An allusion is an indirect reference to a previous discussion or text. Allusions are used to hint at familiar ideas, sayings or elements. In media, allusions are used to fabricate the context or build up a perception between the character…
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Allusion
Definition of Allusion An allusion is a reference, typically brief, to a person, place, thing, event, or other literary work with which the reader is presumably familiar. As a literary device, allusion allows a writer to compress a great deal…
Examples of Historical Allusion
The Historical Allusion is a reference to some historical events of the period. It makes the reader dive into the ocean of history and finds some pearls of culture, persons, places, and events and grasps their importance in the text.…
Difference between Allusion and Illusion
The terms illusion and allusion sound quite similar, and they both have connotations of intangibility. Hence, many students, including writers, are often confused. Since both are so close in terms of spelling, it can be frustrating to remember their meanings.…
Romeo and Juliet Allusion
A brief, indirect reference to a place, person, thing or idea that holds, historical, mythological or literary significance is called an allusion. The dramatist merely makes a passing reference to the allusion without going into detail. It is assumed that…
Raining Cats and Dogs
Origin Although the definite origin of this phrase in unknown, it seems a likely derivation from some natural phenomenon. There are, however, some fanciful and proposed derivations. It was Jonathan Swift, who first used it in his satirical poem, A…
The Quality of Mercy is Not Strain’d
Origin This phrase is taken from Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. It occurs where Portia demands Shylock be merciful, stating that “The quality of mercy is not strain’d, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven/Upon the place beneath” (Act-IV,…
Ships That Pass in the Night
Origin This line originates from the poem The Theologian’s Tale, and is taken from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s collection of poems titled, Tales of a Wayside Inn. The poem reads, “Ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing, /…
Hamlet Act-I, Scene-I Study Guide
Plot Overview In the first scene of Hamlet, Barnardo, a guard, comes to relieve Francisco, who is his colleague. They are performing their duty as guards on the platform in the castle of Elsinore. Barnardo asks Francisco about his identity.…
10 Unforgettable Allusions in 90s Music
Allusions in Songs Allusions have been present in music since the beginning of the industry – creating connections between music, movies, literature, history, and the bible. In the 1990s, music took a turn toward honesty and rawness that few other…
A Huge List of Famous Allusions
Many of the words we use today are actually allusions to historical figures and Greek Gods. Here are just a few examples: Greek Like other uses of simile, this example functions to help readers visualize the situation. Achilles’ heel –…
10 Beautiful Allusions in Poetry
Allusion in Poetry Allusion and poetry seem to go hand in hand – each one makes the other stronger. An allusion is a word or phrase designed to call something to mind, without mentioning that thing explicitly. This something in poetry can…