• A myth is a part of a genre of fiction called folklore .
• It is a traditional story designed to explain the early history of a group of people or describe natural phenomena .
• The authors of myths are typically unknown .

• Creation Myths : describe how the earth or a group of people came to be
• Nature Myths : describe why something in nature is the way it is
• Hero Myths : describe the quest of a hero or heroine
• Greek and Roman Myths : describe the actions of gods and goddesses

• To explain natural phenomena or an occurrence
• To explain the creation of the world
• To teach people moral lessons
• To explain some historical event
• To explain some ancient religious practices
• To reveal the common hopes and fears of mankind

• Myths usually have a religious sense.
• Myths are early man’s desire to explain the universe.
• Example: Apollo, the son of Zeus, drove the chariot of the sun across the sky.

• Myths generally involve nature or the adventure of gods/goddesses and heroes.

• The gods, goddesses, and heroes are super human in nature.
• Example: Atlas bore the weight of the world and heavens on his shoulders.

• Gods, goddesses, and heroes sometimes appear in disguised form.
• Examples:
• Zeus came to Hera as a poor bird caught in a storm.
• Athena appeared as an old woman and challenged
Arachne to a weaving contest.

• Human emotions are experienced by gods, goddesses, and heroes.
• Examples:
• Hera was jealous.
• Demeter mourned the loss of her daughter when her daughter was abducted.

• Magic is often present in myths.
• Example:
• Athena came full-grown out of the forehead of
Zeus.

• Gods, goddesses, and heroes experience a transformation or change
(metamorphosis).
• Example:
• Smyrna is turned into a myrrh tree.

• An allusion is a reference in literature to a familiar person, place, event, or other artistic or literary work.
• Writers usually do not explain their allusions.
They expect that their readers will be familiar with the things to which they refer.

• Allows readers to understand new information, characters, plot, setting, etc. by connecting it to something they already know.
• In order to understand allusions, one must have a good grasp on “well-known” works of literature, art, music, pop culture, etc.

• Whenever you come across an allusion in literature, stop and ask yourself:
• What does the writer want me to understand about this character, setting, plot, etc. by connecting it to something with which I am already familiar?
• What is the author’s purpose in using this allusion?
•
•
• To create the same feeling/mood as the original work?
For comedic effect?
To show character’s motives or trials?

• Allusions are NOT references to someone/something only a small group of people know.
• For example, you wouldn’t say, “Sally’s smile looked like my mom’s smile.”
• While this is a method of comparison, it is not to something well-known (outside of your community).

• Sally had a smile rivaled only by that of the Mona
Lisa.
• Since everyone is familiar with the painting, they can imagine Sally’s almost expressionless smile.
• What does this show about
Sally?

THE THREE MOST POPULARLY ALLUDED WORKS:
• The Bible • Greek/Roman
Mythology
• Shakespeare

• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis - The character of Aslan the "Great Lion" is a central character throughout the Chronicles. Lewis himself described Aslan as an alternative version of Jesus that is "as the form in which Christ might have appeared in a fantasy world.”
• Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling - The title character is "The Chosen One" who is prophesied to save the world. He is willing to sacrifice himself to save those he loves, but in the end he comes back to life and saves the world.
• The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien - The protagonist, Frodo Baggins, bears the burden of the ring -- and all the evil of the world -- just as Jesus bore the weight of the cross and all the world's sins.

• Adam and Eve – Reference to the first man and woman
• Cain and Abel – Cain was jealous of Abel and killed him; allusions usually a reference to Cain being evil or causing trouble
• David and Goliath – David uses his courage to fight and defeat the huge enemy, Goliath
• Good Samaritan – a generous person who is ready to provide aid to people in distress without hesitation; reference to the parable told by
Jesus about a Samaritan man who helped a traveler who was beaten and robbed.
• Samson and Delilah – Biblical love story similar to the story of Romeo and Juliet

“Et tu, Brute.”
• Latin for “And you, Brutus,” said by Julius Caesar in Shakespeare’s play when he is about to die and realizes Brutus has betrayed him.
• Used when people want to get the message across that someone has betrayed them.
• In the scene in Aladdin where Genie is trying to make Aladdin a prince, he opens his recipe book. After the crab bites him, a robed hand comes out of the book, to which
Genie says, “Et tu, Brute?” indicating that the recipe book has betrayed him, also, along with the crab. The purpose in this case, of course, is for comedic effect.

Romeo and Juliet
• Many allude to Romeo and
Juliet when there is a story of lovers who are not supposed to be together because of others’ objections.

*These are Shakespeare Originals!
• Bottom of my heart
• High and dry
• Piece of cake
• Budge an inch
• Tongue-tied
• In a pickle
• Too much of a good thing
• Laughing stock
• One fell swoop
• Long and short of it
• Flesh and blood
• Lie low
• Crack of dawn
• Thick and thin
• Rhyme or reason
• Good riddance
• Dead as a doornail
• Send packing

Achilles’ Heel
• Original Tale: When Achilles was a baby, it was foretold that he would die in battle from an arrow.
Naturally, his mother Thetis did not want her son to die. So she took Achilles to a magical river which was supposed to offer powers of invincibility and dipped his body into the water. But as Thetis had held
Achilles by the heel, his heel was not washed over by the water of the magical river. Achilles grew up to be a man of war who survived many great battles. But one day, an arrow shot at him was lodged in his heel, killing him instantly. Yet Achilles is remembered as one of the greatest fighters who ever lived.
• Allusion: When someone wans to discuss one’s weak point, he or she will refer to it as his or her
“Achilles’ Heel,” meaning they are strong in all areas except for that one tiny spot.

Venus
• Advertising uses allusions, too!
• Venus razor blades alludes to the mythological Roman goddess principally associated with love, beauty, and fertility.