You are learning that allusion is a type of literary device. Have you ever referenced art, literature, or a real event to tell a story? If you think you haven’t, read the following conversation between two students:
Student 1: “I couldn't believe that I lifted the heavy barbells high above my head in the weight room this morning.”
Student 2: “You're an Incredible Hulk for sure!”
Allusion takes us from this image of a weightlifter . . .
. . . to this image of the Incredible Hulk.
In this conversation, the second student enhances a story and shows the degree of the student’s strength by alluding to the Incredible Hulk. As you can see, an allusion can assist a writer or storyteller in making a story more meaningful by providing additional references that are either immediately understood or can be understood after doing a little research.
You may have already read allusions in advertisements, stories, or poems, or heard allusions used in movies or songs that refer to the figures that follow.
Darth Vader: a dreaded leader of the Galactic Empire in Star Wars
Heracles or Hercules: a Greek and Roman mythological character known for his superhuman strength
Venus or Aphrodite: a Greek and Roman goddess known for her beauty
Jesus: A Biblical figure known for goodness and self-sacrifice
Titanic: The Titanic was one of the worst nautical disasters in history. More than a thousand people died when the ship sank. (Perhaps you have seen the movie.) A writer’s alluding to the Titanic can suggest a horrible disaster, a terrible event, or anything huge or doomed.