Final answer:
Odysseus' appearance as a beggar upon his return to Ithaca is deliberately meant to disguise himself and test Penelope, leading to her initial confusion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Odysseus' new appearance might be confusing to Penelope because he was disguised as a beggar. In Homer's The Odyssey, Odysseus returns home after a long absence and disguises himself as a beggar to reconnoiter his own house and test Penelope's loyalty. Neither a beard and long hair, dressing in tattered clothes, nor losing an eye in battle are specifically cited as the reasons for Penelope's confusion about Odysseus' identity. Instead, the transformation of Odysseus' appearance is a deliberate disguise to mask his true identity from his family and the suitors.