Allusions

Jason and Daniel are looking forward to the upcoming basketball season. Last year, their team had a lot of great players, but defense was their Achilles' heel. What does the phrase "Achilles heel" allude to?

• The story of Achilles whose heel was magical.

• The myth of Achilles whose heel was the only part of him that was mortal. A shot to the heel was the only way to kill Achilles. It was his weakness.

• The myth where Achilles overcame twelve labors.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.4

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.5.4

If someone on a basketball team says their defense is their "Achilles' heel" what does it mean?

• Their defense is outstanding.

• They are so good they are like gods/godesses.

• Their offense is good, and are able to score points, but their defense isn't as good and they don't win as many games.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.5A

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

Fionna is good at sports, earns high grades in school, has a lot of friends, and is also an amazing artist. Her friends tell her she has the "Midas Touch." What does it mean that Fionna has the Midas Touch?

• Everything is going her way and she doesn't have to work very hard for all she has.

• Everything she touches turns to gold.

• She is arrogant and thinks she is a queen.

• She turns to gold when someone touches her.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RL.3.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.5.1

What does the allusion "Midas Touch" allude to.

• A garage that puts brakes on vehicles.

• King Midas who didn't love his daughter.

• King Midas who was granted his wish: Everything he touched to turn to gold, including his own daughter.

Liliana decided to plan a surprise birthday party for her friend, Beth. When she sw David in the hall at school she asked him if he wanted to help with the party invitations. "I don't have time to plan a stupid birthday party!" David grumbled. "Well, you don't have to be a scrooge about it!" Liliana quipped. What did Liliana mean?

• David was being grumpy about the party.

• David was taking all of the credit for the party.

• David doesn't like birthday parties.

Tags

CCSS.L.8.5A

What is the theme to the Myth The Neverending Punishment?

• To be careful when rolling a boulder up a hill.

• Being deceitful and sneaky might work sometimes, but eventually you will be caught.

• Hard work pays off in the end.

• Hard work is useless.

The adjective Sisyphean comes from the myth The Neverending Task in which the character, Sisyphus is made to spend his life rolling a huge boulder up a hill only to have it roll back down. A Sisyphean task is a task that ____________

• brings great joy and pleasure

• is hard but rewarding

• is endless and ineffective

What does the myth Pandora's Box explain about humans living on earth?

• That beautiful people only care about themselves.

• Why there are evils in the world.

• It is not good to be curious.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.5A

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

The word narcissist comes from the mythological character Narcissus and refers to someone who___________

• only loves flowers.

• only does the right thing when someone is watching.

• Thinks only of him/herself and is very selfish.

Tags

CCSS.L.5.4B

CCSS.L.6.1E

At recess, Tim said something mean to Heather. After seeing the look Heather gave him, Stacey said, "Wow! Tim, if looks could kill.." This allusion refers to_________

• Looking at Medusa turned someone to stone.

• Hercules killing the giant snake when he was a baby.

• Pandora being so beautiful, it killed her husband.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.5A

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.4