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Achilles Mythological Allusion
Commentary: Today Achilles' heel is referenced many times in literature and in real life, in the story, it was Achilles' one vulnerable spot. Vulnerability is a large part of what's used in today's literature, for example in "Tandem" by Anna Jarzab Thomas is an incredible agent, but his one vulnerability is that he cares too much about Sasha.
- Son of mortal Peleus and the Nereid Thetis.
- Thetis wanted to make Achilles immortal so she dipped him in the river Styx, but his heel remained untouched and therefore unprotected.
- The seer Calchas prophesied that the city of Troy could not be taken without his help.
- Achilles was sent to Lycomedes to be hidden as a girl, but Odysseus discovered it was him.
- When Achilles went to Troy he distinguished himself as an undefeatable warrior.
- Still refusing to fight in person, Achilles sent his friend Patroclus to fight but he was killed the next day by the Trojan hero Hector.
- Out of Grief, Achilles went to fight on the line and killed Hector, and when Hector’s father came to claim him, Achilles gave him away.
- After many battles Achilles was finally killed by Paris, aided by Apollo, and shot Achilles in the heel with an arrow.
Commentary: Today Achilles' heel is referenced many times in literature and in real life, in the story, it was Achilles' one vulnerable spot. Vulnerability is a large part of what's used in today's literature, for example in "Tandem" by Anna Jarzab Thomas is an incredible agent, but his one vulnerability is that he cares too much about Sasha.
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Antigone Mythological Allusion
Commentary: Antigone shows bravery in her story, that she would rather die than have her brother die without a proper burial. This story alludes slightly to Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," both Romeo and Juliet would rather kill themselves than live lives without one another.
- Was a daughter of Oedipus.
- Antigone followed her father after he was banished from Thebes.
- After Oedipus had left, his two sons tried to take their right to the throne.
- Antigone and her father were able to find a place called Colonus, which was sacred, and decided to live there.
- Apollo sent a blessing to Oedipus and he was happy that he died not being hated by man.
- Returning back to Thebes, Antigone saw that her brother, Polyneices, was trying to take down the city, while her other brother, Eteocles, was guarding it with his life.
- Creon’s youngest son, Menoeceus, was killed in the war because that was what was prophesized.
- Neither brother won the war, both ended up getting killed.
- Since Thebes ended up winning the war, Creon declared that Eteocles should be buried, but Polyneices should be left for the beasts.
- Antigone decided that Polyneices deserved to be buried, so she defied the king and buried him.
- Since Antigone defied the law, she was sent to be killed.
Commentary: Antigone shows bravery in her story, that she would rather die than have her brother die without a proper burial. This story alludes slightly to Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," both Romeo and Juliet would rather kill themselves than live lives without one another.
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Daedelus and Icarus Mythological Allusion
Commentary: In the story, Icarus would have been free and alive if only he had listened to his father. Many times in literature the parent will tell their child something but they disregard it. Anna from "Time Between Us" by Tamara Ireland Stone is often told to stay with someone in her hometown of Chicago, but she would rather stay alone at the bookstore. However one day the bookstore gets robbed and Anna almost gets killed by the robber.
- Daedalus was the architect who made the Labyrinth that contained the minotaur.
- After discovering that the only way the Athenians made it out of the Labyrinth was that Daedalus helped them, Kind Minos imprisoned him and his son Icarus.
- In order to escape, Daedalus made two pair of wings for him and his son.
- As they were flying away, the boy flew too close to the son and his wings melted and he fell deep into the sea.
- Trying to get Daedalus back the King made a contest that only Daedalus could win, and when he did, Minos came to Sicily to receive him, but the Sicilian King would not give him up.
Commentary: In the story, Icarus would have been free and alive if only he had listened to his father. Many times in literature the parent will tell their child something but they disregard it. Anna from "Time Between Us" by Tamara Ireland Stone is often told to stay with someone in her hometown of Chicago, but she would rather stay alone at the bookstore. However one day the bookstore gets robbed and Anna almost gets killed by the robber.
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Eurydice and Orpheus Mythological Allusion
Commentary: Like in the original Mythological story, in the Disney movie version of Hercules, Hercules too, travels to the Underworld in order to save Meg. Just like how Orpheus went to the Underworld to save Eurydice.
- Orpheus was a mortal with incredible musical talent.
- He rode with Jason on the Argo and would harmonize the monsters that would fight them.
