Download Test: Allusions to Mythological Characters

Allusions to Mythological Characters
When a writer refers (alludes) to a character (or an event or a passage of text) from a previous
time, the reference is called an allusion. Whether in literature or business, sports or education,
these allusions are made to evoke certain qualities, qualities that the character possessed in the
original story.
Florists use Hermes (Mercury) as a
symbol for their delivery service. A
magazine of the arts is called Daedalus.
We at WA are called the Trojans, along
with University of Southern California.
One must consider why those names were
chosen, what quality was intended to carry
over to the team, to the magazine, or to
the floral service.
Understanding what an allusion is intended to communicate is an
important part of your education.
Listed below are some characters you read about in Edith Hamilton’s Mythology:
Adonis
Aphrodite
(Venus)
Apollo
Athena
Cerberus
Narcissus
Cupid and Psyche Orpheus and
Eurydice
Oracle
Pandora (’s Box)
Midas (Touch)
Poseidon (Neptune)
Prometheus
Pygmalion
The Muses
Titans
Today, these names — along with others not in this list — reappear in literature, in scientific
writing, and in company, team, or product names.
This is the objective of your study: identify the qualities the writer is trying to convey when
he or she alludes to a mythological character.
First, explore qualities that the characters listed above could convey. Studying this concept
should prepare you for the exam question.
Second, complete the chart below to show your understand allusions. This will be an extra
credit homework grade.
Third, create an orginal work using an allusion. For extra extra credit: After you have
collected examples of how others have drawn on mythological characters, create your own
piece alluding to a mythological character. Your piece may be a poem (12 lines), a short myth
(one page), or an ad campaign (one page with text and illustrations). This will be an extra credit
quiz grade.
Name the document [YOUR Name, Extra Credit] and save it as a word document. Attach the file
to an email and send to me NO LATER than Friday 4:00PM. Attachments not using your name
in the save as title will be returned to you ungraded.
Allusions to Greek Mythology
Your Name:
Using five characters/events from the list on the previous page, find an example of an allusion
for each mythological character you chose. You may find examples in a story, poem, play,
movie, team, company, or product. Describe the qualities the allusion conveys. An example is
provided in the chart below. On the next page, sites you may consult are listed, several from your
gods and goddesses WebQuest. You may also use Google Images, BUT ADD IMAGES ONLY
AFTER YOU HAVE FINISHED YOUR WRITTEN INFORMATION. When you complete the
chart, echo the kind of content in the example below for Atlas.
Brief description of
mythological character
Example of allusion to this
character
Qualities the allusion
conveys
Atlas, god who held Earth
and Heavens on his
shoulders; not allowed to
leave the job
Brand of tires for cars, Atlas Strong, dependable, can’t
Tires
let you (or your family)
down; he carries the world
safely.
Please review the list below and my comments to plan where you will go.
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/writing/style/allusion
Definition of allusion, the literary device.
http://mythman.com/
General info on myths. Section on allusions.
http://messagenet.com/myths/index.html
Good summaries on all mythological characters with references to literature in which they
appear and formal citations to use in research.
http://www.pantheon.org/mythica.html
Deep and serious site…lots of info.
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Mythology-658/Star-Mythology-1.htm
Very useful.
Of course, you also can consult Berrens and your Greek Mythology Webquest from earlier in the
semester.