Allusions

Definition: An allusion is a
reference within a work to
something famous outside of it.
Famous something outside of it: a
well-known person, place, event,
story, work of art, literature or music

Figurative Language
An allusion IS a type of metaphor. It
connects new material to old, more
familiar things.

Purpose of Allusions
Its purpose is to allow the
reader/viewer to understand new
information, characters, plot,
setting, or other elements by
connecting it to something already
known.

Allusions are NOT Illusions

Common Problems with Allusions

In order to understand allusions, the
reader must have prior knowledge of
literature, art, music, pop culture, etc.
So, being well-read is important to
understanding allusions.
Allusions are NOT references to
someone/something only a small group of
people know. His smile is similar to my
dads smile is NOT something well-known
although it is a comparison it is NOT an
allusion.

Purpose of Allusions
Whenever you come across an allusion ask yourself
What does the writer want me to understand about the elements of
literature such as character, setting, plot, or other element by
connecting it to something with which I am already familiar?
What is the authors purpose in using this allusion?
*Does it create the same feeling/mood as the original work?
*Is it for comedic effect?
*Does it show the characters motives or traits?

Allusion Example
Example: Sally had a
smile that rivaled that of
Mona Lisa.
Explanation: Since
everyone is familiar with
the painting, they can
imagine what Sallys smile
looks like.

Allusion Example
The Karate Kid

Disneys Hercules

Hercules alludes to The Karate Kid when Hercules is training.

Disney uses this allusion so the viewer thinks of The Karate
Kid, and after training in the sunlight, Daniel wins the big
match. The allusion is used to foreshadow that Hercules will
also be successful in his big match.

Most Popular Works used as

Sources for Allusions
The Bible

Shakespeare

Mythology

So, what does that tell you?

---You must be well-read in order to
understand most allusions!

Mythology Allusion Example

Achilles Heel
When Achilles was a baby, it was
foretold that he would die in
battle from an arrow. Naturally,
his mother did not want her son
to die. So she took Achilles to a
magical river which was supposed
to offer powers of invincibility and
dipped his body into the water.
But, as his mother held Achilles by
the heel, his heel was not washed
by the water of the magical river.
Achilles grew to be a man of war
who survived many great battles.
But one day, an arrow shot at him
lodged into his heel, killing him
instantly. Achilles was still
remembered as one of the
greatest fighters who ever lived.

Modern Day Allusion

When someone wants to
discuss ones weak
characteristic, one will refer to
it as the persons Achilles
Heel, meaning that he is
strong in all areas except for
that one tiny spot.

Biblical Allusion Example

As the caves roof
collapsed, he was
swallowed up like
Jonah.
Jonah was a biblical
figure that was
swallowed by a whale
and then spit out; this
saved his life.

Shakespeare Allusion Example

Love Story
Lyrics by Taylor Swift
We were both young when I first saw you
I close my eyes
And the flashback starts
I'm standing there
On a balcony in summer air
See the lights
See the party, the ball gowns
I see you make your way through the
crowd
And say hello, little did I know
That you were Romeo, you were
throwing pebbles
And my daddy said stay away from Juliet
And I was crying on the staircase
Begging you please don't go, and I said

Taylor Swifts song is a direct allusion to

Shakespeares play, Romeo and Juliet.
It is about two young lovers who were
prohibited by their parents from seeing
each other.

Can you make the

connection?

Whats the allusion?

Allusion Answer
The red apple on the cover
alludes to the apple from the
Garden of Eden in the Bible; it
represents evil and its potential.

What is being alluded to?

Choose the correct answer.

A.) Martha Stuarts cleaning habits.
B.) Julia Childs cooking expertise.
C.) Einsteins theory of relativity formula
D.) The wife is telling him he is a square.

Scream Face

Munchs work of art:

The Scream

On your paper
Read the lyrics listed to the right.
Try to list as many allusions you can on
the left.
You may think-pair-share for this. You
will have 3 minutes.
Then, we will listen to the song.
Afterwards, we will discuss the
allusions.

