Allusions In Literature

In the novel, “The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton” allusions played a big part in the book. An example of this is when Ponyboy, Johnny, and Dally and go to Dairy Queen and engorged themselves in barbeque and banana splits. “We stopped at a Dairy Queen and the first thing I got was a Pepsi. Johnny and I gorged on barbeque sandwiches and banana splits,” (Hinton 83). The reason the Author used Dairy Queen as an allusion is because Dairy Queen is a well known restaurant and it came out in the 1940s, so it was a still kinda new thing and very popular to go to.

Allusions are used in literature for multitudes of reasons; usually to foreshadow an event in the novel, or to give the piece a deeper meaning. Sometimes, allusions are used to prove authorial purpose. In The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck uses allusions to prove the resiliency of the human spirit and how hope can persevere through even the worst of situations.

Sinclair’s use of descriptive, in depth diction serves to promote a reaction out of the reader, by depicting as thorough as possible his evidence and reasoning, similar to the purpose of his intense tone. However, this descriptive diction does more than just provoke a response out his audience as his tone does, it also strengthens the supporting evidence and reasoning behind his message.

Alliteration is defined as the repetition of initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words or syllables. It is a literary device that authors use to bring attention to certain important ideas or concepts in stories. Alliterations allow the reader to bring their senses together to hear and feel what they are reading by bring in sounds of the world around us into literate. This helps the reader visualize the story, therefore helping the reader to remember it. It is used in many stories as a way to hide metaphors and other subliminal messages. For example, alliterations with the 's' being the prominent sound could be visualized as a snake slithering, making a character have a slyness about him. Specifically in Anglo-Saxon literature, alliteration is significant because it is how authors organized their poems or stories, includes repetition which aids memorization, and emphasizes important parts of the text that the author wants the audience to know. Alliteration in important in both “The Wanderer” and “The Wife’s Lament” because it helps evoke certain emotions and feelings by using the different functions of alliterative language.

Allusion can be described as “a literary device that indirectly refers to a past literary work, historical circumstance, or other cultural or geographic reference point…[to] help readers make connections between concepts in a body of work...authors assume that their readers have enough knowledge of a specific allusion to make the intended connection”(Lundin, 1). His first reference is to “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift; Baron uses this to allow his readers to understand that his proposal will be satirical.  Baron alludes to the Garden of Eden twice throughout his proposal; both times are to make the parallel between temptations in the Bible and the temptations of Americans. Historical figures that Baron mentioned throughout his work were Roger Sherman, Ross Perot, and William F. Buckley Jr. whom are all political figures that allow Baron’s audience of legislatures to further understand the context of his proposal. Events in history added by the author include Hastings, World War I and II, the American Revolution, the Louisiana Purchase, and the Prohibition. Each of the events he references add context of time period and conflicts that may or already have arisen from the problems that Baron is addressing. In order for his audience to understand the circumstances concerning his proposal, Baron used allusion

Sinclair used metaphors to add further depth, descriptiveness and understanding to his writing. In this speech the author states, “feel the iron hand of circumstance close upon you a little tighter.” By this, he is referring to the injustice suffered by the laborers being a large, immovable hand virtually smashing them in its fist. This metaphor added an interesting twist and gave the speech goers a visual that made it easier for them to comprehend. Sinclair also demonstrates this by stating, “With the voice of those, who ever and wherever they may be, who are caught beneath the wheels of the Juggernaut of Greed!” Sinclair used this metaphor to highlight that even those brave enough to try and rise up are at time corrupted by greed.

Allusions are very prevalent in this narrative, ranging from biblical to even shakespearean in nature. These allusion such as in chapter 10 while talking of slaves fleeing their masters that most would

     Sinclair¹s polemic drama begins in the back room of a Chicago saloon. The guests are drunk and drained. The prospect of returning to the

An allusion is where an author makes a reference to an event or a person. Most of the time authors make allusions in reference towards historical events or famous people. Sometimes allusions are made in reference towards current events or famous people. When authors use allusions they do not give a lot of details, because they hope that the reader will understand the reference that is made, without having to explain in detail. When allusions are seen in stories they are often used as either a metaphor or a simile.

Biblical allusions is the reference within a literary work to a story, idea, or event that is related to the bible or other biblical writings. Biblical allusions were used to symbolize the connections between the characters and the religions. Beowulf was composed for a christian audience. Beowulf references Cain and his creations in the poem and how Beowulf was praised for all the noble acts he did. Biblical allusions are mostly used in “Old English” literature, Beowulf was one of the first poems to use them, then other poets/authors caught on like shakespeare, Herbert, and so on.

Allusion is a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance. Often the reference is well known and can sometimes give further insight on certain meanings and display greater context.

Allusion is a reference to something or an event from the past that the reader is expected to be familiar with. An example of this within Don Quixote can be found when he repeatedly refers to Amadis De Gaula. It is the story of a Spanish medieval knight who goes on adventures. Quixote tries to embrace the same habits as Amadis because he wants to be seen as a perfect knight also. Another allusion is made in

1A. Allusion- a reference in a work of literature to a well-known character, place, or situation from another work of literature, music, art, or history

Allusions can influence the text in a variety of ways. Biblical and historical allusions are often the most recognizable in literature and can have a variety of impact. Biblical and historical allusions create an embellishment of imagery, characterization, and the manifestation of government.

When Leopold reads about a colony being set up in Turkey, it represents the idea of Ithaca as a promised land of peace. This is the first episode in which we finally meet our modern hero in a figure of an ordinary man who is busy with everyday trivialities. Leopold might not be on a faraway island in an adventure with mystical creatures, but in his mind he is as far away from home as Odysseus. Although he is in his kitchen making breakfast, his mind is not connected with his reality, creating distance between him and the things that surround him. Joyce did not use myth to draw a parallel between Odysseus and Leopold, but to create completely different hero who is shipwrecked in his own way. Blamire claims that each of the episodes represents