Allusions 61-75

Question 1

61. Janus

Answer 1

ORIGIN Roman God of gates & doorways // January // Two faces // Future // Past //
DEFINITION Calling someone a Janus // positive: wisdom // knowledge // negative: two faced, hypocritical, duality

Question 2

62. A Chip On One’s Shoulder

Answer 2

ORIGIN Young boys would play by putting a wood chip on their shoulders, daring anyone to knock it off, usually leading to a fight
DEFINITION One who is inclined to be resentful or who is looking for an excuse to fight

Question 3

63. Let the Cat Out of the Bag // Buy a Pig in a Poke

Answer 3

ORIGIN Medieval markets // Farmers sold pigs in “pokes” or bags. Cat was “sight unseen”
DEFINITION Letting the cat out of the bag = secret revealed // buying something sight unseen // with great risk

Question 4

64. Lot’s wife // Pillar of Salt

Answer 4

ORIGIN Genesis- destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah excepting Lot who was commanded to not look back. Lot’s wife does and turns into a pillar of salt
DEFINITION Someone who unwisely choose to look back

Question 5

65. Narcissus // Narcissism

Answer 5

ORIGIN Greek Myth of Narcissus // Young Man who rejected many (including Echo) // obsessed over his reflection
DEFINITION Obsessive focus on oneself, especially physical appearance

Question 6

66. Loaves & Fishes

Answer 6

ORIGIN NT Gospel - Story of Christ preaching to crowds of thousands, only had 5 loaves and 2 fish
DEFINITION A miraculous abundance

Question 7

67. Magnum Opus

Answer 7

ORIGIN “Greek word” usually the greatest work of an author composer or artist
DEFINITION Masterpiece (synonym) Flop (antonym)
Example) Van G’s starry night

Question 8

68. Skeleton in the Closet

Answer 8

ORIGIN During decomposition, skeleton remains. Unpleasant/Frightening
DEFINITION Something unpleasant or embarrassing about a person that he/she would prefer to keep hidden

Question 9

69. Fifteen Minutes of Fame

Answer 9

ORIGIN Andy Warhol
DEFINITION When someone gets a lot of media attention for something trivial

Question 10

70. In Medias Res

Answer 10

ORIGIN Latin phrase “in the middle of things” // Standard convection of epics
DEFINITION Anything that begins abruptly or in the middle of the action

Question 11

71. Noble Savage

Answer 11

ORIGIN Western Philosophy // Idea that people are born good & innocent
DEFINITION A person who has not been corrupted by society/civilization

Question 12

72. Burning Bush

Answer 12

ORIGIN God speaks to Moses through a bush that burns but is not consumed. Tells Moses to return to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to free the Israelites
DEFINITION A medium through which the voice of absolute authority speaks

Question 13

73. Scheherazade

Answer 13

ORIGIN Narrator of Arabian Nights
DEFINITION A great storyteller who is able to keep an audience in suspense

Question 14

74. Cassandra (of Troy)

Answer 14

ORIGIN Loved by Apollo. Gave her the gift of prophesy. Cursed that no one would believe them because she frustrated Apollo
DEFINITION Someone who predicts negative results but whose warning are disregarded

Question 15

75. Catch 22

Answer 15

ORIGIN Novel by Joseph Heller set on a U.S Army Air Force base in WWII
DEFINITION An absurd, no-win situation