The Odyssey, written by Homer, tells the story of Odysseus after the Trojan War. It not only includes an insight into Odysseus' adventures and return, but also includes the stories of Telemachos and Penelope. Telemachos is the brave son of Odysseus who searches for information about his father's whereabouts. Penelope is an extremely intelligent woman who could match Odysseus in her wits. Penelope is able to manipulate the suitors who have come to pursue her in Odysseus' absence. Although Penelope often spends many nights crying over her husband's absence, she never seems to lose faith in her husband, and truly believes that he will return to her and punish the suitors who have taken over their home. Penelope's intelligence can be seen in the following examples: she comes up with many clever ideas to delay the anger of suitors and invents two main tests that demonstrate her ingenuity, the Bow Test and the Bed Test. one hundred and eight suitors have come in pursuit of Penelope, and Penelope reacts rather dubiously. Penelope, convinced that she can only delay them rather than get rid of them, uses her resourcefulness to keep them at bay for many years. One of these brilliant ideas is to tell them that he needs to weave a burial shroud for Odysseus' elderly father, Laertes. During the day Penelope weaves the shroud, but when night comes she diligently unravels it. This trick works for many years. Unfortunately, an unfaithful maid tells her suitors her plan. Penelope also sends cards to each of the suitors promising to get married soon. Continuously telling the suitors, different each time, that she will eventually marry one of the suitors, Penel...... center of the sheet ...... runs to him and "throwing her arms around his neck" (23.234), she she tells him not to be angry with her. Penelope tells him that she has been visited by many men who have come trying to convince her that they were really Odysseus and that because of this she has learned to be cautious. Penelope is a very influential character in the Odyssey. She is a great match for Odysseus as she is almost as smart as him. He is capable of using his ingenuity and wit to accomplish many things throughout the story. She faithfully keeps the suitors at bay in the hope that her husband Odysseus will return alive from the Trojan War. She gives the suitors a test that she knows only her husband could perform. Penelope also tests Odysseus himself by declaring to move his bed. This made him react quite intensely, and she therefore believes that her husband has returned home.