What is allusion?

Allusion definition

An allusion is a brief reference to a person, place, or thing—often another written work or other kind of narrative. Brevity is what really defines an allusion; it relies on the audience catching a passing mention, understanding the context, and applying that context to the text at hand. You won’t find long explanations or meditations accompanying them. Allusions may reference things outside the text (external allusions) or hint at things within in the text (internal allusions).

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Allusion examples in everyday speech

You hear allusions all the time without thinking about it. Check out some common allusion examples in everyday speech to see for yourself:

• “Please, be a Good Samaritan and pick up the trash in the park even if it’s not yours.”
  • Good Samaritan alludes to the biblical parable about three men who pass by an injured man on the road, but only the Samaritan stops to help him. The audience connects the dots and understands they are being asked to go above and beyond to help clean up the park, even when it’s not required, because it’s the morally good thing to do.
• “This first draft doesn’t have to be the Mona Lisa; just get the basics down.”
  • Mona Lisa alludes to the masterpiece painting by Leonardo Da Vinci which took him years to complete. With the context of the allusion, the audience understands they don’t need to spend hours on end on the first draft of this project to make it perfect.
• “I don’t need an Adonis in my life, I need a Romeo. ”
  • Adonis alludes to the Greek mortal known for his beautiful physical features, so calling someone an Adonis strikes up an image of an attractive man with rippling muscles. Romeo alludes to the character in Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy Romeo and Juliet and calling someone a Romeo conjures up an image of a lovesick romantic. In just a few words, the audience understands the implied meaning that the speaker prefers a man with internal beauty to a man with physical beauty.

Allusion examples in literature

There are more allusions in literature than there are stars in the sky. Here are a few examples so you can recognize them in your reading.

• “Did he who made the Lamb make thee?” from The Tyger by William Blake
  • Blake’s poem, The Tyger explores good, evil, and religion. In this line, the speaker alludes to Jesus, often known as “The Lamb of God.” With the context of this reference, the audience understands the question is not really “Did the being who created a vicious tiger also create a gentle lamb?”, but “Did the same God who created Jesus also create evil and the devil?”
• Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley
  • Did you know the full title of Shelley’s novel is actually titled, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus? Before readers open the book, the author asks them to draw a connection between Frankenstein and Prometheus who stole Zeus’s fire, gave it to humanity to boost civilization, and was punished for it. In parallel to Prometheus, Frankenstein steals God’s power of life to create his creature and ultimately suffers for it.
• “As for me, nothing in the universe can be the same if somewhere, no one knows where, a sheep we never saw has or has not eaten a rose…” from The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
  • o This is an example of an internal allusion referencing plot points earlier in the book. On its own, the line makes no sense, but it’s very relevant for readers who’ve reached this point in the story. Earlier in the book, audience members read about a boy who drew a picture of a sheep in a box and the rose he loves. By self-referencing these plot points at the end of the book, readers make powerful connections from the story to childhood, imagination, faith, and love.

Why use allusion in your writing?

Allusions provide a wide variety of benefits depending on how you use them.

• Meaning. With allusions in your writing toolbox, you add a breadth of additional meaning with just a single word.
• Connection. People enjoy feeling smart, so when an audience member catches an allusion in a story, they connect with you, the characters, the story, and your message.
• Authority. When you allude to something in a specific industry or field, you build credibility on the topic and your audience will trust your words more.
• Comedy. Have you ever listened to a comedy special, and the comedian alludes to a joke they made at the beginning of the set? Self-referencing jokes, or meta-humor, is a common comedy technique amongst both writers and stand-ups.

Word of caution: Only use allusion if it makes sense and actually adds to your work. Both beginner writers and experts can easily get caught up in too many references to the point where their writing comes across as grandiloquent instead of smart.

Next time you pick up a book or watch a movie, pay attention to allusions. You’ll find them everywhere! Better yet, play around with allusions in your own writing and see what they can add to your work.