Shakespeare and Literary Allusions Quiz

Questions and Answers

By what title does Foster, and many other writers, refer to Shakespeare?

the bard

Provide at least three adaptations, parodies, or references to a Shakespearean play present in another work.

West Side Story - Romeo and Juliet; 2) The Lion King - Hamlet; 3) 10 Things I Hate About You - The Taming of the Shrew

This chapter discusses the technique of writers borrowing or referencing from earlier works. This technique is called _______________

intertextuality

The scene from Beloved, where the white men come to take Sethe back to slavery, is a direct allusion to what event from the Bible?

the four horsemen of the apocalypse Signup and view all the answers

Provide at least two texts based on or named after something from the Bible.

<ol> <li>Tim Parks - Tongues of Flame; 2) James Dean - East of Eden</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

Explain the Biblical naming method described in Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon.

They allow the family Bible to fall open, then point without looking at the text and whatever proper noun is pointed to, there's the name. Signup and view all the answers

What happened when Salmon Rushdie used a sacred text and its characters ironically in The Satanic Verses?

He was so far misunderstood as to induce a fatwa (sentence of death) to be issued against him. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Shakespeare References

Shakespeare is commonly referred to as "the bard" by Foster and other writers.
Significant cultural references to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet include:
- West Side Story: Adaptation featuring rival gangs and a romance that intensifies tensions.
- The Lion King: Similarities to Hamlet, including a murderous uncle and a ghostly appearance.
- 10 Things I Hate About You: Modern take on The Taming of the Shrew, featuring character names and Shakespearean quotes.

Literary Techniques

Writers often employ a technique called intertextuality, which involves borrowing or referencing from earlier works to enrich their narratives.

Biblical Allusions

In Beloved, the scene where Sethe confronts white men attempting to reclaim her echoes the four horsemen of the apocalypse from the Bible.
Texts inspired by the Bible include:
- Tongues of Flame by Tim Parks.
- East of Eden by James Dean.

Naming Practices in Literature

Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon features a unique biblical naming method where families allow the Bible to open randomly, selecting a proper noun pointed to without looking.

Controversy in Literature

Salman Rushdie faced severe backlash for using sacred texts ironically in The Satanic Verses, resulting in a fatwa (death sentence) issued against him due to misunderstanding.

Description

Explore the significant cultural references to Shakespeare's works such as Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet, as well as the use of intertextuality in literature. This quiz also delves into Biblical allusions found in notable literary texts like Beloved and East of Eden. Test your understanding of how these influences shape narratives.