Allusions to Myths and Well-Known Stories

Understand phrases that refer to famous myths and stories, such as an Achilles' heel.

An allusion is a brief reference to a well-known story, person, or event that the writer expects readers to recognize. Many everyday allusions come from ancient Greek myths. An 'Achilles' heel' is a single weak spot; in the myth, the warrior Achilles could be wounded only at his heel. 'Opening Pandora's box' means starting something that releases many unexpected problems; Pandora opened a forbidden jar and let troubles loose into the world.

A 'Herculean task' is one requiring enormous strength or effort, after the hero Hercules and his twelve labors. Something 'mercurial' changes mood quickly, after the swift messenger god Mercury. Read: 'The team was strong, but its defense was its Achilles' heel. ' The allusion compresses a whole idea, 'strong everywhere except one fatal spot', into two words. When you meet a capitalized name used as a description, it is probably an allusion, and the story behind it holds the meaning.

• 1An allusion is a short reference to a well-known story or figure.
• 2Many come from Greek and Roman myths.
• 3The story behind the allusion supplies its meaning.