Allusions - Test 2 Flashcards
“Icarus/Fly too close to the sun”
Icarus and Dad escaped from ISLAND OF CRETE using wings held by wax. Dad warned not to go too close to sun.
to fail or be destroyed by lack of caution or excessive ambition
“Bread and Circuses”
Writer from Roman Empire.
Keep populace content by distributing free food and entertaining spectacles.
Refers to policies designed to prevent unrest by keeping people happy.
“Deus ex Machina” or “god from the machane”
Classical theatre.
Crane with harness for actor who plays godly character.
Unsatisfying and overly convenient way to end story.
“Tabula Rasa”
John Locke - “blank state”
a mind of a young person unaffected by experience
unmarked and uninfluenced
“Tantalus”
mythology - a King who offended gods
condemned to suffer eternal hunger and thirst in Hades
offered something desirable which is then withheld
“NIMBY” - “Not In My Back Yard”
common phrase
acronym: wanting unpleasant realities away from you
“Waterloo”
Battle of Waterloo fought by Waterloo village in Belgium.
Napoleon Bonaparte finally defeated by Prussia and England.
suffer an ulimate decisive defeat
“Emperor’s New Clothes”
author, Hans Christian Andersen
Dressers tell Empire that clothes only seen by wise and fit to be rulers, so he pretends to see it. Wears in parade and kid points out.
Pointing out falseness of something when others are afraid to.
“Left Handed Compliment”
language
compliment but insulting or rude in some way
“Golden Calf”
bible- Book of Exodus
Moses goes up to mountain to talk to god, people get anxious and make golden calf to worship instead.
idol or material object worshipped but not worthy of worship
“Sword of Damocles”
legend - a yes man courier of Greek King
King, tired of flattery, held a banquet. Seated Damocles in own chair with a sword above him by a single thread.
awareness of impending/imminent danger
“Svengali”
Literature - character in Trilby
Teaches Trilby to sing and has absolute control over her. But when he dies, she can’t sing anymore.
one who exercises excessive control on another
“Non Sequirur”
Latin- “it does not follow”
Silly Song: Veggie Tales
logical fallacy
“White Elephant”
rare genetics (couldn't be used to work because considered special if they survive, no camo) King of Siam orders that all are his property, but he realized costly so he'd give as gifts to those who displeased him.
object of no use to owner and may represent financial burden/inconvenience
“Fiddle While Rome Burns”
Roman Emperor, Nero.
Fire consumed half of Rome, and Nero played his fiddle during emergency.
display indifference in midst of emergency/disaster
