Allusions

1. Allusions

2. Achilles Heel • Meaning: an area of weakness that leads to the downfall of a person • Achilles was a Greek warrior who became the hero of the Trojan war. • When he was an infant, it was prophesized that he would die young. His mother, Thetis, who was a Nereid (sea goddess) did not want this so she dipped him into the river Styx. The Styx had powers to make any part of the body, came in contact with the river, invincible. • However, she had held him by the heel when dipping him, leaving a vulnerable area. He later died as prophesized by a poisoned arrow to his heel.

3. Midas Touch • Meaning: a person who is always lucky, what he or she does turns out well, or makes money is said to have the “Midas Touch” • King Midas was granted the wish to turn everything he touched to gold. He quickly realized he could not eat or drink or even hug his daughter. He finally took back his wish and by dipping himself in the Pactolus River. Then, he lost his golden touch.

4. Pandora’s Box • Meaning: To ‘open a Pandora’s Box’ means to invite trouble or there is a tempting opportunity to be disastrous • Pandora had a beautiful box filled with all the evils of the world, like war, disease, and death. Although she was told not to open the box, she eventually did and all of the evils were released.

5. Odyssey • Meaning: A long trip or adventure • This term comes from a long poem about the hero Odysseus’ nine year journey home from the Trojan War. Along the way, he had many adventures.

6. Herculean • Meaning: A mighty try • Hercules was the son of Zeus and a mortal woman • He had to complete 12 different tasks called the “Labors of Heracles” • Any effort we nowadays may think is tremendous can be attributed as herculean