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ALLUSIONS
Two basic sources from which writers, especially poets, draw allusions and metaphors are the
Bible and ancient classical writings. Knowledge of the characters and stories contained in the Bible and in
the body of myths and legends will add appreciably to the enjoyment of good literature of all kinds. From
the very beginning of our literature, writers have borrowed characters, plots, and themes from these
sources. Thus, Biblical and mythological characters have become synonymous with certain human
qualities, and their names and stories are commonly used to represent counterparts in modern literature.
I. THE BIBLE
The following narratives from the Old Testament are part of our heritage in English literature. Since these
selections are frequently alluded to and used as subject matter, you should read them as literature.
Genesis
The Garden of Eden
Cain and Abel
Noah and the Flood
The Tower of Babel
The Destruction of Sodom
Abraham and Isaac
Jacob’s Dream
Jacob and Esau
Rachel and Leah
Joseph and his Brothers
Joseph and Egypt
The Marriage of Isaac
Exodus
Rescue of the Child Moses
The Passage of the Red Sea
The Burning Bush
The Plagues of Egypt
Judges
Samson and the Philistines
Ruth
Samuel
David and Goliath
Absalom’s Rebellion
David and Jonathan
David and Bath-Sheba
Kings
Solomon’s Wisdom
Solomon’s Temple
The Queen of Sheba
Job
Daniel
Nebuchadnezzer’s Dream
Daniel in the Lion’s Den
The Fiery Furnace
The Writing on the Wall
You should be familiar with the following narratives from the New Testament as well.
Gospels
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Prophecy
Revelation
Stories from the Bible:
Noah survives a catastrophe
Abraham is tested
Jacob and Esau
Joseph’s rise to power
A royal rescue for Moses
Exodus: A nation of slaves freed
Jericho falls
The day the sun stood still
Two women show courage and determination
Genesis 6-8
Genesis 22:1-18
Genesis 27:1-46
Genesis 37-49
Exodus 1:7-2:10
Exodus 7-14
Joshua 5:10-6:26
Joshua 10
Judges 4
Gideon’s strange army
Samson’s fame and fall
Ruth and Boaz: A love story
The call of Samuel
David’s call to destiny
David and Goliath
David and Jonathan
David and Saul
David and Bathsheba
David and Absalom
The Queen of Sheba
Elijah’s God outdoes the false prophets
Elisha and the General
Josiah’s great discovery
Nehemiah’s dream comes true
Esther’s finest hour
Job’s problems
The fiery furnace
Daniel’s night with the lions
Jonah’s vacation plans backfire
Philip and the Ethiopian
Conversion of Saul
The Philippian jailer
Paul’s shipwreck
Judges 6, 7
Judges 14-17
Ruth
I Samuel 3
I Samuel 16:1-13
I Samuel 17
I Samuel 20
I Samuel 23-24
II Samuel 11-12
II Samuel 15-18
I Kings 10
I Kings 5
II Kings 5
II Kings 22
Nehemiah
Esther
Job 1-3
Daniel 3
Daniel 6
Jonah
Acts 8
Acts 9
Acts 16
Acts 27-28
Biblical characters, places, or objects in the New Testament
Jesus of Nazareth
Joseph
Mary
The Nativity
The Magi (Three Wise Men)
Herod
John the Baptist
The Sermon on the Mount
Apostle (Disciple)
Matthew
Peter
Judas Iscariot
Thomas
John
Parable
The Good Samaritan
The Prodigal Son
Transfiguration
Miracle
Wedding at Cana
Lazarus
Mary Magdelene
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
Matthew 1, 2, 13; Mark 6; Luke 1, 3
Matthew 2; Luke 1, 2; John 19
Matthew 1, Luke 2
Matthew 2:1-12
Matthew 1, 2; Mark 6; Luke 13, 23
Matthew 3, 4, 14, 17, 21; Mark 1, 6, 9, 11; Luke 1, 3,
