The Facts on File Dictionary of Allusions - Green Valley High School

Artemis
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Schwarzenegger musculature” (Kim Newman, Bad
Dreams, 1990).
Artemis (ahrtbmis) Personifi cation of youthful
female vigor and athleticism. Artemis, or Diana in
Roman mythology, was the ancient Greek goddess
of the hunt and the moon, a virgin armed with
bow and arrow, twin sister of Apollo. She appeared
in numerous legends, including the stories of
actaeon and theseus. “Ah! here is the duchess,
looking like Artemis in a tailor- made gown” (Oscar
Wilde, <strong>The</strong> Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891). See also
diana of the ephesians; eighth wonder of
the world.
Artful Dodger A youth who is adept at thieving
and other criminal activities. <strong>The</strong> character (properly,
Jack Dawkins) appeared originally in the
Charles Dickens novel oliver twist (1837–38),
in which he was the most talented of fagin’s gang
of child pickpockets. Though an accomplished
petty thief, he is redeemed to some extent by his
natural charm and quick wits. “Meg made many
moral rules, and tried to keep them, but what
mother was ever proof against the winning wiles,
the ingenious evasions, or the tranquil audacity of
the miniature men and women who so early show
themselves accomplished Artful Dodgers?” (Louisa
May Alcott, Little Women, 1868–69).
Arthur, King See king arthur.
as a tree falls, so shall it lie A person’s end corresponds
to the life that he or she has led, and any
last- minute changes of opinion or belief will not
change this. This proverb is of biblical origin,
appearing in Ecclesiastes 11:3: “In the place where
the tree falleth, there it shall be.” It was fi rst
recorded in its present form in 1678. “She sent a
message . . . to the old father to come and see her
before she died . . . His answer was, ‘As a tree
falls so shall it lie’ ” (W. H. Hudson, Traveller in Little
Things, 1921).
Ascalaphus (askblayfbs) According to Greek
mythology, when Persephone was rescued from
the underworld, it was Ascalaphus who revealed
the fact that she had eaten some pomegranate
seeds while in Hades, thus breaking the condition
that she must not eat anything during her abduction.
As a result, Persephone was condemned to
spend six months in the underworld and six months
on earth for the rest of her life. In revenge for this
betrayal, Persephone transformed Ascalaphus into
an owl. <strong>The</strong> pair resolved to have their revenge upon
their former colleague who, like Ascalaphus betraying
Persephone, had brought about their utter ruin when
they were within sight of victory.
as game as Ned Kelly See ned kelly.
Asgard See valhalla.
as happy as Larry Deliriously happy. An Australian
phrase, it alludes to a famous boxer called
Larry Foley (1847–1917), though it may also have
been infl uenced by the slang term “larrikin,” which
described a well- dressed young hooligan and was
itself an elaboration of the fi rst name Larry. “Ten
years later Burton would have been as happy as
Larry” (Melvyn Bragg, Rich: <strong>The</strong> Life of Richard Burton,
1989).
Ashcan School An artistic style that deals with
unattractive, realistic subjects from the seamier
side of life. <strong>The</strong> term was applied initially to a
group of artists specializing in painting such subjects
in the early years of the 20th century, their