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Allusions Flashcards
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1
Question
What is the definition of the allusion 'In Medias Res'?
Page 1
Answer
The literary technique of starting a story in the middle of the action.
2
Question
What is the origin of the allusion 'In Medias Res'?
Page 1
Answer
The Latin phrase meaning 'into the middle of things,' first used by the Roman poet Horace in his work Ars Poetica to describe the ideal way to begin an epic poem.
3
Question
What is the definition of the allusion 'Loaves and Fishes'?
Page 1
Answer
A miraculous abundance from a small amount of resources.
4
Question
What is the origin of the allusion 'Loaves and Fishes'?
Page 1
Answer
From the Gospels, where Jesus feeds thousands with only five loaves of bread and two fish, with many leftovers remaining afterward.
5
Question
What is the definition of the allusion 'Magnum Opus'?
Page 1
Answer
The greatest or most important work produced by an artist, author, or composer.
6
Question
What is the origin of the allusion 'Magnum Opus'?
Page 1
Answer
The Latin phrase literally meaning 'great work.'
7
Question
What is the definition of the allusion 'Janus'?
Page 2
Answer
A two-faced god in nature, looking both to the past and the future.
8
Question
What is the origin of the allusion 'Janus'?
Page 2
Answer
The Roman god of beginnings, gates, transitions, and endings, depicted with two faces, one looking backward and one forward. The month of January is named after him.
9
Question
What is the definition of the allusion 'A Chip on One's Shoulder'?
Page 2
Answer
An attitude ready to provoke an argument or fight.
10
Question
What is the origin of the allusion 'A Chip on One's Shoulder'?
Page 2
Answer
Would place a wood chip on their shoulder and dare others to knock it off, which would initiate a physical fight.
11
Question
What is the definition of the allusion 'Noble Savage'?
Page 2
Answer
A civilized concept of a primitive human who is unspoiled by civilization.
12
Question
What is the origin of the allusion 'Noble Savage'?
Page 2
Answer
The idea became popular during the Enlightenment, particularly in the state of nature theories which compared humans uncorrupted by society.
13
Question
What is the definition of the allusion 'Burning Bush'?
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Answer
A divine authority speaks through a bush that is on fire but is not consumed.
14
Question
What is the origin of the allusion 'Burning Bush'?
Page 3
Answer
From the Book of Exodus, where God appears to Moses in a bush that is on fire but is not consumed by the flames. God speaks to instruct Moses to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt.
15
Question
What is the definition of the allusion 'Narcissus'?
Page 3
Answer
One who has excessive admiration, self-absorption, self-obsession.
16
Question
What is the origin of the allusion 'Narcissus'?
Page 3
Answer
The term comes from the Greek myth of Narcissus, a beautiful youth who fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water and eventually wasted away.
17
Question
What is the definition of the allusion 'Scheherazade'?
Page 3
Answer
A storyteller, especially one who keeps an audience engaged for a long time.
18
Question
What is the origin of the allusion 'Scheherazade'?
Page 3
Answer
From One Thousand and One Nights and marries the king. She narrates tales to her husband, the king, for 1001 nights to delay her execution.
19
Question
What is the definition of the allusion 'Skeleton in the Closet'?
Page 4
Answer
To keep a shameful or embarrassing secret that is embarrassing if a person or family.
20
Question
What is the origin of the allusion 'Skeleton in the Closet'?
Page 4
Answer
In 19th century Britain refers to the practice of hiding a corpse in an upstairs closet to avoid legal body snatching or Gothic literature.
21
Question
What is the definition of the allusion 'Fifteen Minutes of Fame'?
Page 4
Answer
In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.
22
Question
What is the origin of the allusion 'Fifteen Minutes of Fame'?
Page 4
Answer
The phrase is famously attributed to American pop artist Andy Warhol.
23
Question
What is the definition of the allusion 'Let the Cat Out of the Bag'?
Page 4
Answer
To reveal a secret of the bag, especially by accident.
24
Question
What is the origin of the allusion 'Let the Cat Out of the Bag'?
Page 4
Answer
A popular scam where a fraudster would sell a cat from a bag claiming it was a piglet. If the cat was let out of the bag, the deception would be revealed.
25
Question
What is the definition of the allusion 'Lot's Wife'?
Page 5
Answer
Someone who disobeys a rule or leaves and is punished for looking back.
26
Question
What is the origin of the allusion 'Lot's Wife'?
Page 5
Answer
From the Biblical story of Sodom and Gomorrah. God warns Lot's wife not to look back at the cities, but she does and is instantly turned into a pillar of salt.
27
Question
What is the definition of the allusion 'Cassandra'?
Page 5
Answer
A person whose warnings are disbelieved or who predicts disasters that people ignore.
28
Question
What is the origin of the allusion 'Cassandra'?
Page 5
Answer
From Greek mythology. The Trojan princess Cassandra was given the gift of prophecy by Apollo. When she refused his romantic advances, he cursed her so that while her prophecies were always true, no one would ever believe her.
29
Question
What is the definition of the allusion 'Catch-22'?
Page 5
Answer
A problematic situation where a person is trapped by contradictory rules or limitations.
30
Question
What is the origin of the allusion 'Catch-22'?
Page 5
Answer
From Joseph Heller's 1961 novel of the same name about a military rule. Catch-22 states that a pilot must be insane to fly dangerous missions, but if he wants to be relieved, that shows he's sane and must fly.