Allusion Examples To Learn Not To Miss Any Reference

Are you tasked with writing allusion examples? Well, you see, I am not Einstein on this matter. I would love to swoop up an ‘I Have a Dream Speech,’ but that’s not possible in your context. You are Robinson Caruso in this assignment.

Did you catch that? We have used three allusions in three lines. Don’t worry if you can’t detect allusion in literature because we are sharing some of the best allusion examples to help you practice and learn what you need to know to understand the allusion. Rest assured that after reading our examples, you will come again to read the intro, and you will be able to detect the allusion.

What is Allusion In Literature?

An allusion is a brief mention, reference, or hint to another popular person, character, speech, or work of literature. Allusions are very subtle details in books or speeches that readers and listeners will miss if they are not keen on details and focused enough. They are significant and widely used along with all other writing conventions in literature.

For Example:

You look like Romeo, ready to climb the balcony to meet Juliet.

Did you get the allusion? Let us help.

You look like Romeo, ready to climb the balcony to meet Juliet.

This sentence hints towards Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” The noun for the word allusion is ‘Allude.’ So, to interpret this allusion, you can say that this sentence alludes to Shakespeare’s famous drama, Romeo and Juliet. The allusion in this sentence means the person in question looks handsome, like Romeo. It can be used as a compliment, but most of the time, allusions to this play are sentimental due to their sad and forbidden love story.

What Allusion Adds In Writing?

Allusions in speeches and writings are important because they:

1. Connect the reader to the characters and writing even more.
2. Reveal more about the story by linking another literary work.
3. Adds more meaning and leaves an impression.
4. Conceal some details that readers will have to be keen to understand.
5. Used to enhance the impact of the writing.

Allusion Examples in Literature (Real-Life Examples)

So, what are some examples of allusion? Below, we share some examples to help you understand what they are and how they are used. By leveling up different stages of writing development, soon, you’ll be able to detect allusions in your speech, books, and creative writing and use them in your daily writing and speaking.

Books With Allusions

Moby Dick by Melville

“Call Me Ishmael” is the opening of the most famous piece of classic literature of all time, ‘Moby Dick.’ The characters narrate with this introduction, being anonymous and mysterious. However, a strong allusion links back to the Biblical figure. Ishmael was the older son of Abraham, who was a wanderer and searching for meaning. Using this name in this book interprets the character’s wandering spirit and determination to explore and find meaning in life. 

Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini

“It turned out that, like Satan, cancer had many names.”  This is an allusion that Hosseini used in the book when the main character found out about the lung cancer of his father. Using this allusion interprets the character’s understanding of different types of cancers and how fatal each is. It is similar to the concept of Satan, who has so many names in different religions, but he is evil in all of them. 

The Raven By Edger Allan Poe

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;

Poems, like books and almost all contractions in writing, contain allusions. To better understand the concept, we use this poem as one of the literary allusion examples. In this poem, Edger used the word Pallas in the stanza. Pallas is the Greek god of battle and warcraft so alluding to him in this poem emphasizes the frustration, mental struggle, chaos, and pain of the narrator upon losing a loved one.

Allusion With Examples in Music

‘Dark Horse’ by Katty Perry

The famous song of American singer Katty Perry’s ‘Dark Horse’ rap verse is an excellent example of allusion. It goes like this:

I call her Karma (come back)
She eat your heart out like Jeffrey Dahmer (woo)
Be careful, try not to lead her on

So the third line of the verse alludes to the notorious cannibal and serial killer Jeffery Dahmer, who admitted to trying out eating human flesh—so the allusion here emphasizes the song lyrics, hinting towards the cruel nature and merciless demeanor.

‘Not Today’ By BTS

The song ‘Not Today’ by the popular South Korean band BTS has an allusion to it.

If you can’t fly, then run
Today we will survive
If you can’t run, then walk
Today we will survive
If you can’t walk, then crawl
Even if you have to crawl, gear up

Did you catch that? The red-marked lines are from Martin Luther King Jr.’s popular speech. The band beautifully alluded to the speech and mingled it with their lyrics to enhance the impact of their song’s message. It’s one of the unique allusion examples.

‘Love Story’ by Taylor Swift

The song Love Story by Taylor Swift has a direct allusion that we hope you will be able to catch it now. Let’s see:

That you were Romeo, you were throwin’ pebbles
And my daddy said, “Stay away from Juliet”
And I was cryin’ on the staircase
Beggin’ you, “Please don’t go, ” and I said

This verse alludes to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Taylor used this allusion to show the element of forbidden love as she wrote how her father told the man approaching her to stay away from her. It is to show the similarity of her real life with the classic drama, and she mingles them beautifully.

These were all the allusion examples in different contexts.

We Are Here To Assist You!

Mastering allusions can be challenging since it requires much research to refer to. So, if you are writing a creative writing assignment and are stuck somewhere, don’t hesitate to contact our assignment writing help to get creative and notable allusions in your work with authentic research.

That’s All For Allusion Examples

You have reached the end of the examples we have shared in different contexts, such as books, music, poems, and general informal conversations. The allusion is a tricky thing but once you learn how to use it in the proper context with the right intent, your writing will be refined just like the allusion examples we have shared above. Good Luck with the practice.