Literary Term: Allusion

By: Sarah Jeffery

Modified by: Amy Givens

Definition

Allusion: an indirect and usually brief reference to Allusion: an indirect and usually brief reference to a person, place, or event. a person, place, or event.

This reference is probably explicit, but its meaning This reference is probably explicit, but its meaning can be understood only if the person, place, or can be understood only if the person, place, or event is well known by all or known by the reader. event is well known by all or known by the reader.

An allusion can help the reader develop their An allusion can help the reader develop their understanding of the text.understanding of the text.

Purpose

We, as readers, need to know what allusions are so We, as readers, need to know what allusions are so we can identify them in our reading. we can identify them in our reading.

We need to be able to recognize allusions in the We need to be able to recognize allusions in the books we read because they are usually important books we read because they are usually important in our overall understanding of the book. in our overall understanding of the book.

For example, if the name of a character was an For example, if the name of a character was an allusion to a different character in another literary allusion to a different character in another literary work, that similarity could reveal something about work, that similarity could reveal something about the character that we wouldn’t have known if we the character that we wouldn’t have known if we hadn’t found the allusion. hadn’t found the allusion.

For Example:

If you were trying to instill If you were trying to instill confidence in a friend and confidence in a friend and said, “Use the force,” that said, “Use the force,” that would be an allusion to the would be an allusion to the text text Stars WarsStars Wars. .

How about this phrase…

It’s elementary my dear It’s elementary my dear Watson!Watson!

It is an allusion to It is an allusion to The The Adventures of Sherlock Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.Holmes.

Allusions…can be made to a book, a song, movie, or a can be made to a book, a song, movie, or a poem. poem.

Even visual allusions can be made to art or film. Even visual allusions can be made to art or film. Movies that are parodies are filled with allusions. Movies that are parodies are filled with allusions.

Comedians rely on allusions. They allude to Comedians rely on allusions. They allude to current events in a humorous matter. Comedians current events in a humorous matter. Comedians rely on allusions rely on allusions

Writers often make allusions to Greek Myths in a text.

Myths are ancient stories Myths are ancient stories about gods and heroes. about gods and heroes. Many words used as Many words used as allusions come from the allusions come from the namesnames in the myths. in the myths.

Herculean Strength

Hercules

Let’s read his story!Let’s read his story!

Hercules…

• was the strongest man in the world. was the strongest man in the world.

• The Greek half-god had to perform The Greek half-god had to perform 12 tasks so difficult that they 12 tasks so difficult that they seemed impossible. By the end of seemed impossible. By the end of these tasks, he was a hero to the these tasks, he was a hero to the people.people.

Allusions to Hercules…

•He had many He had many HerculeanHerculean tasks ahead of him.tasks ahead of him.

•Meaning—tasks that seem Meaning—tasks that seem impossibleimpossible

Superman’s Superman’s Herculean strength Herculean strength

made it easy for made it easy for him hold the world him hold the world

in his hands. in his hands.

An Allusion

Allusions to Hercules…

•The weight lifter used his The weight lifter used his HerculeanHerculean strength to lift strength to lift the 200 pound weight.the 200 pound weight.

•Meaning—very strongMeaning—very strong

Achilles Heel

“Perimeter shooting has been Louisville’s Achilles heel all season.”

Achilles

Let’s read his story!Let’s read his story!

Achilles…

• was a great warrior. was a great warrior.

• When he was a baby, his mother dipped him When he was a baby, his mother dipped him in a magical river. Where ever the water in a magical river. Where ever the water touched him, he could not be harmed. But touched him, he could not be harmed. But his mother held him by his heel, so that was his mother held him by his heel, so that was his one weakness. He was defeated when his one weakness. He was defeated when an enemy struck his heel.an enemy struck his heel.

Allusions to Achilles…

• ““I can’t read your answer because of your I can’t read your answer because of your messy handwriting!” the teacher said.messy handwriting!” the teacher said.

• ““Neatness has always been my Neatness has always been my Achilles Achilles heelheel!” replied the student.!” replied the student.

• Meaning—someone’s Achilles heel means Meaning—someone’s Achilles heel means his or her area of weaknesshis or her area of weakness

Odysseus or the Odyssey

Honda Odyssey

Odysseus or the Odyssey

Let’s read his story!Let’s read his story!

Odysseus…• was a Greek king who went to war against the was a Greek king who went to war against the

Trojans. During the war, he hid his men inside Trojans. During the war, he hid his men inside a large wooden horse. Then he gave the horse a large wooden horse. Then he gave the horse to the Trojans as a gift. The Trojans brought the to the Trojans as a gift. The Trojans brought the horse inside the city walls. That night, the horse inside the city walls. That night, the Greeks attacked. Greeks attacked.

