Literary%20Term:%20Allusion

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Literary Term Allusion

• By Sarah Jeffery
• Modified by Amy Givens

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Definition

• Allusion an indirect and usually brief reference
  to a person, place, or event.
• This reference is probably explicit, but its
  meaning can be understood only if the person,
  place, or event is well known by all or known by
  the reader.
• An allusion can help the reader develop their
  understanding of the text.

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Purpose

• We, as readers, need to know what allusions are
  so we can identify them in our reading.
• We need to be able to recognize allusions in the
  books we read because they are usually important
  in our overall understanding of the book.
• For example, if the name of a character was an
  allusion to a different character in another
  literary work, that similarity could reveal
  something about the character that we wouldnt
  have known if we hadnt found the allusion.

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For Example

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

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How about this phrase

• Its elementary my dear Watson!
• It is an allusion to The Adventures of Sherlock
  Holmes.

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Allusions

• can be made to a book, a song, movie, or a poem.
• Even visual allusions can be made to art or film.
  Movies that are parodies are filled with
  allusions.
• Comedians rely on allusions. They allude to
  current events in a humorous matter. Comedians
  rely on allusions

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Writers often make allusions to Greek Myths in a
text.

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

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Herculean Strength
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Hercules

• Lets read his story!

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Hercules

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

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Allusions to Hercules

• He had many Herculean tasks ahead of him.
• Meaningtasks that seem impossible

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An Allusion

• Supermans Herculean strength made it easy for
  him hold the world in his hands.

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Allusions to Hercules

• The weight lifter used his Herculean strength to
  lift the 200 pound weight.
• Meaningvery strong

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Achilles Heel
Perimeter shooting has been Louisvilles
Achilles heel all season.
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Achilles

• Lets read his story!

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Achilles

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

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Allusions to Achilles

• I cant read your answer because of your messy
  handwriting! the teacher said.
• Neatness has always been my Achilles heel!
  replied the student.
• Meaningsomeones Achilles heel means his or her
  area of weakness

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Odysseus or the Odyssey
Honda Odyssey
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Odysseus or the Odyssey

• Lets read his story!

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Odysseus

• was a Greek king who went to war against the
  Trojans. During the war, he hid his men inside a
  large wooden horse. Then he gave the horse to
  the Trojans as a gift. The Trojans brought the
  horse inside the city walls. That night, the
  Greeks attacked.
• The Odyssey is a very long poem about Odysseuss
  long journey home after the Trojan war.

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Allusions to Odyssey/Odysseus

• The family set out on their 24 hour odyssey to
  Florida for vacation.
• Meaningany long trip or adventure

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The Trojan Horse
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The Trojan Horse

• Lets read his story!

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The Trojan Horse

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

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Allusions to a Trojan Horse

• Try some of the casserole, Mom begged Bryan,
  but Bryan was afraid it was a Trojan horse.
• Meaningsomething that wasnt quite what it
  seemed

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Sisyphus
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Sisyphus

• Lets read his story!

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Allusions to Sisyphus

• For Henry, cleaning his room was a Sisyphean
  chore.
• Meaninga job that never ends

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Pandoras Box
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Pandora

• Lets read her story!

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Pandora

• was a woman who opened a box to see what was
  inside.
• She let out all the evils of the world.
  Pandoras simple act had terrible effects she
  didnt expect.

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Allusions to Pandora

• Dont worry about your homework. Lets go see a
  movie, Allison persuaded Holly. But Holly had a
  feeling inside that blowing off her homework
  might be like opening Pandoras box.
• Meaninga tempting opportunity that could be
  disastrous something that leads to a lot of
  unexpected trouble

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King Midas

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vCL9dkQq-9os
• Lets read his story!

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King Midas

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

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Allusions to King Midas

• Ron got a 100 on his Spelling test at school,
  had persuaded his sister to take his turn doing
  the dishes, and had just beat the 7th level of
  Mario Brothers on the wii. Today I have the
  Midas touch! he proclaimed.
• Meaningwhatever he or she does turns out well

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Nemesis

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vH9faYaGdLS4
• Lets read her story!

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Allusions to Nemesis

• The New England Patriots are hoping to go to the
  Super Bowl this year, especially since their
  biggest nemesis (the Colts) will not be going.
• Meaningan enemy something you are not able to
  overcome

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Cupid

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vaNDmeLBljME  
• Lets read his story!

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Allusions to Cupid

• I passed a note to Sally to tell her that Brad
  really liked her. When the teacher found the
  note, she opened it and read it. She told me
  there was no need to be playing Cupid, since we
  were not allowed to have boyfriends or
  girlfriends in 4th grade.
• MeaningTo play matchmaker
• My mom looked like she had been hit by Cupids
  arrow, when my dad walked in with a large bouquet
  of flowers.
• Meaningto fall in love

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Questions?