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WorksheetsAllusions
Total questions: 15
Worksheet time: 8mins
An allusion is...
the repetition of the same beginning sound
something that is wrongly perceived by your senses
a reference to a work of literature, history, mythology, religion, or culture.
the final act of a drama.
A biblical allusion could be...
all choices are correct.
a direct quotation from the Bible in another work.
when another work refers to something in the Bible.
borrowing similar names of characters from the Bible for symbolic meaning.
A literary allusion is a reference to a...
painting
piece of music
famous person
piece of writing
A mythological allusion is a reference to a...
modern song that uses old instruments
modern story in pop culture
traditional song about a historical event
traditional story that is central to a culture
A reference to a good Samaritan would be an example of a...
biblical allusion
literary allusion
a pop culture allusion
mythological allusion
What is the MOST important reason to understand allusion in a text?
To better understand the author’s life.
To interpret another layer of meaning in the text.
To help the reader better reflect upon his/her own opinion of the text.
To improve your reading speed.
What is the difference between a literary and mythological allusion?
A mythological allusion occurs in a text, but a literary allusion occurs only in nonfiction.
A literary allusion occurs in a text, but a mythological allusion occurs only in nonfiction.
A mythological allusion contains imagery; literary allusions do not.
A literary allusion refers to a specific text, but a mythological allusion can be a reference to something in the oral tradition.
Authors use allusions to...
appeal to the reader’s 5 senses.
blur the lines between imagination and reality.
make reference to characters and ideas in the Bible, mythology, and other literature.
ask questions that aren’t meant to be directly answered.
It pays to plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.
Based on the biblical allusion to Noah's ark, select the BEST interpretation of this passage.
Planning ahead will lead to great wealth.
Most people believe that planning ahead is foolish.
It’s easier to do something now than to wait until tomorrow.
Not planning ahead could lead to disastrous results.
The three-headed dog Fluffy that Harry Potter and his friends have to fight in the book The Sorcerer's Stone is an allusion to . . .
a character named Fluffy in Shakespeare’s play The Taming of the Shrew.
a biblical dog guarding the philosopher's stone.
the mythological three-headed dog Cerberus who guards the gate to the underworld.
The dog in the story Because of Winn Dixie.
When she lost her job, she acted like a Scrooge and refused to buy anything that wasn’t necessary.
What is the BEST interpretation of the meaning in this allusion?
She was afraid that losing her job was just the beginning of her misfortune.
She stopped being generous and guarded her money carefully.
She became angry and aggressive.
She put others’ needs ahead of her own.
My grandmother told me that when someone is mean or hateful, I should not fight back but instead “turn the other cheek”.
What is the best meaning of the phrase in quotes?
ignore the behavior
run away
teach them a lesson
treat them the same way
My aunt has a bumper sticker on her car with a quote from Mahatma Gandhi: “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.”
What is the meaning of this allusion?
The aunt most likely believes that justice can only happen when people are punished by poking their eyes out.
The aunt most likely believes that revenge is not the best solution.
The aunt is very religious.
The aunt most likely believes that sight is the least important of the five senses.
When I asked Jane about her problems, I didn't know I had opened Pandora's box. You should be cautious with people who are upset. First she yelled at me, and then she cried for almost a whole hour.
The reference to “Pandora’s box” shows that . . .
Jane had bottled up all of her emotions inside, but they exploded out when she was asked about her problems.
Asking Jane about her problems made her hate me.
When Jane started talking about her problems, she felt much better.
Jane is a selfish and unkind person.
The best friends were as inseparable as the three Musketeers. When one of them was in trouble, the others would always rush to help.
Based on the literary allusion above, what conclusion can be drawn about the characters?
The friends were often joking around.
The friends were extraordinarily loyal to each other.
Their friendship was only temporary and would soon break up.
Their friendship developed because they were forced to be together.
