Allusions in Hamlet
Created January 2010 by McComb
Lethe
• What it is…
(LEE-thee)
A river in Hades whose waters caused forgetfulness. It was
on the banks of another Underworld river called the Styx
that the shades, or ghostly remains, of the dead congregated
to seek passage to the Afterlife. Unless they bribed Charon
to ferry them across the stream, they wandered aimlessly on
the near bank forever. But those who made it across the Styx
did not have much more to anticipate. Once they had drunk
from the waters of Lethe, they were left with nothing to
reminisce about for eternity.
Source: http://www.mythweb.com/encyc/gallery/lethe_c.html
Created January 2010 by McComb
Phoebus
• Who this is…
Greek sun god.
Source: http://www.whs.babienko.net/CollegePrep/Assignments/Hamlet/Allusions.pdf
Created January 2010 by McComb
Patrick (Saint)
• Who it is…
Saint who proved the existence of purgatory to the doubting
Irish. Saint Patrick was regarded as the keeper of Purgatory
because he found an entrance on the island of Lough Derg
which he used to prove the existence of an intermediate
state to the “doubting Irish”.
Created January 2010 by McComb
Source:http://www.whs.babienko.net/CollegePrep/Assignments/Hamlet/Allusions.pdf
Niobe
• Who this is…
One of the more tragic figures in Greek mythology. She was
the queen of Thebes and mother of 14 children. In a moment
of arrogance, Niobe bragged about her seven sons and seven
daughters. She mocked Leto, who only had two children,
Apollo, god of prophecy and music, and Artemis, virgin
goddess of the wild. Leto did not take the insult lightly, and
in retaliation, sent Apollo and Artemis to earth to slaughter
all of Niobe's children . At the sight of his dead sons,
Amphion, Niobe’s husband, either committed suicide or was
also killed by Apollo for wanting to avenge his children's
deaths. She became the symbol of eternal mourning.
Source:http://www.pantheon.org/articles/n/niobe.html
Created January 2010 by McComb
Julius (Caesar)
• Who he is…
A Roman emperor who was assassinated.
Source: http://www.whs.babienko.net/CollegePrep/Assignments/Hamlet/Allusions.pdf
Created January 2010
by McComb
Hecuba
• Who she is…
in Greek mythology, chief wife of Priam, king of Troy. Hecuba
bore to Priam 19 children, including Paris, Hector, Troilus,
Cassandra, and others who were prominent in the Trojan
War. To save Polydorus, her youngest son, from the Greeks,
Hecuba sent him to Polymnestor, king of Thrace. After the
sack of Troy she was allotted to Odysseus, who on his way
home stopped at Thrace. Learning there that Polymnestor
had murdered Polydorus, Hecuba, in revenge, blinded the
king and killed his children.
Source: http://www.referencecenter.com/ref/reference/Hecuba/Hecuba?invocationType=ar1clk&flv=1
Created January 2010 by McComb
Nero
• Who he is…
(A.D. 37-68); notoriously cruel and depraved emperor of
Rome (54-68) who killed his own mother.
Source: http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/LitNote/Hamlet-Summary-Analysis-and-Original-Text-by-Scene-Scene-2.id-121,pageNum-190.html
Created January 2010 by McComb
Hymen
• Who this is…
God of marriage in Greek and Roman mythology.
Source:http://www.whs.babienko.net/CollegePrep/Assignments/Hamlet/Allusions.pdf
Created January 2010 by McComb
Pelion
• What it is…
High mountain mentioned in Greek mythology.
Source: http://www.whs.babienko.net/CollegePrep/Assignments/Hamlet/Allusions.pdf
Created January 2010 by McComb
Neman Lion
• What it is…
A powerful beast that Hercules had to defeat.
Source: http://www.whs.babienko.net/CollegePrep/Assignments/Hamlet/Allusions.pdf
Created January 2010 by McComb
• Who this is…
Aeneas
Founder of Rome who seduced
Dido then abandoned her. He
married Creusa, the daughter of
King Priam (King of Troy). Fleeing
from the defeated Troy, Aeneas
was separated from his wife. He
set sail from Italy. During 7 a
seven year voyage he took refuge
in Carthage but decline offers of
marriage and the throne from
Queen Dido. He sailed onwards,
eventually reaching Italy and
founding Rome.
Source: http://www.whs.babienko.net/CollegePrep/Assignments/Hamlet/Allusions.pdf
Created January 2010 by McComb
Sparrow
• What it is…
A small bird in a Biblical story whose fate is determined by
God.
