Search results
People also ask
What is an example of an allusion?
What is an apparent allusion?
What is the difference between allusions and references?
What does allusion mean in a sentence?
Learn what allusion is and see 50 examples of it in sentences. Allusion is a poetic device that refers to something external to the text without explaining it.
- What Is allusion?
- What Are Examples of allusion?
- What Is The Purpose of Allusion in Writing?
- Types of Allusion
- How to Use Allusion in Writing
- Allusion FAQs
- Make Your Next Writing Project A Slam Dunk
- GeneratedCaptionsTabForHeroSec
Allusion is a reference to a well-known person, character, place, or event that a writer makes to deepen the reader’s understanding of their work. Allusions aren’t reserved for writing, though—we frequently use them in our speech. An allusion is a concise way to communicate a lot of meaning. Think of it like a writing shortcut. You could spend a pa...
Some common allusion examples include: 1. To my dog, our neighborhood park is the Garden of Eden.(alludes to the Christian Bible) 2. I’m Juliet to your Romeo.(alludes to William Shakespeare) 3. Sad rom-coms are my kryptonite.(alludes to Superman comics and media)
Allusion can do a lot of things. It can give your readers context for what’s happening in your writing. For example, you might allude to the Bible (one of the most frequently alluded-to works in the Western literary canon) by referring to a hard-partying young adult as their family’s “prodigal son.” By doing this, you communicate to readers that th...
Casual allusion
A casual allusionis a single allusion that doesn’t significantly impact the reader’s understanding of the work. For example, you might describe a character’s home as “the kind of place where Tim Burton would be right at home.” Readers who are familiar with Burton’s work would visualize the home as having lots of sharp, angular black and white design elements. Readers who aren’t familiar might not picture this, but they could continue reading without losing understanding of the story.
Self-reference
Also known as self-allusion, self-referenceis an allusion to one of your own works. Author Wally Lamb does this in a few of his books, which take place in a shared fictional community. You might work a self-reference into a story by having the protagonist interact with the protagonist of a previous story. You can also reference your own work by using a piece’s words in a new way, like using a past poem’s refrain as the opening line in a new poem.
Corrective allusion
Corrective allusionis where a writer makes a reference, but for the purpose of opposing the original reference. While Shakespeare’s Romeo and Julietis alluded to frequently to communicate ideas about true love and star-crossed lovers, a writer might use a corrective allusion like this: They were a pair of star-crossed lovers, doomed to stoke chaos and destroy lives. See how this allusion flips the typical reference to Romeo and Julieton its head, referencing the destruction that resulted from...
Know your readers
As we mentioned earlier, it’s important to choose references that your readers are likely to recognize. Otherwise, the reference will go right over their heads and they’ll miss the opportunity to understand what you aimed to communicate through your allusion. Let’s say you’re writing a blog post about tech integration in the restaurant industry. The majority of the people reading your post are likely to be restaurant owners and managers, so you can use an allusion like “86 long waits with thi...
Plot out the allusion
If you’re planning on using allusions in your writing, note them in your outline. This way you can maximize their impact by positioning them in places like headers, opening lines, and follow-ups to previous points you’ve made.
Show, don’t tell
Allusion is frequently used to show, rather than tell, key images and parts of a story. After you’ve written your first draft, look for opportunities to make your writing stronger by changing descriptions to allusions. For example, you might describe a character’s wide smile as “a smile like the Cheshire Cat’s” or a secluded headquarters as “the Batcave.”
What is an allusion?
An allusion is a reference to a well-known person, character, place, or event that a writer makes to deepen the reader’s understanding of their work by creating an association between the work and the reference.
When should you use allusion in your writing?
There are lots of reasons to use allusion in your writing. These include: 1. Provide additional context for your writing 2. Characterization 3. Make your writing (or you, as the author) relatable 4. Position yourself as an authority
What are some examples of allusion?
A few famous examples of allusion include: 1. “Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation.” —Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his famous “I Have a Dream” speech 2. “White Rabbit,” a 1967 song by Jefferson Airplane 3. East of Edenby John Steinbeck Allusions that frequently appear in everyday speech include: 1. “Don’t open Pandora’s box!” 2. “He’s got the Midas touch.” 3. “It just wasn’t in the cards for me.”
Allusion, oxymorons, and other literary devices make your writing stronger and more engaging. But when your work contains spelling and grammatical mistakes, your well-crafted wordsmithing can get lost. Grammarly can help you make every reference crystal clear by catching any mistakes you miss and suggesting changes you can make to get your grammar,...
Learn what allusion is, how to use it in writing and speech, and see examples of different types of allusion. Allusion is a reference to a well-known person, character, place, or event that a writer makes to deepen the reader’s understanding of their work.
Learn what an allusion is and how writers use it to refer to someone or something outside of the text. See examples of allusions in literature, film, and everyday speech, and how they can enhance meaning and effect.
Learn what an allusion is and how writers use it to refer to other people, places, things, or works. See examples of allusion in everyday speech, classical mythology, and biblical sources.
Learn what an allusion is and how to identify it in a text. See 11 allusion examples from famous poems, novels, and everyday speech, with analysis and tips.
Dec 8, 2021 · Learn what allusion is and how to use it in literature and everyday speech. See examples of allusion from Moby Dick, Hamlet, Fahrenheit 451 and more.
Learn what an allusion is and how it works in literature and common speech. See examples of allusions from Dante, Shakespeare, and other authors, and explore their significance and intertextuality.
