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allusion study guide
studying for english exam
| question | answer |
|---|---|
| What is the background/origin of the Achillies' Heel? | Mythological figure who was dipped into the River Styx |
| What is the modern definition of the Achillies' Heel? | A person's only weak or vulnerable point |
| What is the background/origin of Handwriting on the Wall? | Biblical King who saw a hand appear and predict the end of his reign |
| What is the modern definition of Handwriting on the Wall? | The handwriting on the wall is a warning of doom to come |
| What is the background/origin of White Elephant? | King Siam gave this as a gift to those who displeased him |
| What is the modern definition of White Elephant? | An object that has no use to its owner and may be a financial burden |
| What is the background/origin of Sound and Fury? | In Shakespeare's play, Macbeth, Macbeth compares life to sound and fury when his beloved wife dies |
| What is the modern definition of Sound and Fury? | Great uproar that is actually meaningless |
| What is the background/origin of Cain? | Cain murdered his younger brother due to jealousy. this was the first recorded murder in the Bible. |
| What is the modern definition of Cain? | Causing trouble or commotion |
| What is the background/origin of Methuselah? | Biblical figure who lived to be 969 years old |
| What is the modern definition of Methuselah? | Refers to an extremely old person |
| What is the background/origin of Phoenix? | Mythical bird that rose from the ashes of destruction |
| What is the modern definition of Phoenix? | Symbolizes resurrection of someone after facing many obstacles |
| What is the background/origin of Holy Grail? | Medieval legend of a cup that Jesus drank from at The Last Supper |
| What is the modern definition of Holy Grail? | Object (or anything) that is extremely desirable |
| What is the background origin of Machiavellian? | Historical figure who believed in using undesirable methods to rule his people |
| What is the modern definition of Machiavellian? | Elaborately cunning and scheming |
| What is the background/origin of Catch-22? | Sane airmen trying to prove insanity so they can be relieved of flight duty, but to prove insanity, they are obviously sane |
| What is the modern definition of Catch-22? | An absurd, no-win situation |
| What is the background/origin of Ivory Tower? | French poet, Alfred DeVingy, shut himself up in an ivory-colored tower so he could write beautiful poems |
| What is the modern definition of Ivory Tower? | Being out of touch with reality |
| What is the background/origin of Freudian Slip? | Sigmund Freud was a psychotherapist whose work centered on the subconscious mind |
| What is the modern definition of Freudian Slip? | An unintentional slip of the tongue that reveal subconscious thought |
| What is the background/origin of Medusa? | Famous Gorgon sister who has snakes for hair and turned people to stone with a look |
| What is the modern definition of Medusa? | Repulsive or terrifying woman |
| What is the background/origin of Murphy's Law? | Originated in the 1900s--"Anything that can go wrong will go wrong." |
| What is the modern definition of Murphy's Law? | Something goes wrong and everyone knew it would |
| What is the background/origin of Icarus? | In Greek Mythology, he disobeyed his father, flew too close to the sun, and died |
| What is the modern definition of Icarus? | To fail or be destroyed because of ambition |
| What is the background/origin of Pavlov's Dogs/Pavlovian? | Pavlov was a Russian scientist who conducted conditioned response experiments with animals (mainly dogs) |
| What is the modern definition of Pavlov's Dogs/Pavlovian? | An automatic, unthinking response |
| What is the background/origin of Throw Down the Gauntlet? | In Medieval times, knights threw down their gloves to challenge another knight |
| What is the modern definition of Throw Down the Gauntlet? | Issuing a challenge in a dramatic manner |
| What is the background/origin of Scapegoat? | Jewish priest laid the sins of the people on a goat and released it into the wilderness |
| What is the modern definition of Scapegoat? | Any person who takes the blame for the wrongdoing of others |
| What is the background/origin Left-handed Compliment? | In literature, the left hand is associated with negativity, clumsiness, doubtful sincerity. The left-hand side of a shield was considered the sinister side |
| What is the modern definition Left-handed Compliment? | A compliment that is also rude and insulting in some way |
| What is the background/origin Juggernaut? | A Hindu deity--worshippers threw themselves under his cart so they would die and go to paradise |
| What is the modern definition of Juggernaut? | Any destructive force that defies opposition |
| What is the background/origin of Adonis? | In Greek Mythology, a beautiful youth who was loved by Aphrodite and Persephone |
| What is the modern defintion of Adonis? | A man with a handsome face and gorgeous body |
| What is the background/origin of Bedlam? | Nickname for mental hospital in London where people wandered the halls screaming and fighting |
| What is the modern definition of Bedlam? | Wildy chaotic, raucous and noisy |
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