Allusions Making the Connection

Familiar Allusions  “They’re more in love than Romeo and Juliet.” “Oh, you’re just crying wolf.” “Sign your John Hancock right here.” © 2003 clipart.com National Archives (NARA)

What Is an Allusion?  An allusion is a reference to a statement, a person, a place, or an event from literature, the arts, history, religion, mythology, politics, sports, or science.

Recognizing Allusions  Writers expect their readers to understand what the allusions are referring to. Recognizing allusions allows you to  connect your knowledge of one text or situation to another  respond emotionally to the reference, connecting these emotions to the text  Writers expect their readers to understand what the allusions are referring to. Recognizing allusions allows you to  connect your knowledge of one text or situation to another  respond emotionally to the reference, connecting these emotions to the text

How to Recognize Allusions  As you read, you should look for direct references.  direct quotations from speeches, works, or people  titles of books, songs, paintings, sculptures, and other works  names of people, places, and events  As you read, you should look for direct references.  direct quotations from speeches, works, or people  titles of books, songs, paintings, sculptures, and other works  names of people, places, and events Theresa is such an Albert Einstein. © Bettman/CORBIS

How to Recognize Allusions  You should also look for indirect references. My cousin is too curious for her own good. She always pokes around where she shouldn’t, opening up a box of trouble. paraphrased statements from speeches, works, or people descriptions of people, places, or events © clipart.com

Examples of Allusions  Literary example: A Christmas Carol “Robert doesn’t like to spend money. Some people call him a Scrooge, but he just thinks of himself as thrifty.” Ebenezer Scrooge is the main character of Charles Dickens' 1843 novel, A Christmas Carol. At the beginning of the novel, Scrooge is a cold- hearted miser who despises Christmas.  Historical example: Martin Luther King alluded to the Gettysburg Address in starting his “I Have a Dream” speech by saying “Five score years ago…”; his hearers were immediately reminded of Abraham Lincoln’s “Four score and seven years ago,” which opened the Gettysburg Address.  Literary example: A Christmas Carol “Robert doesn’t like to spend money. Some people call him a Scrooge, but he just thinks of himself as thrifty.” Ebenezer Scrooge is the main character of Charles Dickens' 1843 novel, A Christmas Carol. At the beginning of the novel, Scrooge is a cold- hearted miser who despises Christmas.  Historical example: Martin Luther King alluded to the Gettysburg Address in starting his “I Have a Dream” speech by saying “Five score years ago…”; his hearers were immediately reminded of Abraham Lincoln’s “Four score and seven years ago,” which opened the Gettysburg Address.

 Classical example: Romeo & Juliet O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night Like a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear; Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear! (I,v) Ethiop is an allusion to Ethiopia. Ethiopian slaves were often found in Moorish Harems wearing very beautiful and expensive jewelry in their ears to impress upon all who saw them the wealth of their owners.  Classical example: Romeo & Juliet O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night Like a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear; Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear! (I,v) Ethiop is an allusion to Ethiopia. Ethiopian slaves were often found in Moorish Harems wearing very beautiful and expensive jewelry in their ears to impress upon all who saw them the wealth of their owners.

 Biblical example: Garden of Eden “This place is like a Garden of Eden.” The Garden of Eden was the paradise God made for Adam and Eve.  Mythological example : Cupid “Diane knew Sam had asked her not to get involved in his personal life, but she couldn't resist the urge to play Cupid and set him up with Rebecca.” Cupid, or Amor, was the Roman god of love, who was also called Eros by the Greeks. He was usually depicted as a young winged boy with a bow and arrow. To play Cupid is to be a Eros  Biblical example: Garden of Eden “This place is like a Garden of Eden.” The Garden of Eden was the paradise God made for Adam and Eve.  Mythological example : Cupid “Diane knew Sam had asked her not to get involved in his personal life, but she couldn't resist the urge to play Cupid and set him up with Rebecca.” Cupid, or Amor, was the Roman god of love, who was also called Eros by the Greeks. He was usually depicted as a young winged boy with a bow and arrow. To play Cupid is to be a Eros

Researching Allusions To understand fully an allusion and how it relates to the text, you may need to do some additional research. Check for footnotes that contain more information about the allusion. Refer to dictionaries, encyclopedias, or other reference books. Ask others—teachers, librarians, family, and friends.