An allusion is a figure of speech that lends any work of art more meaning and depth. In simple terms, a literary allusion uses the theme of reference, where it refers to something outside the present work of art, in order to better understand the work of art in question. In the following sections, we will get into a more detailed understanding of what is a literary allusion and its varied facets.
Literary Allusions - Definition and Details
Literary allusions will draw references to and thereby a parallel with something that falls outside the scope of the present work of art. The reference can be made to a person or character, a place, an event, a work of art (film, book) or to a myth. This act of drawing an allusion between the present work and some other form of work can be achieved with a direct reference or through symbolism.
Why are literary allusions important? Literary allusions provide a reader with more knowledge, as well as broaden his scope of understanding. With the reference made,
lv luggage, the reader is able to draw a parallel outside the work of art and understand the concept that is being discussed in more clarity. Along with that, it also stimulates the mind and provides added information, making it a richer and more rewarding experience.
Literary allusions require a basic facet that has to be fulfilled which includes that the reader has to have the basic knowledge of the work that the reference is being made to. Unless this happens, there is a chance that the reader will be alienated from what is going on. Which could lead to a loss of interest and a probable discontinuation of the work that is undertaken. That is why it is usually only with a word or two that the reference is drawn, and the skill of the writer depends in using the reference in such a manner that even if the reader does not understand the reference, it should not hamper the understanding of the original text. In that way, the allusion should only add to the text and not be a determining factor for understanding the text.
Examples of Literary Allusions
Being a classic figure of speech, several poets and authors have taken the aid of allusions to draw a parallel between and explain in more detail their works. Biblical allusions being one of the most popular forms of this figure of speech. A peruse through different poems and texts of both the modern and classical times will provide you with several examples of the same. In fact, certain characters from texts have become so popular that their names have now become synonymous with the qualities that they represent. For example, the term Scrooge, taken from the story 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens represents a person who is a miser and collects money with an unparalleled zeal. There are several such characters that can be mapped throughout literature as well.
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