Allusions and Euphemisms

Allusions and Analogies

A Figurative Language Reveiw

Allusions

An allusion is a brief and indirect reference to a famous person, place, thing, or idea.

Directions

Based on what you know about allusions, answer the following questions.

Multiple Choice

I’ve kept my money in the same bank and I’ve driven the same car. I’ve even lived in the same house. All these years. Call it my Achilles’ heel, I guess. I don’t like change.

• Great weakness

• Comfort object

• Thing that is most needed in life

• Strongest weapon

Multiple Choice

What does the word "ALLUSION" mean?

• hinting at events that will happen later in the story

• citing evidence word-for-word, with quotation marks and page numbers

• reference to a well-known person, place, thing, or idea of significance

• clearly stating the meaning of a word

Multiple Choice

In 1815, French emperor Napoleon suffered a devastating defeat in the Battle of Waterloo, which would prove to be his final battle before he abdicated the throne.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
Last night's playoff in the semifinals proved to be the team's Waterloo. 

• A final defeat 
• A surprise win 
• A final win
• All of the above

Multiple Choice

The character Pollyanna, from Eleanor Porter's children's book, is a young girl who finds good in everything and everyone.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
"Tess is such a Pollyanna!" Liam announced with a sigh. 

• An extremely annoyed person
• A childish, selfish person 
• An overly optimistic person 
• None of the above

Multiple Choice

In a well-known folktale, Chicken Little is accidentally hit by something and jumps to the conclusion that the sky is falling and that she must spread the news of imminent disaster.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
The weather forecast called for clear skies, making my grandfather look like Chicken Little. 

• A person who greets trouble with a cheery disposition 
• A person who spreads alarming news of imminent disaster 
• A person who does not believe he or she can get in trouble
• All of the above

Multiple Choice

In Greek mythology, ambrosia is the name for the food of the gods.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
Louanne's Ice Cream Parlor has the best dessert short of ambrosia! 

• A heavenly delicacy 
• Something unusual or exciting 
• Something hideous or grotesque
• All of the above

Multiple Choice

In Greek mythology, a mythical bird called the phoenix lives for hundreds of years before bursting into flames at its death. However, it soon rises from its own ashes and is reborn.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
Fans debated whether their team would rise from the ashes.

• To come back after  destruction or defeat
   
• To surprise an opponent 
• To think optimistically
• None of the above

Multiple Choice

In the fable "The Boy Who Cried Wolf," a shepherd boy repeatedly tricks people in his village by falsely claiming that a wolf is coming to eat his flock. When a wolf actually comes and the boy cries for help, nobody believes him or comes to his aid.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
Lucy warned her youngest son not to cry wolf while wrestling with his older brother. 

• to raise a false alarm 
• to make howling sounds 
• to physically become a wolf
• none of the above

Multiple Choice

It didn’t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that something was definitely up.

• A person that is nosy

• A very strong individual

• A person with very sharp intellect

• A person who reads a lot

Multiple Choice

Which part of the sentence is an allusion: If they keep pushing me, I'm going to turn into the Hulk.

• If they keep

• keep pushing me

• I'm going to turn

• turn into the Hulk

Multiple Choice

“Oh, I wouldn’t do that,” cautioned George. “You don’t know what kind of Pandora’s box you’re opening.”

• A situation so tricky you can’t get out of it

• A dream you can never achieve no matter how hard you try

• A strange place you’ve never been

• A tempting situation that only causes trouble

Multiple Choice

Which part of the sentence is an allusion: Life can be hard, but you've got to just keep swimming.

• Life

• Life can be hard

• you've got to

• just keep swimming

Multiple Choice

LeBron James is hoping to return the Los Angeles Lakers to the promised land of the NBA finals.

• A place you seek above all others

• The fear that you will break your word

• A place you have no choice but to enter

• The top of the world

Multiple Choice

Which part of the sentence is an allusion: Something weird is going on--my spidey sense is tingling.

• Something weird

• spidey sense

• is going on

• weird

Multiple Choice

After all these years, I was truly feeling the siren call of travel.

• A loud sound

• An urge you can’t resist

• An emergency situation

• A feeling of boredom

Multiple Choice

What is the meaning of the allusion: My brother is a regular Einstein!

• My brother is a genius.

• My brother likes basketball.

• My brother has purple hair.

• My brother is named Einstein.

Analogy

An analogy is a comparison in which an idea or a thing is compared to another thing that is quite different from it. It aims at explaining that idea or thing by comparing it to something that is familiar.

Multiple Choice

What is the meaning of the allusion: Ask me anything, I'm like Google!

• I know all of the answers.

• I need the internet to survive.

• I am rich.

• I hate bad weather.

Multiple Choice

That's as useful as rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

• It’s not useful at all, because it’s completely hopeless

• It’s pretty useful, but also really complicated

• It’s a large task that requires a lot of determination and planning

• It’s very useful, because it’s an important and necessary task.

Multiple Choice

What is the meaning of the allusion: I'm no Hercules, but I could open that jelly jar for you.

• I am a Greek god.

• I really like jelly.

• I am strong.

• Do you have peanut butter?

Multiple Choice

What are two other types of figurative language in the sentence "That's as useful as rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic."

• Verbal Irony and Allusion

• Allusion and Personification

• Allusion and Oxymoron

• Oxymoron and Verbal Irony

Multiple Choice

What is the meaning of the allusion: I sent an SOS, but no one came.

• There was an emergency, and I needed help immediately!

• I like the alphabet.

• I like Alfredo Sauce.

• There wasn't anyone else there.

Multiple Choice

Finding a good friend is like finding a needle in a haystack...

• You need to go to the country to find a good friend.

• Your chances of finding a good friend are pretty slim.

• Good friends are secretly dangerous

• Good friends will always be there no matter what.

Multiple Choice

What is the meaning of the allusion: I felt like cupid had struck me with his arrow when I saw the adorable puppy!

• I don't like dogs.

• I was in love with the puppy!

• I talked to the puppy.

• The puppy was okay.

Multiple Choice

What is another type of figurative language in the analogy "Finding a good friend is like finding a needle in a haystack. Your chances of finding a good friend are pretty slim."

• Allusion

• Idiom

• Personification

• Pun

Multiple Choice

What is the meaning of the allusion: She's a good swimmer, but she's not Ariel.

• She hates the water.

• She is an okay swimmer.

• She is a fish.

• She has red hair.

Multiple Choice

When you contemplate the future, you need to think of yourself as a caterpillar coming out of its cocoon.

• You need to hold tight to the things you love.

• You must make slight changes in your life in order to maintain peace and balance.

• You need to have greater awareness of the animal world.

• You need to make radical changes in order to keep developing in life.