• The Odyssey The Odyssey is a very long poem about is a very long poem about Odysseus’s long journey home after the Trojan Odysseus’s long journey home after the Trojan war.war.

Allusions to Odyssey/Odysseus…•The family set out on their The family set out on their

24 hour 24 hour odysseyodyssey to Florida to Florida for vacation.for vacation.

•Meaning—any long trip or Meaning—any long trip or adventureadventure

The Trojan Horse

The Trojan Horse

Let’s read his story!Let’s read his story!

The Trojan Horse…

• was the large, wooden horse that was the large, wooden horse that Odysseus sent as a gift to the Odysseus sent as a gift to the Trojans. The Greek warriors were Trojans. The Greek warriors were hiding inside. The Trojans brought hiding inside. The Trojans brought the horse inside the city walls. That the horse inside the city walls. That night, the Greeks attacked and won night, the Greeks attacked and won the war. the war.

Allusions to a Trojan Horse…• ““Try some of the casserole,” Try some of the casserole,”

Mom begged Bryan, but Bryan Mom begged Bryan, but Bryan was afraid it was a was afraid it was a Trojan Trojan horsehorse..

• Meaning—something that Meaning—something that wasn’t quite what it seemedwasn’t quite what it seemed

Sisyphus

Sisyphus

Let’s read his story!Let’s read his story!

Allusions to Sisyphus

For Henry, cleaning his room was a For Henry, cleaning his room was a SisypheanSisyphean chore.chore.

Meaning—a job that never endsMeaning—a job that never ends

Pandora’s Box

Pandora

Let’s read her story!Let’s read her story!

Pandora…

• was a woman who opened a box to was a woman who opened a box to see what was inside.see what was inside.

• She let out all the evils of the world. She let out all the evils of the world. Pandora’s simple act had terrible Pandora’s simple act had terrible effects she didn’t expect.effects she didn’t expect.

Allusions to Pandora…

• ““Don’t worry about your homework. Let’s Don’t worry about your homework. Let’s go see a movie,” Allison persuaded Holly. go see a movie,” Allison persuaded Holly. But Holly had a feeling inside that blowing But Holly had a feeling inside that blowing off her homework might be like off her homework might be like opening opening Pandora’s boxPandora’s box..

• Meaning—a tempting opportunity that Meaning—a tempting opportunity that could be disastrous; something that leads could be disastrous; something that leads to a lot of unexpected troubleto a lot of unexpected trouble

King Midas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL9dkQq-9os

Let’s read his story!Let’s read his story!

King Midas…

• had the power to turn everything he had the power to turn everything he touched into gold.touched into gold.

Allusions to King Midas …

• Ron got a 100% on his Spelling test at Ron got a 100% on his Spelling test at school, had persuaded his sister to take his school, had persuaded his sister to take his turn doing the dishes, and had just beat the turn doing the dishes, and had just beat the 77thth level of Mario Brothers on the wii. “Today level of Mario Brothers on the wii. “Today I have the I have the Midas touchMidas touch!” he proclaimed.!” he proclaimed.

• Meaning—whatever he or she does turns out Meaning—whatever he or she does turns out wellwell

Nemesis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9faYaGdLS4

Let’s read her story!Let’s read her story!

Allusions to Nemesis…

• The New England Patriots are hoping to go The New England Patriots are hoping to go to the Super Bowl this year, especially since to the Super Bowl this year, especially since their biggest their biggest nemesisnemesis (the Colts) will not be (the Colts) will not be going.going.

• Meaning—an enemy; something you are not Meaning—an enemy; something you are not able to overcomeable to overcome

Cupid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNDmeLBljME    

Let’s read his story!Let’s read his story!

Allusions to CupidI passed a note to Sally to tell her that Brad really I passed a note to Sally to tell her that Brad really liked her. When the teacher found the note, she liked her. When the teacher found the note, she opened it and read it. She told me there was no opened it and read it. She told me there was no need to be need to be playing Cupidplaying Cupid, since we were not allowed , since we were not allowed to have boyfriends or girlfriends in 4to have boyfriends or girlfriends in 4thth grade. grade.

Meaning—To play matchmakerMeaning—To play matchmaker

My mom looked like she had been My mom looked like she had been hit by Cupid’s hit by Cupid’s arrowarrow, when my dad walked in with a large bouquet , when my dad walked in with a large bouquet of flowers.of flowers.

Meaning—to fall in loveMeaning—to fall in love

Questions?