Allusion

Allusion

Allusion, defined in Encyclopaedia Britannica, is “an implied or indirect reference to a person, event, or thing or to a part of another text” (“Allusion”). It is when a writer uses a quick reference to something readers are expected to know, like a story, a character, or a piece of history, without explaining it. The writer counts on the reader to catch the connection.

Chris Baldick explains in The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms that allusion adds depth by bringing in the “associations of another work, person, or event” (Baldick 9). It is a connectiont that carries emotion, irony, or background meaning that would take too long to explain directly.

For example, the creature in Frankenstein refers to himself as "the fallen angel," a reference to the biblical tale of Lucifer, and demonstrates how he views himself as both guilty and rejected. 

We can spot allusions outside of books too. A journalist calling a celebrity’s mistake their “Waterloo” is a reference to Napoleon’s defeat, meaning it’s their final downfall. Even casual phrases like “opening Pandora’s box” or “Achilles’ heel” are everyday allusions we use without thinking about where they come from.

The main thing about allusion is that it relies on shared knowledge. The surface meaning still works sometimes when you don´t know the exact reference, but you lose that extra layer underneath.

Works Cited:
“Allusion.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., 19 July 2024, www.britannica.com/art/allusion.
Baldick, Chris. The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms. 4th ed., Oxford University Press, 2015.
“Allusion.” Literary Devices, LiteraryDevices.net, https://literarydevices.net/allusion/. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.