the axe handles, when each of the suitors had struggled to thread the bow, but had failed.
Some were afraid that Odysseus might string the bow. Antinous accuses Odysseus of being drunk and having had too much wine. Eventually Telemachus dissipates their protests by threatening to throw stones at Eumaeus if he does not bring the bow to Odysseus; this causes the suitors to laugh heartily.
Odysseus is able to string his bow, after all the suitors have tried and failed. Odysseus is also able to win Penelope's heart, kill all the suitors, and have the love and respect of the gods, in particular Athena.
Of the suitors, Odysseus first kill Antinous with an arrow to the throat. He then kills Eurymachus with an arrow to his liver, before killing many other suitors.
The climax of "The Odyssey" is when Odysseus reveals his true identity to his wife Penelope and proves his identity through a test only he could pass - stringing his bow and shooting an arrow through a line of axes. This moment marks the resolution of Odysseus' journey and sets the stage for his final confrontation with the suitors.
Telemachus threatens to throws stones at Eumaeus and chase him out into the country if he does not comply. He also laments that he could not evict some of the other suitors who mean mischief. The laughter from the suitors gives Eumaeus enough time to get the bow to Odysseus.
Odysseus killed the suitors with the bow that Iphitusonce had given him. He had inherited it from his father Eurytus of Oechalia, who in turn had received it from Apollo. This bow Odysseus, when going to war, would never take with him, but let it lay at home.During the contest to string the bow, the swineherd Eumaeus brings Odysseus his bow, after prompting from Odysseus, then Penelope, then Telemachus.
Odysseus tests the suitors by disguising himself as a beggar and observing their behavior towards him. He also sets up a challenge involving his great bow, with the condition that only someone strong enough to string the bow can marry Penelope. This test ultimately reveals the true nature of the suitors.
Odysseus strings the bow for several reasons:To win the contest.To prove himself still worthy of Penelope.To prove himself superior to Penelope's suitors, and possibly help intimidate them.To provide himself with a weapon with which to kill the suitors.