Allusions From The Bible

Allusions Two basic sources from which writers, especially poets, draw allusions and create metaphors, are the Bible and the ancient classical writings. A knowledge of the characters and stories contained in the Bible and in the body of myths and legends will add appreciably to the enjoyment of good literature of all kinds. From the very beginning of our literature, writers have borrowed characters, plots, and themes from these sources. Thus, Biblical and mythological characters have become through the years synonymous with certain human qualities, and their names and stories are commonly used to represent counterparts in modern literature.

I.

The Bible a. The following selections from the Old Testament, grouped as literary types, are part of our heritage in English literature. Since these selections are frequently alluded to and used as subject matter, you should read them as literature. Narratives

Genesis The Garden of Eden Cain and Abel Noah and the Flood The Tower of Babel The Destruction of Sodom Abraham and Isaac Jacob’s Dream Jacob and Esau Rachel and Leah Joseph and his Brothers Joseph in Egypt The Marriage of Isaac

Rescue of the Child Moses The Parting of the Red Sea The Burning Bush The Plagues of Egypt Judges Samson and the Philistines Ruth Samuel David and Goliath Absalom’s Rebellion David and Jonathan

David and Bathsheba Kings Solomon’s Wisdom Solomon’s Temple The Queen of Sheba Job Daniel Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream Daniel in the Lion’s Den The Firey Furnace The Writing on the Wall

Exodus b. You should also be familiar with the New Testament, especially the Gospels and the Book of Revelation. Gospels Luke Matthew John Mark

Revelation Prophecy A concordance, found in the back of most Bibles, can give you the specific verses for these passages.

II. Classical Writings You need to be familiar with the most famous of Greek and Roman mythological stories and hero tales. The following is a good list with which to start. Even if you “know” the myth, it’s worth your time to reread it. 1. Cupid and Psyche 2. Orpheus and Eurydice 3. Pygmalion and Galetea 4. Daphne and the Laurel Wreath 5. The Amazons 6. Echo and Narcissus 7. Damon and Pythias 8. Jason and Golden Fleece 9. Atlas and the World 10.Paris and the Golden Apple 11.Hera and Io 12.Baucis and Philemon 13.Arachne and Athena (Minerva) 14.Adonis and Aphrodite 15.Dido and Aeneas 16.Perseus and Andromeda 17.Daedalus and Icarus 18.Midas and the Golden Touch 19.The Twelve Labors of Hercules 20.Bellerophon and Pegasus

21.Apollo and Cassandra 22.Castor and Pollux 23.The Sword of Damocles 24.Selene and Endymion 25.Europa and Zeus 26.Alexander the Great and the Gordian Knot 27.Demeter and Persephone 28.Hero and Leander 29.Jason and Medea 30.Perseus and Medusa 31.Niobe and Leto 32.Phaedra and Hippolytus 33.Procrustes 34.Romulus and Remus 35.Odysseus and the Trojan Horse 36.Phaeton and Zeus 37.Pandora’s Box 38.Nessus and Heracles (Hercules)

Helpful Resources: Lass, Abraham H., David Kiremidjian, and Ruth M. Goldstein. The Dictionary of Classical, Biblical, and Literary Allusions. New York: Fawcett Gold Medal, 1987. What Is Mythology? Greenfield, Massachusetts: The Channing L. Bete Co., Inc., 1978.