I.B.
Read Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad: This text is what China Acebe responded to in the
novel you read during junior year, Things Fall Apart. The way in which Africans were treated in the novel
angered Acebe. This work of Conrad’s is categorized as an example of colonialism in literary criticism
and discussion.
Read Frankenstein by Mary Shelly: This text spawned the genre of science fiction. Mary Shelly
makes great use of Biblical allusions to ponder the implications of mankind creating life. Much has been
written about this work as a creating a genre as well as the importance a female writer being so well
received. It may be helpful to do a little research on Mary Shelly’s lineage to further see these
connections.
What defines an action, a thought, a person as evil? Are bad deeds done for the righteous reasons
acceptable? Evil is a concept that exists throughout time and throughout cultures. The novels assigned
for summer reading also carry this theme of what is evil in two very different time periods. These time
periods held different views of the world and views on morality, yet both authors are struggling with the
darkness that is part of human life.
Write a composition in which you explore the definition of evil throughout the time periods touched
upon in the summer novels as well as modern day. Are the same morals and views of evil present today
as were present back in the times Shelly and Conrad were writing? Or at they different? What factors
have changed our view of evil deeds?
You have some research to back up your analysis of the time periods: literary criticism and valid sources
only (no Wikipedia).
Also, look to your knowledge from IB History and TOK
A.P.
1. Read Frankenstein by Mary Shelly
2. Allusions assignment (Explained below0
3. Written composition:
Analyze the use of Biblical and mythological allusions in Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein. What is
Shelly’s purpose in utilizing these allusions in her creation story?
AP English Literature and Composition
Mr. Blackwelder
Summer Allusion Assignment
Allusion (noun): an implied or indirect reference to another literary work or event in history in literature.
Two basic sources from which writers draw allusions and metaphors are the Bible and the ancient
classical writing (primarily Greek and Roman). Knowledge of the characters and stories contained in the
Bible and in the body of myths and legs will add appreciably to the enjoyment, analysis, and
understanding of good literature of all types. From the very beginning of the literary canon, writers have
borrowed characters, plots and themes form these sources.
Requirements of this assignment include the following:
1. Choose 12 of the following allusions on the list below. Please select a minimum of five examples
from the Bible and two form mythology. **The remaining two are your choice.
2. For each of your choices, please list the name of the allusion and its origin (i.e. Greek/Roman
mythology or book, chapter and verse from Bible).
3. Write a brief explanation/summary of each allusion you selected.
4. This assigned must be typed: Times New Roman; single space, 12 point font, 1” margins
Example:
Allusion: Pandora’s Box
Origin: Greek Mythology
Brief explanation/summary:
Pandora’s Box is a Greek Myth used to show the flaws and weakness of human behavior. It also explain
the many misfortunes of the human race.
Pandora was the first woman on Earth created by the gods. Pandora was given a special box by the gods
and was told not to open it. Pandora’s curiosity caused her to open the box she was not permitted to
open. This box contained all the illnesses and hardships the gods had hidden in the box from human
kind. She then panicked and shut the box, only to shut “Hope” in the box as well. This was a lesson to all
human kind; humans were to obey the gods and o as they say.
Biblical Allusions: Absolom, Alpha and Omega, Cain, David and Bathsheba, Eye of the Needle, Goliath,
Good Samaritan, Job, Judas, Manna, Original Sin/The Fall, Pearl of Great Price, Philistine, Prodigal Son,
Samson and Delilah, Scapegoat, Sodom and Gomorrah, Twelve Tribes of Israel
Mythological Allusions: Achilles’ heel, Argus-eyed, Aurora, Cassandra, Centaur, Gorgon, Harpy, Hector,
Helen (of Troy), Medea, Muse, Narcissism, Phoenix, Promethean, Protean, Psyche, Pygmalion,
Sisyphean, Tantalize, Titanic
EXPECT A MYTHOLOGICAL AND BIBLICAL ALLUSIONS TEST THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL ON ALL THE
ALLUSIONS listed.