Question

Read the excerpt below and answer the question.

I will tell you the tale of my wanderings and of the “Herculean” labors, as I may call them, which I endured only to find at last the oracle irrefutable.

Socrates’ use of the word “Herculean” in this excerpt from The Apology is an example of what literary device?

allusion
metaphor
onomatopoeia
simile

Answer 1

Socrates’ use of the word “Herculean” in this excerpt from The Apology is an example of - allusion

Answer 2

Answer: A) Allusion.

Explanation: allusion is a literary device that consists in making a brief reference to a person, an event (historical, political, cultural, etc), or a place. In the given excerpt from "The Apology" when Socrates uses the word "Herculean" he is making an allusion to "Hercules" who was a Roman hero and god, son of Zeus (in the Greek mythology) and who was famous for his great strength and endurance.