Allusions 20-40

Camel through a Needle’s Eye

Jesus Criticized the Pharisees for striving to strain out a gnat, yet being willing to swallow camel. In Matthew and Luke, he states that it would be easier for camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven.

Can a leopard change his spots?

Habit is second nature, It was argued that the Jews could not possibly alter their inveterate habits of sin; therefore, nothing remained but the infliction of the extremist punishment, their exploration (Jer 13:24)

Cassandra

In Greek Mythology, Cassandra was a daughter of Priam, king of Troy, who possessed the gift of prophecy but was fated by Apollo never to be believed. As an allusion, she represents an accurate but unheeded prophet of doom.

Cast the first stone

In John, a woman caught in adultery was to be publicly stoned. But Jesus said, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her…” This is a warning against hypocrisy.

Catch-22

A problematic situation for which the only solution is denied by a circumstance inherent in the problem or by a rule (e.g., you must stay out of the water until you know how to swim):also, the circumstance or rule that denies a solution; an illogical, unreasonable, or senseless situation; a measure or policy whose effect is the opposite of what was intended; a situation presenting two equally undesirable alternatives: a hidden difficulty or means of entrapment

Centaur

a monster that had the head, arms, and chest of a man, and the body and legs of a horse

Chimera

a horrible creature of the imagination, an absurd or impossible idea; wild fancy; a monster with a lion’s head, a goat’s body, and a serpent’s tail, supposed to breathe out fire

Conversion of Soul

In Acts, Saul, a Roman citizen, actively persecuted by new Christian believers, While on the road to Damascus, Saul was blinded by a light from heaven.And heard the words of God. Three days later, he accepted baptism and “the scales” fell from his eyes. Saul is known as St. Paul, one of the major figures in the early Christian Church. This frequently shows us the ability to see clearly or in repentant pieces.

Crucifixion

The death of Christ on the cross, believed by Christians to be the sacrifice that redeemed fallen humankind. There may also be references to pierced hands and feet and a whole side of the body. (Theme of Redemption)

Cupidity

eager “desire” to possess something: greed or avarice; Roman god of love (Greek name is Eros)

Daedalus and Icarus

In Greek mythology, Daedalus, the great architect, designed the labyrinth that held captive the Minotaur of Crete. Imprisoned along with his sons Icarus, he designed wings of wax and feathers that would allow them to escape, Despite warnings not to fly too high, Icarus soared too close to the sun god Apollo. The was on his wings melted, and he plunged to his death. It is symbolic of the danger involved in daring to enter “the realm of the gods.” James Joyce’s protagonist Stephan Daedalus, in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, dared to question the strict teachings of his Catholic upbringing.

Damocles, sword of

A symbol of impending peril in Greek mythology Damocles was seated at a sumptuous banquet only to look up to see a sword suspended by a thread over his head. This spoiled his pleasure. In modern literary usage, the term indicated impending disaster

Daniel

The biblical hero cast into the lions’ den to punish him for his fidelity to his Christian God: he was divinely delivered. The tale of Daniel in the lions’ den is representative of extreme bravery and unwavering faith in the face of adversity. Daniel also interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream; thus an allusion to Daniel in literature may also be interpreted as referring to an uncanny ability to “read the hand writing on the wall”

David and Bathsheba

In Samuel, David had an adulterous relationship with Bathsheba. When she becomes pregnant, David sent her husband, Uriah, into battle, where he was killed. David and Bathsheba married. The child conceived during their affair dies, but Bathsheba later gave birth to Solomon

David and Goliath

As a young man, David slew the “giant” (6 foot 9 inches!) Philistine champion, Goliath. The battle and victory became symbolic of the just defeating the unjust, Despite the latter’s superior strength. Modern example: “Jack the thee Beanstalk”

Den of thieves

“And [Jesus] said unto them, it is written. My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves” (Matthew 21:23). A house of prayer: place of sacred worship. A den of thieves: A cave full of robbers. The language indicates that it was a corrupt traffic, which a corrupt and fraudulent priesthood had permitted to encroach on the worship of God. It is a desecration of religious institu

Dionysus or Bacchus

Greek and Roman name, respectively, of the god of win, revelry, the power of nature, fertility, and emotional ecstasy. He is usually thought of in term of overuse or excess. Ancient drama festivals were dedicated to him. Today he is representative of the Nietzschean philosophy, the creative-intuitive principle.

Divide the sheep from the goats

This phrase refers to the biblical parable explaining the time of judgement, when the faithful (good and saved) would be separated from the unfaithful (condemned). It alludes to the division of the true from the false, worthy from the unworthy.

Don Juan

a profligate man obsessed with seducing women; after Don Juan, the legendary 14th century Spanish nobleman and libertine.

Don Quixote

someone overly idealistic to the point of having impossible dreams: from the crazed and impoverished Spanish noble who sets out to revive the glory of knighthood, romanticized in the musical “The Man of La Mancha.” based on schemes for the novel DON QUIXOTE by Cervantes: Quixotic / Tilting at Windmills- having foolish and impractical ideas of honor, or schemes for the general good, again after Don Quixote, the half crazed reformer and knight protector of the supposed distressed.