AllusionsAllusionsMaking the ConnectionMaking the Connection

Familiar AllusionsFamiliar Allusions

“They’re more in love than Romeo and Juliet.”

“They’re more in love than Romeo and Juliet.”

“Oh, you’re just crying wolf.”

“Sign your John Hancock right here.”

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National Archives (NARA)

What Is an Allusion?What Is an Allusion?

An allusion is a reference to a statement, a person, a place, or an event from literature, the arts, history, religion, mythology, politics, sports, or science.

An allusion is a reference to a statement, a person, a place, or an event from literature, the arts, history, religion, mythology, politics, sports, or science.

Recognizing AllusionsRecognizing Allusions

Writers expect their readers to understand what the allusions are referring to. Recognizing allusions allows you to

connect your knowledge of one text or situation to another

respond emotionally to the reference, connecting these emotions to the text

Writers expect their readers to understand what the allusions are referring to. Recognizing allusions allows you to

connect your knowledge of one text or situation to another

respond emotionally to the reference, connecting these emotions to the text

How to Recognize AllusionsHow to Recognize Allusions

As you read, you should look for direct references.

direct quotations from speeches, works, or people

titles of books, songs, paintings, sculptures, and other works

names of people, places, and events

As you read, you should look for direct references.

direct quotations from speeches, works, or people

titles of books, songs, paintings, sculptures, and other works

names of people, places, and events

Theresa is such an Albert Einstein.

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How to Recognize AllusionsHow to Recognize Allusions

You should also look for indirect references. You should also look for indirect references.

My cousin is too curious for her own good. She always pokes around where she shouldn’t, opening up a box of trouble.

•paraphrased statements from speeches, works, or people

•descriptions of people, places, or events

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Researching AllusionsResearching Allusions

To understand fully an allusion and how it relates to the text, you may need to do some additional research.

•Check for footnotes that contain more information about the allusion.

•Refer to dictionaries, encyclopedias, or other reference books.

•Ask others—teachers, librarians, family, and friends.