Allusions pt 2 Quiz

Allusions 9-16

Gordian Knot - Background

HISTORICAL, Greek king tied extreme complex knot, if someone unties=rule Asia, Alexander the Great cuts with sword and “unties” it

Gordian Knot - Meaning

1. Knot = extremely complex problem

2. Cutting it = solving problem quickly

Ivory Tower - Background

LITERARY, Alfred de Vigny, French poet, locked himself in Ivory tower to write poems, 18th Century fairy tales = unreachable place

Ivory Tower - Meaning

negative connotation, out of touch with reality, secluded from real world 

All that Glitters is not Gold - Background

HISTORICAL, proverb, Aristotle, “Do not hold as gold all that shines as gold” just because something looks like gold, don’t assume it iAls gold

All that Glitters is not Gold - Meaning

Appears valuable on outside does ≠ inner value, appearances can be deceptive

Sound and Fury - Background

LITERARY, Shakespear’s Macbeth, chaotic event yet pointless

Sound and Fury - Meaning

Great uproar that is unimportant/meaningless

Icarus / Fly Too Close to the Sun - Background

MYTHOLOGICAL, father Daedlius escapes island of Crete, made wings held by wax, Icarus flew close to sun (told not to), melt wings, fell to death

Icarus / Fly Too Close to the Sun - Meaning

To fail / be destroyed because lack of caution / excessive ambition

Tantalus - Background

MYTHOLOGICAL, Greek king, offended gods, eternal hunger + thirst in Underworld, bent to drink, water receded, went to eat, food blew away, etc

Tantalus - Meaning

Something desirable that is withheld

Left-Handed Compliment - Background

LINGUISTICS, Left hand=something negative, awkward/clumsy, doubtful sincerity, sinister side

Left-Handed Compliment - Meaning

despite being a compliment, is rude/insulting (back handed)

Janus - Background

MYTHOLOGICAL, Roman god of gates + doorways, “January”, has 2 faces, looks in future/past

Janus - Meaning

Good: Wisdom and Knowledge

Bad: Two-faced, hypocritical

In general: duality