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Allusions Quiz 31-45
Lalalallaa
46
English
12th Grade
04/20/2010

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Term
Origin of In Medias Res
Definition
Latin phrase meaning "into the middle of things"
Term
Meaning of In Medias Res?
Definition
Anything that begins abruptly in the middle of the action, or it can be used in its literal sense: into the middle of things.
Term
What is anything that begins abruptly in the middle of the action and means "into the middle of things"?
Definition
In Medias Res
Term
Origin of Loaves and Fishes?
Definition
Gospels, Jesus preaching to crowd of thousands with only 5 loaves and 2 fish, blessed food, left overs still after distributing.
Term
Meaning of Loaves and Fishes?
Definition
An almost miraculous abundance in the face of seeming scarcity.
Term
What is an almost miraculous abundance in the face of seeming scarcity?
Definition
Loaves and Fishes
Term
Origin of Magnum Opus?
Definition
Latin for "great work". Plural of opus is "opera".
Term
Meaning of Magnum Opus?
Definition
Greatest work produced by a writer, compose, or other artist.
Term
What is the greatest work produced by a writer, composer, or other artist?
Definition
Magnum Opus
Term
Origin of Janus?
Definition
Roman God of gates and doorways. January named for Jesus. Depicted with two faces, one looking at future and one at past.
Term
Meaning of Janus?
Definition

Calling someone a Janus can either be a postive or naegative states. Refers to wisdom and knowledge of person who sees everything or the two-faced, hypocritical nature of a person.

 

Represents duality.

Term
What represents duality and refers to either the wisdom and knowledge of a person who sees everything or the two-faced, hypocritical nature of a person?
Definition
Janus
Term
Origin of A Chip On One's Shoulder?
Definition
Young boys place a wood chip on their shoulders and dare anyone to knock it off and thus start a fight.
Term
Meaning of Chip on One's Shoulder?
Definition
Inclined to be resentful or looking for an excuse to fight.
Term
What is the inclination to be resentful or looking for an excuse to fight?
Definition
A Chip on One's Shoulder
Term
Origin of Noble Savage?
Definition
Western philosophy; Rousseau
Term
Meaning of Noble Savage?
Definition
Person who has not been corrupted by society or civilization.
Term
What is a person who has not been corrupted by society or civilization?
Definition
Noble Savage
Term
Origin of Burning Bush?
Definition
Exodus. God speaks to Moses from a miraculous burning bush.
Term
Meaning of Burning Bush?
Definition
A medium through which the voice of absolute authority speaks.
Term
What is a medium through which the voice of absolute authority speaks?
Definition
Burning Bush
Term
Origin of Narcissus/Narcissism?
Definition
Greek Mythology. Man of extraordinary beauty, bent to drink from pool and fell in love with own beautiful reflection.
Term
Meaning of Narcissus/Narcissism?
Definition
Obsessive focus on oneself, particularly one's physical appearance.
Term
What is the obsessive focus on oneself, particularly one's physical appearance?
Definition
Narcissus/Narcissism
Term
Origin of Scheherazade?
Definition
Narrator of Arabian Nights. Middle Eastern folk tales. King hurt b/c of 1st wife's infidelity, kills new brides, Scheherazade tells story for 1001 and makes king fall in love with her and not kill her.
Term
Meaning of Scheherazade?
Definition
Excellent storyteller, one who is able to keep an audience in suspense.
Term
What is an excellent storyteller who is able to keep an audience in suspense?
Definition
Scheherazade
Term
Origin of Skeleton in the Closet?
Definition
Skeleton remains after body dies. Unpleasant and frightening to look at.
Term
Meaning of Skeleton in the Closet?
Definition
Unpleasant or embarrassing thing that someone would prefer to keep hidden from others.
Term
What is an unpleasant or embarrassing thing that someone would prefer to keep hidden from others?
Definition
Skeletons in the Closet
Term
Origin of Fifteen Minutes of Fame?
Definition
Andy Warhol, 20th century american artist. Pop-art images, explosion of media coverage said - "Everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes".
Term
Meaning of Fifteen Minutes of Fame?
Definition
Receiving a great deal of media attention for something fairly trivial.
Term
What is receiving a great deal of media attention for something fairly trivial?
Definition
Fifteen Minutes of Fame
Term
Origin of Let the Cat Out of the Bag/Buy a Pig in a Poke?
Definition
Medieval times. Piglets in markets in pokes (bags), sometimes unscrupulous farmer would place cat instead of pig. If cat escaped, farmer secret would be revealed although most ppl don't check.
Term
Meaning of Let the Cat Out of the Bag/Buy a Pig in a Poke?
Definition
Secrets being revealed and buying something sight unseen or being unwise because of the risk involved.
Term
What are secrets being revealed and buying something sight unseen or being unwise because of the risk involved?
Definition
Let the Cat Out of the Bag/Buy a Pig in a Poke
Term
Origin of Cassandra? (;D)
Definition
Greek mythology, daughter of Trojan King, loved by Apollo, gave her gift of prophecy but later altered gift out of anger. She tried to warn Trojans of impending danger, but they didn't believe her.
Term
Meaning of Cassandra?
Definition

Amazing 18-year-old Vietnamese girl who sits at your LEAP table. No JK haha.

 

Someone who predicts disasters or negative results, especially to someone whose predictions are disregarded.

Term
Who is someone who predicts disasters or negative results, especially to someone whose predictions are disregarded?
Definition
Cassandra
Term
Origin of Catch-22?
Definition
Novel by Joseph Heller, set on US Army Air Force base in WWII, regulation states airman's request to be relieved from flight duty only if insane, no way to avoid flying missions.
Term
Meaning of Catch-22?
Definition
Absurd no-win situation.
Term
What is an absurd no-win situation?
Definition
Catch-22
Term
Origin of Lot's Wife/Pillar of Salt?
Definition
Genesis, bible. Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed by God, Lot's wife looked back when fleeing and turned into a pillar of salt.
Term
Meaning of Lot's Wife/Pillar of Salt?
Definition
Irreversible step?
Term
What is an irreversible step?
Definition
Lot's Wife/Pillar of Salt
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