SEMESTER ONE RESEARCH: ALLUSION PORTFOLIO (counts toward 15% research grade)
JFE 2012 (adapted from Mrs. Maggie Walls' plan)
I. Introduction: The Bible and classical writings provide abundant, rich characters, plots, images, and
themes for subsequent writers. As you develop familiarity with biblical and classical stories, your ability
to recognize and appreciate allusions and literature will increase. Throughout this semester you will be
given the opportunity to research Biblical and classical allusions.
II. Assignment: Throughout the semester you will construct a portfolio that contains biblical and
classical characters, stories, and images. You will select a minimum of thirty allusions from the three
following lists: the Old Testament, the New Testament, and Classical Writings. You must use BOTH book
sources and Internet sources and cite your sources at the bottom of each page (see example).
III. Materials: One one-inch three-ring binder, paper, print and media sources
IV. Procedure
A. Procure notebook and design cover to insert into front plastic pocket.
B. Select at least fifteen topics from the biblical categories and fifteen topics from the mythological
topics. Due Date: ________You will have thirty entries in all. Each entry will be on a separate
page.
C. Begin your research by reading the original writing; summarize what you read.
D. Then research and get more information on your topic. Create a one-page document with all of
the information you find (see example). Include:
1. the Who? What? Where? Why? of the topic in at least one (minimum) well-developed
paragraph.
2. well-known allusions to this topic that you come across in your research (a list of poems,
short stories, and/or novels that employ your allusion).
3. a visual representation of the Biblical or classical writing. The visual may be a picture of
a famous piece of artwork, or you may choose to create your own original piece of
artwork.
4. documentation of all print and web sources including images. Plagiarism in any form will
result in a zero and a discipline referral. Review the Fayette County Plagiarism policy for
more information.
E. Create a title for each topic and then develop an original epithet for a subtitle that
indicates the importance of the allusion (Topic: Subtitle).
F. Sign up to present one of your topics using digital media (prezi, glogster, movie maker, etc.).
V. Time Frame and Due Dates
A. You should begin working on this portfolio now and continue working until the end of the
semester. Feel free to discuss your findings with your classmates, but all of your entries must be
your own work.
B. August 27: Bring notebook and selection of thirty topics to class.
C. August 29: Computer lab work day
D. September
: Turn in five completed entries for a grade (only book sources; check form and
thoroughness and apply to remaining pages).
E. October
: Turn in five more completed entries for a grade (only Internet sources).
F. October
: Turn in final five entries for a grade.
G. November : Turn in fifteen entries for a grade.
H. December
: Share one topic with class through digital media.
SECTION ONE: Classical Myths (Select fifteen)
You need to be familiar with the most famous of Greek and Roman mythological stories and hero tales.
Cupid and Psyche
Orpheus and Eurydice
Pygmalion and Galate
Daphne and the Laurel Wreath
The Amazons
Echo and Narcissus
Damon and Pythias
Jason and the Golden Fleece
Atlas and the World
Paris and the Golden Apple
Hera and Io
Baucus and Philemon
Adonis and Aphrodite
Arachne and Athena(Minerva)
Dido and Aeneas
Perseus and Andromeda
Daedalus and Icarus
Midas and the Golden Touch
The 12 Labors of Hercules
Bellerophon and Pegasus
Apollo and Cassandra
Castor and Pollux
Sword of Damocles
Selene and Endymion
Europa and Zeus
Alexander the Great and the Gordian Knot
Demeter and Persephone
Hero and Leander
Jason and Medea
Perseus and Medusa
Niobe and Leto
Phaedra and Hippolytus
Procrustes
Romulus and Remus
Odysseus and the Trojan Horse
Phaeton and Zeus
Pandora’s Box
Nessus and Heracles (Hercules)
SECTION TWO: Topics from the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament
The following selections from the Old and New Testament are part of our heritage in English literature.
Since these selections are frequently alluded to and used as subject matter, you should read them as
literature. You can access www.biblegateway.com to find the references and complete texts for each of
the following topics. Use their "key word" search tool.
Genesis
Plagues of Egypt
The Garden of Eden
Cain and Abel
Noah and the Flood
The Tower of Babel
Sodom and Gomorrah
Abraham and Isaac
Jacob’s Dream
Jacob and Esau
Rachael and Leah
Joseph and his Brothers
Marriage of Isaac
Job
Exodus
The Judges: Samson and the Philistines
Ruth
Samuel
David and Goliath
Absalom’s Rebellion
David and Jonathon
David and Bath-Sheba
Kings
Rescue of the Child Moses
The Passage of the Red Sea
The Burning Bush
Solomon’s Wisdom
Solomon’s Temple
The Queen of Sheba
Daniel
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
Daniel in the Lion’s Den
The Fiery Furnace
The Writing on the Wall
Babylon
Sayings and Phrases
A leopard cannot change his spots (Dante)
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush .
Am I my brother’s keeper?
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth . . .
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust . . .
Eat,drink, and be merry
Letter of the law
Nothing new under the sun (Eccl. 1:9)
Wheels within wheels (Ezekiel 1:16)
Be fruitful and multiply
antediluvian
All over but the shouting (alludes to fall of Jericho)
Eyes were opened (alludes to Adam/Eve story)
handwriting on the wall
land flowing with milk and honey
seeing “eye to eye”
SECTION THREE: The New Testament
Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
Jesus (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
Joseph (Matthew 1, 2, 3; Mark 6; Luke 1, 2)
Mary (Matthew 2; Luke 1, 2; John 19)
The Nativity (Matthew 1, 2; Luke 2)
The Magi (Matthew 2)
Herod (Matthew 1, 2; Mark 6; Luke 13, 23)
John the Baptist
Sermon on the Mount
Twelve Apostles (collectively or individually)
Parable of the Good Samaritan
Parable of the Prodigal Son (killing the fatted calf,
the far country)
Parable of Camel through a needle's eye
Parable of the Sower
Parable of the Talents
Transfiguration
Jesus' Miracles
Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes
Miracle at Wedding of Cana
Miracle of Lazarus' Resurrection
Mary Magdalene
Mary and Martha
Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes
White-washed Sepulcher
Palm Sunday/Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
Garden of Gethsemane
Last Supper
Pilate
Crucifixion of Jesus/Golgotha
Pentecost
Stephen's martyrdom
Philip and the Ethiopian
Conversion of Saul to Paul
Paul the Apostle
Philippian Jailer
Paul's Shipwreck
Revelation to John
Allusions to Babylon (from OT)
Armageddon (har megiddo in Hebrew: Valley of
Megiddo)
Day of Judgment
Sayings and Phrases
A Voice crying in the wilderness
In the beginning was the Word.
Cast the first stone
walk on water
Wash hands of the matter
Turn the other cheek
Betrayed with a kiss; kiss of death
Resource
Lass, Abraham H., David Kiremidjian and Ruth M. Goldstein. The Dictionary of Classical, Biblical, and Literary
Allusions. New York: Ballantine, 1988. Print.
(Sample page format)
Topic: Subtltle
I. Summary of original text in paragraph form; single space; 12-pt. font:
II. Expository Paragraph(s):
(source).
III. Well-Known Allusions to this topic (list; add brief explanation if necessary):
1. (source).
2.
3.
IV. Graphic:
jane edwards
Works Cited (MLA format)
sources alphabetized by last name of author or by title of articles
(source).