- Right after Orpheus and Eurydice were married, she was walking in a meadow and was stung by a viper and died.
- He traveled to the Underworld in order to bring back his dead wife.
- Everyone from the Underworld were so mesmerized by Orpheus’ music agreed, as long as he didn’t look back at her as they left.
- Just as Orpheus had walked into the light he turned around, but he was too early for his wife was still in the cavern, and she went back to the Underworld.
- While he was wandering in sorrow a group of Maenads came to him, and tore him apart limb by limb.
Commentary: Like in the original Mythological story, in the Disney movie version of Hercules, Hercules too, travels to the Underworld in order to save Meg. Just like how Orpheus went to the Underworld to save Eurydice.
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Hercules Mythological Allusion
Commentary: The story "Hamlet" by Shakespeare uses an allusion to Hercules. While Hamlet is comparing his uncle to his father, he compares himself to Hercules.
- Greatest hero of Greece.
- He was the strongest man on Earth, and although his intellect wasn’t strong, his emotions were.
- Was the son of Zeus and and Alcmena.
- Once when he was a baby, two serpents were sent by Hera to try and kill him, but he grabbed both by the heads and killed them instead.
- Hercules was married to Princess Megara and they had three sons, but he went mad and killed his whole family.
- Engulfed in sorrow, Hercules went with Theseus to Athens to live with him.
- In desperate needs to be purified, Hercules went to Eurystheus who gave him twelve tasks to accomplish.
- Even after all twelve tasks, Hercules still didn’t feel at ease.
- After being a fool at his friend’s Admetus’ after his queen had died, Hercules said he was going to the Underworld to bring her back.
- When he returned he was tired of killing people, so instead of waiting for death to come to him, he came to death and died.
Commentary: The story "Hamlet" by Shakespeare uses an allusion to Hercules. While Hamlet is comparing his uncle to his father, he compares himself to Hercules.
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Odysseus and the Trojan Horse Mythological Allusion
Commentary: "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" is a modern allusion to Odysseus. Just like Odysseus knew he couldn't use strength to get past the Trojan walls, the Evil Queen knows she needs wit to get rid of Snow White. The Evil Queen uses a poisoned apple to sneakily kill Snow White just like Odysseus used the horse to sneak into Troy.
- There’s a war going on between the Greeks and the Trojans.
- Odysseus creates a plan to get into the walled city of Troy.
- The plan includes building a giant wood horse that holds all but one man inside, when the man brings the horse to the gates he states that the Trojans should take the gift from the Greeks in order to please the Gods.
- While the Trojans are celebrating their “win” of the war, the Greeks race out of the horse and capture the Trojan women and children.
Commentary: "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" is a modern allusion to Odysseus. Just like Odysseus knew he couldn't use strength to get past the Trojan walls, the Evil Queen knows she needs wit to get rid of Snow White. The Evil Queen uses a poisoned apple to sneakily kill Snow White just like Odysseus used the horse to sneak into Troy.
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Persephone Mythological Allusion
Commentary: The story of Persephone is a common tale that gets told in numerous different ways. Meg Cabot wrote the "Abandon" Trilogy and put her twist on the story of Persephone. Pierce is a girl who has lived an incredibly unfortunate life, but she ends up getting taken by John Hayden to the Underworld.
- Persephone was the daughter of Demeter, and the Queen of Hades.
- One time while she was in the meadow, she was seized by Hades to be his queen.
- While Persephone was away her mother was terribly upset, and nothing on the earth would grow or fruit.
- Persephone had broken the one real of the Underworld if she wanted to leave, she ended up eating some pomegranate seeds.
- Demeter did everything she could to get Persephone to return, but since she ate the fruit of the Underworld she had to stay for half of each year.
Commentary: The story of Persephone is a common tale that gets told in numerous different ways. Meg Cabot wrote the "Abandon" Trilogy and put her twist on the story of Persephone. Pierce is a girl who has lived an incredibly unfortunate life, but she ends up getting taken by John Hayden to the Underworld.
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Prometheus Mythological Allusion
Commentary: "Prometheus" is a movie found in pop culture from 2012. It makes a futuristic world and a man who wants to better improve mankind, however, the government and authorities don't want these things to happen.
- Was the Titan God of forethought and crafty counsel.
- He wanted to better the lives of mankind, but this put him in conflict with Zeus.
- After Zeus withheld fire, Prometheus stole it and gave it to the humans.
