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Jewish World Review
June 16, 2010
/ 4 Tamuz 5770
Classic References
By
Richard Lederer
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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Recently, officials from Mainland China offered a pair of pandas to the people of Taiwan. The Taiwanese populace swooned over the gift, but the island's president, Chen Shuibian, urged his government to say no, fearing that the cute bundles of fur would turn out to be "Trojan pandas."
The fullest effect of President Shuibian's comment is achieved only if the listener or reader knows something about the decade-long Trojan War, chronicled in the Greek poet Homer's epic, The Iliad.
Priam and Hecuba were king and queen of Troy and their son Hector its bravest defender. In an effort to win the war, the Greeks sent a huge wooden horse to the Trojans as an offering to Athena. Inside the horse were hiding a host of soldiers. The priest Laocoon tried to warn the Trojans to beware of Greeks bearing gifts but was killed by two giant serpents. Later, the Greek soldiers emerged from the horse by night and overthrew Troy.
Allusions like the "Trojan pandas" allow us to experience an idea on two levels at once by linking what we are reading or hearing with what we have read or heard in the past. Allusions enhance the present through experiences that glow through time. Our lives are considerably enriched when we are able to identify such references because allusions play an important role in creating impressions and emotions.
Not long ago, I received the following satirical virus warning in my bag of e-mail:
"Hey Hector,
"This was forwarded to me by Cassandra -- it looks legit. Please distribute to Priam, Hecuba, and your 99 siblings. Thanks, Laocoon
"WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!"
"If you receive a gift in the shape of a large wooden horse, do not download it! It is extremely destructive and will overwrite your entire city!!!
"The 'gift' is disguised as a large wooden horse about two stories tall. It tends to show up outside the city gates and appears to be abandoned. Do not let it through the gates! It contains hardware that is incompatible with Trojan programming, including a crowd of heavily armed Greek warriors that will destroy your army, sack your town, and kill your women and children. If you have already received such a gift, do not open it! Take it back out of the city unopened and set fire to it by the beach."
"Forward this message to everyone you know!"
Well, please forward this message to everyone you know. The more you learn about the references and allusions that knit us together as a civilization, the deeper you will live -- and the more you will laugh. Knowledge of the Trojan horse is the pass-key to appreciating a host of cartoons and captions:
- A huge wooden horse stands on wheels with a sign on it: "Warning: Contents of this horse may be hazardous to your health."
- Two Greek soldiers see a large wooden horse in the distance. One soldier says to the other, "I'll bet I know which part of the horse they'll put us enlisted men in."
- An architect shows a picture of a colossal horse to his emperor, who comments, "I like the concept if we can do it with no new taxes."
- Two Greek soldiers are viewing a wooden horse mounted on a skateboard. Says one to the other, "It was going to be an elephant before they slashed the defense budget."
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Richard Lederer Archives
Comment by clicking here.JWR contributor Richard Lederer is a language maven. More than a million of his books, which have been Book-of-the-Month Club and Literary Guild alternate selections, are in print. His latest work is Presidential Trivia: The Feats, Fates, Families, Foibles, and Firsts of Our American Presidents
© 2010, Richard Lederer
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