Mythological Allusions Ppt

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Mythological Allusions AP English IV, Per. 1

Transcript of Mythological Allusions Ppt

Page 1: Mythological Allusions Ppt

Mythological Allusions

AP English IV, Per. 1

Page 2: Mythological Allusions Ppt

Prometheus A Titan who stole fire from the Gods and presented it to the primitive mortals out of pity. Prometheus evoked Zeus' anger and spent his days chained to a rock, with his flesh torn by a great eagle.

Alludes to people or occurrences that are highly creative and bold, often in defiance of society.

Example: Katy put forth a Promethean campaign against the school's restrictive t-shirt policy.

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Pyrrhic Victory

King Pyrrhus of Epirus, Greece suffered irreplaceable casualties after defeating the Romans during the Pyrrhic War at Heraclea in 280 B.C.

A victory with great cost to the victor.

Example: In a Pyrrhic victory, the doctor was able to save the life of the soldier after having removed his infected leg.

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Achilles' Heel Achilles was made

invulnerable as a baby by being dipped into the River Styx. Only his heel—the place he was held by when being dipped—was left unprotected, which led to his downfall when it was struck by an arrow.

Refers to a person's vulnerability or fatal flaw.

Example: He was a shrewd business man and investor, but his Achilles heel was gambling.

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Adonis

A beautiful youth slain by a boar and thus allowed by Zeus to life four months with Aphrodite, four with Persephone, and four in any manner which he so chose.

Suggests unparalleled beauty, attractiveness, and youthfulness, perhaps to the point of vanity.

Example: The girls all fawned on the Adonis of the soccer team.

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Cassandra Daughter of Priam and Hecuba, cursed by Apollo so that her prophecies and her anticipation of the fall of Troy, though true, were fated never to be believed.

Describes those who take the role of antagonist toward widespread or institutional ignorance of the future consequences of current actions.

Example: Acting as Cassandra, environmentalists warn of global warming and future disaster.

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Sop to Cerberus

Greeks and Romans put a slice of cake in the hands of the dead to help pacify Cerberus on their way to Hades.

Means to give a gift to a troublesome person to quiet them.

Example: The father gently shoved his son away, folding a few dollars, his sop to Cerberus, into the child's hand.

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Narcissus Beautiful, but scorned all male suitors and, through a curse, fell in love with his own reflection.

Is used to describe someone who is "in love" with themselves and/or is very vain and conceited, can also be used archaically to imply that the vain person will waste their life being in love with their good looks.

Example: She hoped the rumors weren't true, but the rock star was indeed an insufferable narcissist.

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Pericles

A prominent and influential statesman, orator, and general of Athens in the city's Golden Age. Patron of the arts and literature and also the first populist.

Wise and eloquent; or, of an era in which governance is in the hands of the people.

Example: The teacher lectured the class with Periclean authority.

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Damon and Pythias When the tyrannical ruler of his

city condemned Pythias to death, Pythias pleaded for time to go home. Damon agreed to stay and die in his place if he did not return in time. Pythias was delayed, and Damon prepared to be executed, but Pythias arrived just in time. The ruler was so impressed by their friendship that he let them both live.

Means two youths whose loyalty to each other symbolizes true friendship .

Example: My friendship with Kelsey is as important as Damon and Pythias’.

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Delphic

The oracles of Delphi are likely the most famous of all time, predicting many ancient events, though often in a cryptic manner.

Used to describe ambiguous, oracular, or cryptic statements.

Example: The woman made a great deal of Delphic pronouncements.

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Diogenes

Greek philosopher who denied the ridiculous nature of established social rules, reflected in his lack of cleanliness and bathing and such in public.

Usually alludes to a person's lack of humility in public.

Example: “My college professor wears the same clothes every day and doesn’t wear shoes, but he’s a genius. He reminds me of Diogenes."

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Furies

The Roman name for the Greek Erinyes, vicious mythological beings that were the female personifications of vengeance who punished those who broke promises and laws.

Often used to describe the intensity of violence or dislike.

Example: "His guilt over the murder rent his mind like the claws of the Furies."

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Translated from Horace’s “Ars

Poetica” (Roman) is the line “Homer sometimes nods” or “even Homer nods”. Homer being the legendary Greek Poet and author of The Iliad and The Odyssey.

Refers to one of the universal human traits: lethargy. That people (even the most brilliant and wise) are subject to a degree of failure.

Example: No need to beat yourself up over that one bad essay remember; even Homer nods.

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Nimrod Skilled Biblical hunter and king of

the first empire following the Flood. His realm included Babylon, and he is said to have presided over the construction of the Tower of Babel.

Could be used to compare an individual to a mighty huntsman, but recently it suggests a silly or foolish person thanks to Elmer Fudd being called a "poor little Nimrod" by Bugs Bunny.

Example: “Jim is the Nimrod of deer hunting.”/“He’s a complete nimrod; he never has a clue what’s going on.”

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Sword of Damocles Damocles, a flattering courtier,

was allowed to feast in the place of Dionysus, but midway through the meal, he noticed a sword had been hanging over his head by a single horsehair.

Describes the constant peril faced by those in high positions, a precarious situation, or the importance of understanding the experience of another.

Example: “It would be wise to avoid judging the relative quality of someone's life lest you face the Sword of Damocles.”

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Xanadu Mythical location invented

for the setting of Samuel Coleridge's poem Kubla Khan in 1798. Xanadu is described as a pure paradise with an emphasis on rain forest beauty and passionate women.

Describes any sort of lush paradise, especially tropical.

Example: “When I was walking with my girlfriend on the River Trail, I could have sworn I was in Xanadu."

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