1 st Trimester 2011 AP Senior Lit. “Allusion-A-Day” Each day as an entry task –Take notes on the allusion Jot down if you think it’s a Biblical allusion, allusion to Greek mythology, or to Roman mythology Jot down a few things you know or think you know about it –After the notes, use the allusion properly in a sentence Turn in for a participation grade at the end of the trimester

Monday 10/31 - HADES Is this –a Biblical allusion? –Greek mythology? –Roman mythology? What do you think you know about Hades?

HADES Greek god of the underworld Eventually term association with the underworld itself Tartarus, a deep, gloomy part of hades used as a dungeon of torment and suffering is the actual Greek location of what many know as hell According to myth, he and his brothers Zeus and Poseidon defeated the Titans and claimed rulership over the cosmos, ruling the underworld, air, and sea, respectively; the solid earth, long the province of Gaia, was available to all three concurrently. Because of his association with the underworld, Hades is often interpreted in modern times as the personification of death, even though he was not — the actual embodiment of Death was Thanatos Hades is often depicted and associated with the Helm of Darkness and the three-headed dog Cerberus

Wednesday 11/2 – ABRAHAM AND ISAAC – FATHER SACRIFICING THE SON Is this –a Biblical allusion? –Greek mythology? –Roman mythology? What do you think you know about the story of Abraham and Isaac?

ABRAHAM AND ISAAC – FATHER SACRIFICING THE SON The Bible – Genesis 22 Isaac is born when Abraham is 99 and his wife is 90 – God has already told Abraham he would be the father of a great nation (eventually the ‘father’ of Israel and Judaism) – now he has a real son God commands Abraham to sacrifice Isaac – they walk three days to a mount as commanded – Isaac asks where the animal is for the sacrifice and Abraham tells him “God will provide the lamb” When Abraham took out the knife to kill Isaac, God spoke and told Abraham to stop as he had proven his fear of the Lord by being willing to kill his one and only son

Tuesday 11/8 – SISYPHUS Founder and first king of Corinth Ruled with an iron fist and killed travelers and guests to his kingdom, in violation of hospitality laws Was known for his trickery and trouble-making for the gods both while alive and after death For his trickery and troublemaking, Zeus condemned Sisyphus to an eternity in Tartarus rolling an enormous boulder up a hill, yet it always rolled back down before making it to the top –Tartarus was an abyss within the underworld used as a type of dungeon of torment and suffering The word "sisyphean“ therefore means "endless and unavailing, as labor or a task"

Tuesday 11/8 – ORESTES In most myths and stories, Orestes is known for avenging his father’s murder by his mother and her lover by killing both of them Because of these murders, Orestes is best known for constantly being plagued by Erinyes (“the avengers” or the “infernal goddesses”), or those known as The Furies in Roman mythology while he goes mad from guilt and the tormenting of The Furies In the play Orestes, his madness is a focus as he tries to avoid being sentenced to death for the murder of his mother – he finds redemption by not killing a slave who argues for the value of life

Thursday 11/10 – ADONIS God of beauty and desire Same word used for “Lord” in the Hebrew Old Testament Mortal god of beauty Common references to Adonis are used when referring to strong, handsome young men Connected romantically to both Aphrodite and Persephone – but more strongly linked to Aphrodite

Tuesday 11/15 – “The Absurd Hero” Idea attributed to existentialist Albert Camus ( ) Camus’ existentialist philosophy on life: –There is no God and life is meaningless and absurd because death comes for us all, and in the intervening years between birth and death individuals cannot make rational sense of their existence Part of Camus’ philosophy included “the absurd hero”: –This hero gains victory by focusing on his freedom –The absurd hero refuses to hope –The hero acknowledges the absurdity of his situation, but does not embrace the terms of the absurd

Thursday 11/17 – TRAGEDY + TRAGIC HERO TRAGEDY – A story, typically a drama, featuring a character of power and status who suffers a downfall due to both his own errors as well as circumstances beyond his control – the audience experiences both pity and fear and the conclusion provides catharsis TRAGIC HERO – A character of power and status, typically with moral virtue, who has an frailty or flaw (“hamartia” = tragic flaw), which when combined with outside circumstances, leads to a “tragic” downfall