AP Allusions

Question 1

Achilles’ heel –

Answer 1

today, one spot that is most vulnerable; one weakness a person may have. Achilles was invulnerable except for his heel (achilles tendon).

Question 2

Adonis –

Answer 2

handsome young man; Aphrodite loved him.

Question 3

Aeolian –

Answer 3

anything pertaining to wind; god who was Keeper of Wind

Question 4

Apollo –

Answer 4

a physically perfect male; the God of music and light; known for his physical beauty

Question 5

Argus-eyed—

Answer 5

omniscient, all-seeing; from Argus, the 100-eyed monster that Hera had guarding Io

Question 6

Athena/Minerva –

Answer 6

goddess of wisdom, the city, and arts; patron goddess of the city of Athens

Question 7

Atlantean –

Answer 7

strong like Atlas –who carried the globe (world) on his shoulders

Question 8

Aurora –

Answer 8

early morning or sunrise; from the Roman personification of Dawn or Eos

Question 9

Bacchanal –

Answer 9

n; wild, drunken party or rowdy celebration; from god of wine Bacchus

Question 10

Bacchanalian –

Answer 10

adj.; pertaining to a wild, drunken party or celebration from god of wine, Bacchus (Roman), Dionysus (Greek)

Question 11

Calliope –

Answer 11

series of whistles –circus organ ; from the Muse of eloquence or beautiful voice

Question 12

Cassandra –

Answer 12

a person who continually predicts misfortune but often is not believed; from (Greek legends) a daughter of Priam cursed by Apollo for not returning his love; he left her with the gift of prophecy but made it so no one would believe her

Question 13

Centaur –

Answer 13

a monster that had the head, arms, and chest of a man, and the body and legs of a horse

Question 14

Chimera –

Answer 14

a horrible creature of the imagination, an absurd or impossible idea; wild fancy; a monster with a lion’s head, a goat’s body, and a serpent’s tail, supposed to breathe out fire

Question 15

Cupidity –

Answer 15

eager “desire” to possess something; greed or avarice; Roman god of love (Greek name is Eros)

Question 16

Erotic –

Answer 16

of or having to do with sexual passion or love; Greek god of love, Eros

Question 17

Furor –

Answer 17

(Latin- furere to rage) wild enthusiasm or excitement, rage; fury, “run like fury”; any one of the three Furies

Question 18

Gorgon –

Answer 18

a very ugly or terrible person, especially a repulsive woman.; Medusa, any one or three sisters have snakes for hair and faces so horrible that anyone who looked at them turned to stone

Question 19

Halcyon –

Answer 19

clam, peaceful, tranquil –Archaic bird supposed to breed in a nest on the sea and calm the water, identified with the kingfisher (Latin< Greek halkyon)

Question 20

Harpy –

Answer 20

a predatory person or nagging woman; from harpy, a foul creature that was part woman, part bird

Question 21

Hector –

Answer 21

to bully; from Hector, the son of Priam (king of Troy), and the bravest Trojan warrior. Killed Achilles’ friend Patroclus.

Question 22

Helen (of Troy) –

Answer 22

Hellenistic; of or relating to Greece, or a Specialist of language or culture in Greece; symbol of a beautiful woman; from Helen of Troy, the daughter of Leda and Zeus—the cause of the Trojan War.

Question 23

Herculean –

Answer 23

very strong or of extraordinary power; from Hercules, Hera’s glory, the son of Zeus. He performed the 12 labors imposed by Hera.

Question 24

Hydra-Headed –

Answer 24

having many centers or branches, hard to bring under control; something bad you cannot eradicate; from Hydra, the 9-headed serpent that was sacred to Hera. Hercules killed him in one of the 12 labors.

Question 25

Iridescent –

Answer 25

a play of colors producing rainbow effects; from Iris, goddess of the rainbow

Question 26

Jovial –

Answer 26

good humored; from the word Jove, used to express surprise or agreement (Jupiter)