In our reading we will meet not only single words and phrases and sometimes sentences taken from mythology, phrases whose full meaning is not revealed unless you take a look behind the mythological curtain.
What does the phrase, "sulk like Achilles in his tent" mean?
During the siege of Troy, Achilles, the greatest of all the Greek heroes, refused to fight because of a quarrel with his leader Agamemnon who had taken away a captive girl awarded to Achilles. Achilles withdrew to his tent and didn't go out to fight until after the death of his friend Patroclus. The phrase means to refuse to participate in an important undertaking because of personal grievances.
How about "the labors of Hercules," what does it mean?
These are superhuman labors and herculean is a word used to describe a superhuman strength. Hercules was sentenced by Apollo to perform twelve labors of extraordinary difficulty.
During the siege of Troy, Achilles, the greatest of all the Greek heroes, refused to fight because of a quarrel with his leader Agamemnon who had taken away a captive girl awarded to Achilles. Achilles withdrew to his tent and didn't go out to fight until after the death of his friend Patroclus. The phrase means to refuse to participate in an important undertaking because of personal grievances.
How about "the labors of Hercules," what does it mean?
These are superhuman labors and herculean is a word used to describe a superhuman strength. Hercules was sentenced by Apollo to perform twelve labors of extraordinary difficulty.