- Because of Prometheus’ actions, Zeus created Pandora as a misfortune to man.
- Prometheus was then stuck to a stake on Mount Kaukosos to have an eagle eat away at his ever regenerating liver.
Commentary: "Prometheus" is a movie found in pop culture from 2012. It makes a futuristic world and a man who wants to better improve mankind, however, the government and authorities don't want these things to happen.
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The Greek Gods of Olympus Mythological Allusion
- The titans were the Elder Gods, and Cronus was the leader. His sons were: Hades, Zeus, and Poseidon.
- Zeus dethroned Cronus and became God of the Sky, and leader of the other Gods.
- Poseidon was God of the Sea.
- Hades became God of the Underworld.
- Hera was Zeus’ wife and protector of marriage.
- Athena was the daughter of Zeus and she came from his head, she was the protector of civilized life, handicrafts, and agriculture.
- Apollo was also a son of Zeus, he was the God of music and of the silver bow, healing, and of light.
- Artemis is Apollo’s twin sister, she is the Goddess of wild things, hunt, and the protector of youth.
- Aphrodite was the Goddess of love and beauty.
- Hermes was a son of Zeus, and the Master Thief and also Zeus’ messenger.
- Ares was the God of War, and son to both Zeus and Hera.
- Hephaestus was the God of Fire and the creator of armor and war needs.
- Hestia was Zeus’ sister and the Goddess of Hearth.
Commentary: Greek Gods are the foundation of Greek Mythology, there are allusions to all of them in countless works of literature. However, in the Percy Jackson series these are all alluded to because the entire series is a direct allusion to Greek Mythology.
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Agamemnon Mythological Allusion
Commentary: Orestes is faced with a terrible decision when he returns to his mother, this is a common theme among many other stories as well. In "If I Stay" Mia gets into a terrible car accident and spends the day trying to decide if she should go to heaven or stay alive.
- One day when Agamemnon was away his wife, Clytemnestra, had an affair.
- Clytemnestra and her lover made a plan to kill Agamemnon and his son Orestes.
- Once Electra, Orestes’ sister, found out she sent him to live with their uncle.
- Orestes then came back pretending to be a messenger saying that Orestes had died, and killed his mother after being faced with the terrible decision of saving her of avenging his fathers death.
- After killing his mother, Orestes was chased by the Furies until he made it to Greece.
Commentary: Orestes is faced with a terrible decision when he returns to his mother, this is a common theme among many other stories as well. In "If I Stay" Mia gets into a terrible car accident and spends the day trying to decide if she should go to heaven or stay alive.
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Cupid and Psyche Mythological Alluison
Commentary: Cupid and Psyche have a beautiful love story, and that's what both of them are known for. However, Psych isn't aloud to see Cupid at first for he's stated to be a "monster." This is like in "Beauty and the Beast" where originally Belle doesn't see the Beast when he's in the castle, for he doesn't want her to see him as the monster that he pictures himself to be.
- Psyche is a gorgeous daughter of a queen and king.
- Some men begin to start saying that Psyche is more beautiful than the Goddess Aphrodite, which makes her incredibly mad.
- Aphrodite commands her son Cupid to get Psyche to fall in love with the ugliest man around, but he gets so distracted by her beauty, he sticks himself with his own arrow.
- After Psyche’s sisters get married but she hasn’t, her parents seek out the Oracle and they get told to leave her on a mountain for her monstrous husband to come.
- Psyche then gets sent to a beautiful kingdom, and her husband only comes to visit her at night.
- Her sisters come and tell her that she has to sneak in to see her husband and when she does she ends up dripping some candle wax on him and he flies away stating that she’ll never see him again.
- Seeking help Psyche finds Demeter but she can’t help her without consulting Aphrodite.
- Once Psyche finds Aphrodite, she states that in order to marry her son, Cupid, she must do an impossible task of sorting what Aphrodite feeds to her pigeons.
- Cupid intervenes by sending ants to help Psyche sort, but Aphrodite didn’t believe she did it on her own, so she explains that she must receive golden fleece off of every sheep in a herd.
- Aphrodite is yet again not please and states that she must go to the Underworld and collect some of Persephone’s beauty in a box.
- Psyche is told that she must not look in the box, but she does anyway, and collapses into a deep sleep. However, Cupid comes to save her.
