Penelope declares that she will marry whichever suitor can shoot an arrow through a line of 12 axes
Telemachus, the son of Odysseus tries his hand at the bow, but fails to even string it
The other suitors attempt to warm and grease the bow in an attempt to make it easier to string, but they all try and fail
Meanwhile, Odysseus brings his 2 good servants and friends Eumaeus and Philoetius outside. He assures them that he would treat them as brothers if they helped him
Odysseus, disguised, prepares his bow while the rest of the suitors all laugh at him and tell him that he shouldn't even try
Odysseus receives a sign from Zeus, and fires his arrow through all 12 axe heads. At this time he also reveals his identity.