Literary Allusions - Mythology

Question 1

Achilles

Answer 1

Best Greek fighter in Trojan War; had only one vulnerable spot - his heel, Paris killed him by directing arrow at Achilles heel; represents place of weakness/vulnerability

Question 2

Adonis

Answer 2

Handsome young man with whom Aphrodite fell in love; refers to an exceptionally handsome young man

Question 3

Ares/Mars

Answer 3

God of war and battle, instigator of violence; represents a violent, temperamental, or merciless person

Question 4

Athena/Minerva

Answer 4

Goddess of wisdom; known as protector/benefactor of heroes; represents a wise, protective person

Question 5

Atlas

Answer 5

A Titan who Zeus condemned to bear the weight of the sky on his shoulders; name means “bearer”/”endurer”; someone who has to bear a heavy burden

Question 6

Bacchus/Dionysus

Answer 6

God of vegetation (grapevine & wine), also leader of a mystery cult; represents the ecstatic, mystical, emotive side of life; represents ecstasy and personal delivery from the daily world through physical/spiritual intoxication

Question 7

Cassandra

Answer 7

Granted power of prophecy but fated to never be believed; refers to someone who often speaks the truth or correctly predicts the future but is never listened to

Question 8

chimera

Answer 8

Fire-breathing monster w/ lion head, she-goat body, and serpent tail; refers to a wild or implausible product of the imagination

Question 9

Circe

Answer 9

Sorceress known for her ability to turn men into animals with her magic wand; refers to a dangerous temptress

Question 10

Daedalus

Answer 10

Skilled craftsman who built the labyrinth that housed the Minotaur; known for intelligence and ingenuity; therefore, refers to a smart, skillful, ingenious person

Question 11

Damocles (as in “a sword of”)

Answer 11

Refers to a looming threat or impending danger; Damocles commented on how fortunate the lives of rulers are, Dionysus invited him to banquet and showed him sword hanging above him by a single horsehair

Question 12

Delphic oracle

Answer 12

Oracle of Apollo at Delphi, gave cryptic answers; therefore refers to something ambiguous/obscure in meaning

Question 13

Electra (as in “Electra Complex”)

Answer 13

Refers to a daughter’s hatred or bitterness toward mother because of subconscious sexual to her father

Question 14

Elysian Fields

Answer 14

Refers to heaven, paradise, or some other idyllic place; mythological heroes go to the Elysian Fields for eternal peace and happiness after death

Question 15

faun and satyr

Answer 15

Wild forest deities with goat-like qualities; refers to a mischievous or sprightly person

Question 16

Golden Fleece

Answer 16

A ram’s fleece of pure gold; refers to something of great value that is much sought after but very hard to obtain

Question 17

Hades

Answer 17

The dark underworld or abode of the dead

Question 18

Holy Grail

Answer 18

A final goal or destination achieved only with much difficulty; the object of a quest, especially one of a mystical or mythical character

Question 19

Hector

Answer 19

To badger, bully, or intimidate others; Hector (greatest Trojan warrior) was killed by Achilles, then dragged behind his chariot

Question 20

Hera/Juno

Answer 20

The archetype of a quarrelsome, vindictive, jealous wife; Hera was the wife of Zeus and was always seeking revenge for her husband’s love affairs

Question 21

Hermes

Answer 21

A prankster and inventive genius; a cunning or shrewd person

Question 22

the Judgment of Paris (also, a situation)

Answer 22

A difficult case or argument to decide, especially one where there is no solution that will satisfy all parties; Paris had to decide which of 3 goddesses was the most beautiful

Question 23

Jupiter/Zeus

Answer 23

The king if the gods; therefore, a person who makes decisions or gives advice from a position of apparently unquestionable authority

Question 24

Midas (“Midas touch”)

Answer 24

Someone who can turn virtually any project into a success; Midas=King of Phrygia who was granted ability to turn anything he touched into gold

Question 25

Nemesis

Answer 25

Revenge or retribution; Nemesis was the goddess of divine justice and vengeance

Question 26

Oedipus (Oedipus Complex)

Answer 26

The hostility of a boy toward his father b/c if subconscious sexual attraction to mother; Oedipus unknowingly killed his father and married his mother

Question 27

Pan

Answer 27

Personification of disorder and licentiousness; Pan could inspire terror with a shout or sudden noise and was the god of fertility & unbridled male sexuality

Question 28

Pandora’s Box

Answer 28

A source of numerous unforeseen difficulties that, once released, are hard to bring back under control; Pandora possessed a box with all the world’s problems and opened it out if curiosity

Question 29

Paris

Answer 29

Archetype of a beautiful young man

Question 30

Prometheus

Answer 30

An exceptionally creative, inventive, or original person; Prometheus made the first man from clay

Question 31

Proteus (“protean”)

Answer 31

Versatile, variable, changeable; Proteus was a sea god who could change his shape at will

Question 32

Pygmalion

Answer 32

A person who creates or recreates another individual and then becomes obsessed with the creation; Pygmalion was a sculptor who sculpted the perfect woman

Question 33

Romulus and Remus

Answer 33

Refers to the original founders of something; Romulus and Remus are the legendary twin brothers who founded Rome

Question 34

Scylla and Charybdis

Answer 34

A situation where one has to confront one or the other of two equally dangerous hazards; Scylla and Charybdis were two of the great dangers in the Strait of Messina

Question 35

Sisyphus (Sisyphean)

Answer 35

Of or relating to a seemingly endless or futile effort; Sisyphus was condemned for eternity to push a large rock up a hill (when rock reached summit, would fall back to bottom of hill)

Question 36

Tiresias

Answer 36

Archetype of a wise old prophet; Tiresias was famed in Thebes for his prophetic gifts; Tiresias was a blind prophet

Question 37

Titan

Answer 37

Something immensely huge or powerful; the Titans were the original powerful rulers of the earth

Question 38

Zephyr

Answer 38

A gentle breeze or a soft wind; Zephyrus was the god of the west wind

Question 39

Venus/Aphrodite

Answer 39

An attractive, seductive woman; Venus was the goddess of fertility and love