Born Too Late by The Clarks

Vincent will you teach me how to paint
Teresa will I ever be a saint
John I really think your songs are great
I was born too late

I've had a hard time leaving this place

I've been counting all the lines on my face
I'm gonna curse the sky, hit the ground
What goes up comes tumbling down

William will you teach me how to write

Cassius will you show me how to fight
Thomas A. I think I see the light
I was born tonight

Jimi show me how you play that thing

Elvis will I ever be a king and Jerry all the joy
and love you bring
I was born to sing

I've had a hard time leaving this town

I've been losing everything that I've
found
I'm gonna search the sky, kiss the ground
Build it up and tear it back down

Martin Luther King show me the way

Jesus Buddha teach me how to pray
Christopher I think I see the bay
I was born today

Allusion Analysis Chart

(Fill in this chart as it appears on your notes.)
Song title and singer

Allusion quote

Explanation

Love Story by
Taylor Swift

You were Romeo, you

were throwing pebbles,
and my daddy said stay
away from Juliet

Swift is directly alluding to

Romeo and Juliet young
love that was forbidden by
their parents.

Allusions in Popular Music

Read the lyrics and listen to the song.
Fill in the 3 columns about each song.
Name of Song and Singer
Specific quote
Explanation of the quote

One Thing by One Direction

I've tried playing it cool
But when I'm looking at you
I can never be brave
Cause you make my heart
race
Shot me out of the sky
You're my kryptonite
You keep making me weak
Yeah, frozen and can't
breathe

Some things gotta give now

Cause I'm dying just to make you see
That I need you here with me now
Cause you've got that one thing
So get out, get out, get out of my
head
And fall into my arms instead
I don't, I don't, don't know what it is
But I need that one thing
And you've got that one thing

One Thing by One Direction

You're my kryptonite.
You keep making me
weak, yeah, frozen and
can't breathe.
This is an allusion to
Superman, whose
weakness is kryptonite
it makes him paralyzed
and weak, similar to a
crush making you
paralyzed and nervous.

Hercules by Sara Bareilles

I miss the days my mind would just rest quiet
My imagination hadn't turned on me yet
I used to let my words wax poetic
But it melted a puddle at my feet now
It is a calcifying crime, it's tragic
I've turned to petrified past life baggage
I want to disappear and just start over
So here we are
And I'll breathe again
'Cause I have sent for a warrior
From on my knees, make me a Hercules
I was meant to be a warrior please
Make me a Hercules

Hercules by Sara Bareilles

I was meant to be a warrior
please, Make me a
Hercules
She wants to become strong
enough to get over her
problems from the past.

Hallelujah by Rufus Wainwright

I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah (x4)
Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you
To a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
Hallelujah (x4)

Hallelujah by Rufus Wainwright

There are many biblical references in this song:
"You saw her bathing on the roof, her beauty
and the moonlight overthrew you" - Bathsheba,
who tempted the king to kill her husband so he
could have her.
"She tied you to her kitchen chair, she broke
your throne and she cut your hair" - Delilah,
who cut off Sampson's locks that held his
superhuman strength.

I Miss You by Blink-182

(I miss you, I miss you)
Hello there, the angel from my nightmare
The shadow in the background of the morgue
The unsuspecting victim of darkness in the
valley
We can live like Jack and Sally if we want
Where you can always find me
We'll have Halloween on Christmas
And in the night we'll wish this never ends
We'll wish this never ends

I Miss You by Blink-182

We can live like Jack and SallyWe'll have
Halloween on Christmas
The song alludes to the animated movie
Nightmare Before Christmas and the two main
characters that fall in love, Jack Skellington
and Sally.

Now You Try It!

In your groups, identify the allusions
on the practice sheet (other side of the
notes activity).
This will be taken up for a grade, so
finish it for homework if you dont
finish in class!

Keep Looking for Allusions

They are all around you