Collecting and Connecting Mythology
Allusion
Find three (3) allusions to Greek mythology in more modern forms.
Include parenthetical citations in your explanations and a final works cited page for your
sources.
1) Today, in advertising, there are many allusions to Greek mythology. Find up to three.
Each is worth up to 10 points if done correctly. You may cut them out of magazines, buy
the product itself, or quote the commercials carefully. Staple the advertisement to a
paragraph explaining the original myth.
Example: Cut out a Nike advertisement from any magazine.
Attachment:
One of the most popular sports companies in today’s world makes a clever
allusion to Greek mythology. Nike is the Greek goddess of Victory. She has three
siblings, one of whom is Rivalry. Although not an Olympian god, she was worshipped
by the Greeks. There is a story about one of the Olympian gods falling in love with her
(Hamilton 67). A sports company called Nike implies through this allusion that its
customers will win any competition.
2) Greek mythology is the foundation for a lot of poetry. Find or create lines from poetry
or lyrics that allude to Greek mythology. Find/create up to three. Each is worth up to 10
points if done correctly. Explain the allusion in a paragraph.
Example: “Is this the face that sank a thousand ships?” (Marlowe)
In this romantic and wistful line of poetry, the speaker is alluding to Helen of
Troy. Helen is so beautiful that when she runs away, her husband calls together all his
friends who had taken a vow of loyalty, and they wage war on Troy. The war lasts for
ten years and sinks over a thousand ships (Homer 1501). The poet and playwright
Marlowe illustrates that beauty is wedded to war and destruction with this allusion.
3) Greek mythology, when told correctly, is vivid and full of imagery. The imagery can be
simple detail, vivid sensory details, similes, metaphors, and other types of analogies. Find
up to three examples of imagery from The Odyssey or any other Greek myth from a reliable
source (not internet!). Illustrate this imagery on a blank sheet of paper and integrate the
quote into your artwork. Each illustration is worth up to 10 points if done with care and
accompanied by a paragraph explaining the myth.