Source: http://www.whs.babienko.net/CollegePrep/Assignments/Hamlet/Allusions.pdf
Created January 2010 by McComb
Jephthah
• Who this is…
A character from the Old Testament who sacrificed his
daughter to keep a vow.
Source: http://www.whs.babienko.net/CollegePrep/Assignments/Hamlet/Allusions.pdf
Created January 2010 by McComb
Alexander (the Great)
• Who this is…
The greatest emperor known in
western antiquity.
Source: http://www.whs.babienko.net/CollegePrep/Assignments/Hamlet/Allusions.pdf
Created January 2010 by McComb
Hyperion
• Who this is…
Greek sun god sometimes also named Helios or Apollo.
Source: http://www.whs.babienko.net/CollegePrep/Assignments/Hamlet/Allusions.pdf
Created January 2010 by McComb
Priam
• Who this is…
King of Troy who was killed by Pyrrus. The last king of Troy.
Source: http://www.whs.babienko.net/CollegePrep/Assignments/Hamlet/Allusions.pdf
Created January 2010 by McComb
Vulcan
• Who it is…
Roman god of the furnaces or
blacksmith of the gods.
Source: http://www.whs.babienko.net/CollegePrep/Assignments/Hamlet/Allusions.pdf
Created January 2010 by McComb
Cyclops
• What it is…
One-eyed giant from ancient Greek
mythology.
Source: http://www.whs.babienko.net/CollegePrep/Assignments/Hamlet/Allusions.pdf
Created January 2010 by McComb
Mars
• Who this is…
Roman god of war.
Source: http://www.whs.babienko.net/CollegePrep/Assignments/Hamlet/Allusions.pdf
Created January 2010 by McComb
Satyr
• What it is…
Creature, noted for its lust and
promiscuity, that was half-man, halfgoat.
Source: http://www.whs.babienko.net/CollegePrep/Assignments/Hamlet/Allusions.pdf
Created January 2010 by McComb
Hercules
• Who this is…
Hero of Greek and Roman mythology who was known for his
great strength.
Source: http://www.whs.babienko.net/CollegePrep/Assignments/Hamlet/Allusions.pdf
Created January 2010 by McComb
Hecate
• Who this is…
Greek goddess of witchcraft,
magic, the night, the moon, and
ghosts.
Source: http://www.whs.babienko.net/CollegePrep/Assignments/Hamlet/Allusions.pdf
Created January 2010 by McComb
Mercury
• Who this is…
Roman messenger of the gods.
Source: http://www.whs.babienko.net/CollegePrep/Assignments/Hamlet/Allusions.pdf
Created January 2010 by McComb
Hyrcanian Beast
• What it is…
Tiger native to a region of ancient Persia.
Source: http://www.whs.babienko.net/CollegePrep/Assignments/Hamlet/Allusions.pdf
Created January 2010 by McComb
Dido
• Who this is…
Carthaginian queen who was seduced by Aeneas who then
left her.
Source: http://www.whs.babienko.net/CollegePrep/Assignments/Hamlet/Allusions.pdf
Created January 2010 by McComb
Neptune
• Who this is…
Roman god of the seas and
oceans.
Source:
http://www.whs.babienko.net/CollegePrep/Assignments/Hamlet/Allusions.pdf
Created January 2010 by McComb
Adam
• Who this is…
The first man according to Genesis in
the Bible.
Source: http://www.whs.babienko.net/CollegePrep/Assignments/Hamlet/Allusions.pdf
Created January 2010 by McComb
Pythias &Damon
• Who this is…
a perfect friend; in classical legend,
Damon and Pythias were friends so
devoted to each other that when
Pythias, who had been condemned to
death, wanted time to arrange his
affairs, Damon pledged his life that his
friend would return. Pythias returned
and both were pardoned.
Source: http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/LitNote/Hamlet-Summary-Analysis-and-Original-Text-by-SceneScene-2.id-121,pageNum-190.html
Created January 2010 by McComb
Roscius
• Who this is…
A Roman comedic actor in the time of Julius Caesar.
Source: http://www.whs.babienko.net/CollegePrep/Assignments/Hamlet/Allusions.pdf
Created January 2010 by McComb
Cain
• Who this is…
Murdered his brother Abel and
was condemned to a life of “a
fugitive and a vagabond”
Source: http://www.whs.babienko.net/CollegePrep/Assignments/Hamlet/Allusions.pdf
Created January 2010 by McComb