Prophecies...Who Needs 'Em?
This Greek hero spends much of his self-titled play trying to escape a prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother—only to discover that his efforts helped fulfill it.
Who is Oedipus Rex?
This Grimm fairy-tale character must spin straw into gold or face a deadly consequence, making a mysterious little man with a very memorable name rather important.
Who is Rumpelstiltskin?
This Dickens novel begins with a game of chance when Pip encounters an escaped convict in a graveyard, though Pip himself isn't the one doing the gambling.
What is Great Expectations?
This Truman Capote book chronicles the 1959 murders of the Clutter family in Kansas and the subsequent investigation of their killers.
What is In Cold Blood?
This The Lord of the Rings character's enormous, luminous eyes are among the most memorable features of the creature who has spent centuries guarding his “Precious.”
Who is Gollum?
This Percy Jackson prophecy foretells the choice of a half-blood who will reach sixteen and make a decision capable of saving or destroying Olympus.
What is The Great Prophecy?
This fairy-tale character is cursed after pricking her finger on a spindle, sending an entire kingdom into a very long nap.
Who is Sleeping Beauty?
This Russian novel centers on a young man whose obsession with roulette becomes increasingly destructive.
What is The Gambler?
This infamous outlaw couple became the subjects of numerous books, but their 1930s crime spree ended when they were ambushed by law enforcement in Louisiana.
Who are Bonnie and Clyde?
In The Odyssey, this monster's single eye becomes the target of Odysseus's most famous act of deception.
Who is Polyphemus?
DAILY DOUBLE:
This novel's protagonist is told by a mysterious prophecy that he will become the leader of his people, but the prophecy's wording leaves room for a very different interpretation than he expects.
What is Dune?
In this Greek myth, this mortal weaver challenges Athena to a contest and discovers that being exceptionally talented doesn't necessarily mean challenging a goddess is a good career move.
Who is Arachne?
This classic novel's lead character is famous for his extraordinary luck, but his adventures repeatedly involve wagers, bets, and games as he travels around the world.
Who is Phileas Fogg?
This book by Vincent Bugliosi recounts the investigation and trial surrounding the 1969 murders committed by members of the Manson Family.
What is Helter Skelter?
This character from The Great Gatsby doesn't actually have distinctive eyes himself—but his giant blue eyes, staring down from a billboard, become one of the novel's most famous symbols.
Who is Dr. T. J. Eckleburg?
This Tolkien character is told that he will not die by the hand of any man, a prediction that becomes rather important when he faces the Witch-king.
Who is Éowyn?
DAILY DOUBLE:
In The Silmarillion, this powerful being's creative work is compared to weaving as he shapes the world through his music alongside the other Ainur.
Who is Ilúvatar?
This novel by Ian Fleming centers on a British agent facing a Soviet operative across the baccarat table, making the card game nearly as important as the espionage.
What is Casino Royale?
This 19th-century murder case inspired Erik Larson's The Devil in the White City, which juxtaposes the construction of the Chicago World's Fair with this serial killer's crimes.
Who is H.H. Holmes?
This vampire from Interview with the Vampire has striking eyes that Louis repeatedly notices, their appearance contributing to his unnerving beauty.
Who is Lestat de Lioncourt?
In this fantasy series, a prophecy concerning the Dragon Reborn becomes so important that entire nations and factions shape their actions around the possibility that this person has been reborn.
What is The Wheel of Time?
This nonfiction book explores the creation and history of the enormous flag that inspired the national anthem after it flew over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812.
What is The Star-Spangled Banner: The Making of an American Icon?
This novel's title character wins a fortune through a combination of gambling, manipulation, and sheer audacity, but his luck eventually runs out.
What is The Luck of Barry Lyndon?
This 19th-century murder case inspired Erik Larson's The Devil in the White City, which juxtaposes the construction of the Chicago World's Fair with this serial killer's crimes.
What is The Executioner's Song?
In A Game of Thrones, this character's unusual violet eyes are one of the visual markers of his Targaryen heritage.
Who is Viserys Targaryen?