Last Laugh
401. Last Laugh (See also Irony.)
- Alcyoneus giant who threw stone at Hercules; killed when Hercules batted it back. [Gk. Myth.: Zimmerman, 17]
- Diomedes eaten by his own horses, which he had reared on human flesh. [Gk. and Rom. Myth.: Hall, 149]
- Fulton’s Folly everybody scoffed at his 1807 steamboat, the “Clermont.” [Am. Hist.: Jameson, 190]
- Hop-Frog immolates king and court after repeated insults. [Am. Lit.: “Hop-Frog” in Portable Poe, 317–329]
- Magnificent Ambersons, The Eugene acquires same position George fell from. [Am. Lit.: The Magnificent Ambersons ]
- Mordecai and Haman latter hanged on gallows he built for former. [O.T.: Esther 7:9–10]
- Palamon and Arcite victorious jouster (Arcite) dies in fall; loser wins lady’s hand. [Br. Lit.: Canterbury Tales, “Palamon and Arcite”]
- Pizarro, Don illegally imprisons Florestan; is later imprisoned himself. [Ger. Opera: Beethoven, Fidelio, Westerman, 109–110]
- Seward’s Folly ridiculed purchase of Alaska proved wise buy (1867). [Am. Hist.: Van Doren, 254]
- Truman, Harry S. (1884–1972) presidential winner; photographed with Chicago Tribune headline announcing Dewey’s victory (1948). [Am. Hist.: Plain Speaking, 406]
- Tuck, Friar cajoled to ferry Robin across stream, dumps him returning. [Br. Lit.: Robin Hood ]
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Giantism , Alcyoneus one of the Titans. [Gk. Myth.: Kravitz, 17]
Aloeidae name given to twins Otus and Ephialtes. [Gk. Myth.: Kravitz, 17]
Anakim race of tall m… Heroism , Heroism
Achilles Greek hero without whom Troy could not have been taken. [Gk. Lit.: Iliad ]
Aeneas Trojan hero; legendary founder of Roman race. [Rom… Bestiality , 67. Bestiality (See also Perversion.)
Asterius Minotaur born to Pasiphaë and Cretan Bull. [Gk. Myth.: Zimmerman, 34]
Leda raped by Zeus in form of sw… Theseus , Theseus
Nationality/Culture
Pronunciation
THEE-see-uhs
Alternate Names
Appears In
Plutarch's Life of Theseus, Hyginus's Fabulae
Lineage
Character Ove… Pindar , Pindar
PINDAR . The links between poetry and religion were tight in ancient Greece, and Pindar (c. 518–c. 438 bce) was no exception. Born in Cynoscep… Triumph , tri·umph / ˈtrīəmf/ • n. 1. a great victory or achievement: a garden built to celebrate Napoleon's many triumphs. ∎ the state of being victorious or…
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Last Laugh