- Cupid then goes to Zeus to beg him to let him and Psyche to be together, Zeus agrees and makes Psyche immortal, now Cupid and Psyche can be together.
Commentary: Cupid and Psyche have a beautiful love story, and that's what both of them are known for. However, Psych isn't aloud to see Cupid at first for he's stated to be a "monster." This is like in "Beauty and the Beast" where originally Belle doesn't see the Beast when he's in the castle, for he doesn't want her to see him as the monster that he pictures himself to be.
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Narcissus and Echo Mythological Allusion
Commentary: Like in the myth of Narcissus and Echo, it's easy to see that love can make people do crazy things. In "Hamlet" Ophelia also falls greatly in love with Hamlet, but however he doesn't really love her back. Later in the play, she goes crazy and ends up drowning herself, just like Echo starved herself.
- When Narcissus was young while he was hunting he spotted a nymph named Echo.
- Echo however was punished by Hera by taking her voice away and only repeating the things she hears.
- After seeing Narcissus, Echo falls deeply in love with him, but she can’t say anything.
- One day, Narcissus gets lost and Echo offers to help, but Narcissus screams at her to go away, and Narcissus runs away crying.
- She hides in a cave for so long that she starves from hunger and she becomes dust, but her voice lives on.
- Later on, Narcissus is looking for something to drink, and as vengeance, Nemesis makes a pond and as soon as Narcissus looks at his reflection he falls in love with himself.
- Narcissus falls so in love with the figure that he begins talking to it and he hears an answer, but it’s Echo’s voice. However he never left, and he, like Echo, starves to death and becomes dust.
Commentary: Like in the myth of Narcissus and Echo, it's easy to see that love can make people do crazy things. In "Hamlet" Ophelia also falls greatly in love with Hamlet, but however he doesn't really love her back. Later in the play, she goes crazy and ends up drowning herself, just like Echo starved herself.
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Hector Mythological Allusion
Commentary: Hector was known as an incredibly loyal friend and family member, this idea can be found in many literary works and real life. For example in the Harry Potter series, Harry is very loyal to his friends, especially since he doesn't have any family alive. In the last book, Harry would rather die at the hand of Voldemort than have any of his friends get killed.
- Oldest son of the King of Troy, Priam.
- He was the husband of Andromache and head general of the Trojan army.
- Hector was concerned about valuable characteristics, like being a good husband and son.
- Hector was also a favorite of the God, Apollo.
- Being the star of many battles Hector was like by many people.
- When Achilles’ friend Patroclus came in for him and was slain by Hector, Achilles came to avenge his death and killed Hector.
- Hector’s body was received by his father, Priam, and he received a great ceremony and honor.
Commentary: Hector was known as an incredibly loyal friend and family member, this idea can be found in many literary works and real life. For example in the Harry Potter series, Harry is very loyal to his friends, especially since he doesn't have any family alive. In the last book, Harry would rather die at the hand of Voldemort than have any of his friends get killed.
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Jason and the Golden Fleece Mythological Allusion
Commentary: Stealing things of value is not an uncommon theme in mythology, it's also used in other literary works as well. In "Elsewhere" Liz steals coins from her Grandmother in order to see what is going on on Earth while she is dead, these coins however, can be very hard to come by making them quite valuable.
- Jason comes one day to a part of Greece to take the throne as his rightful place as king.
- Pelias tells Jason that the only way he’ll give it up is if he finds the Golden Fleece.
- Once he reaches King Etes, his daughter, Medea, tells him that he must plow a field of dragon’s teeth. However, Cupid makes Medea fall in love with Jason and she gives him a potion invincibility.
- The king however, will still not give Jason the fleece, so Medea aids him and flees with Jason back home.
- On the journey back home, Medea kills her brother thinking it’ll help Jason. She also has one of the king’s daughters kill the king, and when Jason gets remarried she killed the bride and her own two sons fathered by Jason.
Commentary: Stealing things of value is not an uncommon theme in mythology, it's also used in other literary works as well. In "Elsewhere" Liz steals coins from her Grandmother in order to see what is going on on Earth while she is dead, these coins however, can be very hard to come by making them quite valuable.
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Oedipus Mythological Allusion
- Was a King of Thebes, who was aware of the terrible curse that had fallen on his city.
- Oedipus discovers that if the murderer of the past king, Laius, is found and prosecuted, but he was murdered many years ago.
- The king then dedicates all his time to finding the murderer.
