Odysseus reveals his real identity to Eumaeus and Philoetius, his faithful servants, so that they will accept instruction from him about how he wants to exact his revenge on the suitors. He instructs them to bring him his bow, tell the women to lock the doors in the hall, and to bar the gates so that no one can leave. No matter what, he says, no one should come back in that room with him and the suitors.
After this, Odysseus successfully strings his bow, something none of the suitors could do, and he cleanly shoots an arrow through the twelve ax handles. All the while, he is still disguised as a poor beggar and so the suitors are absolutely incensed that he has succeeded where they failed. It is in the next book that he and Telemachus slaughter the suitors (with Athena's help).
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