On a Scale of 1-10….How On a Scale of 1-10….How Funny is This Funny is This Commercial??

What is an allusion?What is an allusion?

An An indirectindirect reference in a reference in a literary work to a previously literary work to a previously released literary work or to a released literary work or to a person, place, or thing in history.person, place, or thing in history.

Key…to a Key…to a previouslypreviously released released item.item.

In other words . . .

An allusion is when you are watching a movie or commercial or reading a book, and you recognize a scene or song or phrase (etc.) as something that was in an earlier movie or book.

The allusion is in the newer text. The text being alluded to is the older text.

What text is being alluded to? In other words, what are the original texts?

WHY do authors make allusions?WHY do authors make allusions?

1) Help the reader understand a difficult 1) Help the reader understand a difficult idea by relating it to an already known idea by relating it to an already known idea (from a familiar text)idea (from a familiar text)

2) A way for the writer to connect to the 2) A way for the writer to connect to the reader – A literary reader – A literary ““winkwink”” to the reader to the reader saying saying ““you get me?you get me?””

3) Comedic effect…by referencing a 3) Comedic effect…by referencing a potentially shared experiencepotentially shared experience

Why Use Allusions?Why Use Allusions? Used to summarize broad, complex ideas or emotions in Used to summarize broad, complex ideas or emotions in

one quick, powerful image. one quick, powerful image.

– Self-sacrificing characterSelf-sacrificing character

JesusJesus

– Really bad and mean character?Really bad and mean character?

DevilDevil CainCain

General Electric

How do I find / notice allusions?How do I find / notice allusions?

Just like when making inferences…Just like when making inferences…

– Background knowledge!!! Background knowledge!!! – Clues from the textClues from the text

Background knowledge is critical—Background knowledge is critical—you have to know what an author is you have to know what an author is referring referring toto in order to understand in order to understand the allusionthe allusion

What if I miss an allusion?What if I miss an allusion?

Nothing! Well, almost nothing.Nothing! Well, almost nothing.(You won(You won’’t blow up or anything)t blow up or anything)

Allusions are Allusions are risksrisks by the author to make a by the author to make a point or connect to a reader.point or connect to a reader.

If you donIf you don’’t get an allusion, and you are the t get an allusion, and you are the intended audience, the intended audience, the writerwriter has failed. has failed.

Ideally the Ideally the ““story will go on,story will go on,”” but you might but you might miss the literary miss the literary ““winkwink”” by the author. by the author.

Three Most Common TextsThree Most Common Texts

If you If you knowknow these three texts, you will these three texts, you will find and understand more allusions find and understand more allusions found in Western literature.found in Western literature.

1)1) The Bible The Bible

2)2) Greek mythology / Greek mythology / The OdysseyThe Odyssey

3)3) ShakespeareShakespeare

O’Brother, Where Art Thou?

Tennessee’s professional football team and….the giant gods that Zeus conquered to become king of the universe.

Midas Mufflers – Named after the Greek king who turned everything to gold (good?) with his touch.

Theme song – “Trust the Midas touch!”

Ajax Cleaner – Named after the Greek soldier that fought Hector during the Trojan War.

Ajax is tough on stains… like Ajax was tough on Trojans!

FTD Florists and Hermes?

Nike Athletics?

Brave PotatoesBrave Potatoes

ChildrenChildren’’s Books BookShakespeareShakespeare

What's in a name? What's in a name? that which we call a that which we call a roserose      By any other name       By any other name would smell as sweet;would smell as sweet;

--Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet          

A Plague on Both Your A Plague on Both Your Houses...Houses...

ChildrenChildren’’s Storiess Stories

Mona LisaMona Lisa Petite RougePetite Rouge

More!More!

American GothicAmerican Gothic Petite RougePetite Rouge

Within DisneyWithin Disney

The Lion KingThe Lion King HerculesHercules

Scar!

Others…Others…

TitanicTitanic

And….And….

Where Does Joe Go?Where Does Joe Go?

RumplestiltskinRumplestiltskin’’s Daughters Daughter

Mona LisaMona Lisa

Van Gogh?Van Gogh?

Self-PortraitSelf-Portrait

Botticelli?Botticelli?

The Birth of VenusThe Birth of Venus

Famous People in Aladdin

Fast Times at Ridgemont Fast Times at Ridgemont HighHigh Shrek IIIShrek III

Which Have You Seen?Which Have You Seen?

Easy Rider - 1969Easy Rider - 1969 Starsky and Hutch – 2004Starsky and Hutch – 2004

Saturday Night Fever

Airplane!

Saturday Night Fever / Airplane

Okay, so why did the author of Airplane include the allusion to Saturday Night Fever?

– To relate a difficult concept?

– To connect to the reader?

– For comedic effect?

Bridge on the River Bridge on the River Kwai

The Breakfast Club

The The Karate Kid and….and….

Hercules! ! (Disney)(Disney)

The The Untouchables

Naked Gun 33 and 1/333 and 1/3

TitanicTitanic

The The Simpsons Movie Movie

Midnight Cowboy….Anyone? ….Anyone? Anyone??Anyone??

Hercules!

Miss Congeniality!

Shrek 2

Forrest Gump

Braveheart – Battle of StirlingBraveheart – Battle of Stirling

Hardware Commercial?Hardware Commercial?

CaddyshackCaddyshack

Tiger Woods?Tiger Woods?

DeliveranceDeliverance and Dueling Banjos and Dueling Banjos

Shrek 4Shrek 4

West Side StoryWest Side Story

ScrubsScrubs

VertigoVertigo - Stairwell - Stairwell

BatmanBatman

StagecoachStagecoach

Raiders of the Lost ArkRaiders of the Lost Ark

Star Wars

Toy Story 2

Jurassic ParkJurassic Park

Toy Story 2Toy Story 2

Risky Business

And..And..

And then…

ScarfaceScarface

Shark TalesShark Tales

Flashdance – The OriginalFlashdance – The Original

Shrek IIShrek II

Scrubs!Scrubs!

Rain ManRain Man

The HangoverThe Hangover

The Great Escape (1963)

The Great Escape The Great Escape and….and….

ReviewReview

What are the three most commonly What are the three most commonly alluded to sets of texts?alluded to sets of texts?

What are the purposes of allusions?What are the purposes of allusions?