- While questioning Teiresias, the blind prophet, Oedipus is told that he himself killed Laius.
- Oedipus’ wife tells him not to worry because prophets are sometimes wrong.
- His wife tells the story how her and Laius were supposed to have a son that would kill the king and sleep with her, but it doesn't comfort Oedipus because he was told that he was adopted and would kill his father and sleep with his mother.
- Soon after, Jocasta discovers that Oedipus is her son, and Laius was his father, out of horrification, she kills herself.
- Oedipus, too, realizes who he is and out of horror gouges out his eyes and is exiled from Thebes.
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Perseus Mythological Allusion
Commentary: There are many versions of the story of Perseus and Medusa. One of the more modern and well known by this generation is the one from "Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief" In the book Percy has to behead Medusa in order to complete his quest to return Zeus' lightning bolt.
- Perseus lived with his mother on the island of Seriphus with a fisherman name Diktys.
- The king of the island, Polydectes, had a thing for Danae.
- In a collection of gifts the king asks Perseus to bring him the head of a Gorgon.
- On his quest he steals the tooth and eye from the Graeae in order to find the Nymphai so he can borrow things from them.
- When Perseus finds the Gorgons, he sneaks up on Medusa and cuts off her head, and out came Pegasus, right out of her neck.
- On Perseus’ way home he runs into Atlas and they get into fight that ends with Perseus turning Atlas to stone by Medusa’s head.
- Also on his way Perseus finds Princess Andromeda, tied to a rock, he rescues her from a sea monster and makes her his wife.
- When Perseus goes to bring the head to Polydectes he whips out the head and turns him, and his friends, to stone.
Commentary: There are many versions of the story of Perseus and Medusa. One of the more modern and well known by this generation is the one from "Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief" In the book Percy has to behead Medusa in order to complete his quest to return Zeus' lightning bolt.
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River Styx Mythological Allusion
Commentary: Being the barrier between life and death, the River Styx is alluded to in many different ways. In "The Great Gatsby," F. Scott Fitzgerald uses the road from West Egg to East Egg, or known in the book as the Valley of Ashes, to allude to The River Styx. The road goes from a beautiful part of the city to the rugged and dirty part.
- The River Styx was a river that separated the living from the dead.
- In the Underworld, souls who had been buried with a coin could cross over the river by the boatman Charon, but if not some would try to swim across, however, most did not make it.
- If a mortal is dipped in the River Styx they become immortal.
- If a God were to swear on the River Styx it is then unbreakable, the vow must be kept.
Commentary: Being the barrier between life and death, the River Styx is alluded to in many different ways. In "The Great Gatsby," F. Scott Fitzgerald uses the road from West Egg to East Egg, or known in the book as the Valley of Ashes, to allude to The River Styx. The road goes from a beautiful part of the city to the rugged and dirty part.
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Theseus Mythological Allusion
Commentary: Theseus was brave enough to risk his own life in order to save many others by volunteering himself to go to the Labyrinth. This alludes to Katniss from the "Hunger Games" who volunteers to be one of the tributes in the Hunger Games so her younger sister doesn't have to go.
- A great hero in Athens.
- Was told when he was younger to lift a boulder, and when he did, he was given a sword and sandals and sent to Athens.
- On Theseus’ way to Athens he met a bunch of robbers, but yet Theseus’ was able to out-smart all of them into getting by.
- When Theseus arrived in Athens, Medea knew that she would be outdone by him, so she planned a way to kill him, but the king discovered he was his son, therefore he lived.
- When King Minos’ yearly ship came to collect the tributes for the Labyrinth, Theseus volunteered in order to slay the Minotaur.
- While on the ship, Ariadne, Minos’ daughter, told Theseus she would help him slay the Minotaur if he would take her back to Athens and make her his queen.
- Using a ball of string to make it through the Labyrinth, Theseus goes to the middle and kills the Minotaur.
- On the way home Dionysus says that Theseus can’t marry Ariadne for he already claimed her, Theseus did as he was told but was terribly upset.
- Since Theseus was so sad he forgot to change the sails of the boat from black to white, signifying to his father that he was alive.
- When the king saw the flags were still black, he jumped into the sea and killed himself.
Commentary: Theseus was brave enough to risk his own life in order to save many others by volunteering himself to go to the Labyrinth. This alludes to Katniss from the "Hunger Games" who volunteers to be one of the tributes in the Hunger Games so her younger sister doesn't have to go.