20; John 1, 5; Acts 13
Matthew 5-7; Luke 10
Matthew 4, 10
Matthew 9
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts 1-5, 8-13
Luke 22; John 13, 14
Matthew 10; Mark 3; Luke 6; John 11, 14, 20-21;
Acts 1
Matthew 17, 26; Mark 9, 14; Luke 9, 22; John 13, 19,
21
Matthew 7, 13, 16, 18, 20-22, 24, 25; Mark 4, 12, 13;
Luke 6, 8, 10-16, 18-20
John 10
Luke 11
Matthew 17; Mark 9; Luke 9
Matthew 4, 8-9, 14-15, 17, 20-21, 28; Mark 1-11, 16;
Luke 4-10, 13-14, 17-18, 22, 24; John 2, 4, 6, 9, 11,
20-21; Acts 1, 3, 5, 9
John 2
John 11
Matthew 27-28; Mark 15-16; Luke 8, 23-24; John 1920
Mary and Martha
Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes
Whited Sepulcher
Palm Sunday
Garden of Gethsemene
The Last Supper
Pilate
Crucifixion
Golgotha
Pentacost
Paul
The Conversion of Saul
The Philippian Jailer
His shipwreck
Stephen
Philip and the Ethiopian
Revelation of St. John
Babylon
Armageddon
Judgment Day (Day of Judgment)
New Jerusalem/Pearly Gates
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Second Coming of Christ
“Thief in the Night”
Brimstone and Fire/Fire and Brimstone
Other Parables:
Camel through a needle’s eye
The sower
The talents
The loaves and fishes (miracle)
“See through a glass darkly”
“Greater love hath no man”
“Fall of a sparrow”
“Lillies of the field”
Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 10; John 11-12
Luke 11, 20; John 8
Matthew 23
Matthew 21; Mark 11; Luke 19; John 12
Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22; John 18
Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22; John 13-14; Acts 2,
20; I Corinthians 10, 11
Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 3, 13, 23; John 18-19;
Acts 3, 4, 13
Matthew 27; Luke 23; John 19
Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 23; John 19
Exodus 23; Acts 2
Acts 7-31
Acts 9
Acts 16
Acts 27-28
Acts 6-8
Acts 8
Revelation
Revelation 14, 16, 17-18
Revelation 16
Revelation 20
Revelation 21
Revelation 6
Matthew 24; Mark 14; Luke 21; John 14
I Thessalonians 5
Genesis 19; Deuteronomy 29; Job 18; Psalm 11;
Isaiah 30, 34; Revelation 21
Matthew 19; Mark 10; Luke 18
Matthew 13
Matthew 25
Matthew 14; John 6
I Corinthians 13
John 15
Matthew 10
Matthew 6
II. CLASSICAL MYTHS
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16.
Cupid and Psyche
Orpheus and Erydice
Pygmalion and Galatea
Daphne and the Laurel Wreath
The Amazons
Echo and Narcissus
Damon and Pythias
Jason and the Golden Fleece
Atlas and the World
Paris and the Golden Apple
Hera and Io
Baucis and Philemon
Arachne and Athena (Minerva)
Adonis and Aphrodite
Dido and Aeneas
Perseus and Andromeda
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31.
Daedalus and Icarus
Midas and the Golden Touch
The Twelve Labors of Hercules
Bellerophon and Pegasus
Apollo and Cassandra
Castor and Pollux
The Sword of Damocles
Selene and Endymion
Europa and Zeus
Alexander the Great and the Gordion
Knot
Demeter and Persephone
Hero and Leander
Jason and Medea
Perseus and Medusa
Niobe and Leto
32.
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34.
35.
Phaedra and Hippolytus
Procrustus
Romulus and Remus
Odysseus and the Trojan Horse
36. Phaeton and Zeus
37. Pandora’s Box
38. Nessus and Heracles (Hercules)
From the Dictionary of Classical, Biblical, and Literary Allusions and Duval County Resource Handbook of
Biblical Allusions and Literary References
Additional resources:
What is Mythology
Mythology, Edith Hamilton
Bulfinche’s Mythology