Final answer:
Penelope tricks the suitors into delaying marriage by weaving a burial shroud for Odysseus's father, Laertes. By secretly undoing her work each night, she prolongs the completion of the shroud and buys herself time.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the epic poem The Odyssey, Penelope, the wife of Odysseus, tricks the suitors into delaying marriage by weaving a burial shroud for Odysseus's father, Laertes. She tells them that she will choose a suitor once the shroud is finished, but every night she secretly undoes her work, prolonging the completion of the shroud.
This clever ruse buys her time and prevents the suitors from forcing her into marriage. Penelope's trickery is an example of her resourcefulness and intelligence. By using her weaving skills and the suitors' desire for marriage, she is able to buy time and remain faithful to her husband's memory while he is away.