Allusion as Vocabulary

Understand common words and phrases that allude to myths, literature, and history.

Many English words and phrases are allusions, compressed references to stories that readers are expected to know. Mythology supplies many. An Achilles' heel is a single fatal weakness, from the Greek hero who was vulnerable only at his heel. Pandora's box is a source of many unforeseen troubles, from the myth of a container that released hardships into the world. A Herculean task is one requiring enormous strength or effort, after Hercules's labors. A narcissist is excessively self-absorbed, from Narcissus, who fell in love with his reflection.

Literature supplies others: quixotic, from the novel Don Quixote, means idealistic to an impractical degree. Worked example: 'Opening the investigation was a Pandora's box for the company; every answer raised new problems. ' The allusion explains in two words that one action unleashed an expanding series of troubles. When an allusion confuses you, look it up; the story usually explains the meaning far better than a definition alone.

• 1Allusions compress a whole story into a word or phrase.
• 2Mythology and literature supply many common allusions.
• 3Learning the story explains the meaning.