Download Allusion - Ms. Aceto`s 9B English

Allusion Notes and Assignment
The dictionary gives multiple definitions for allusion, and the term has at least three levels of
meaning.
On the broadest level, allusion means hint or reference.
Examples: When I asked him to take my friend on a date, he alluded to the one time he had
done me a dating favor --and the ensuing disaster. (In a conversation, he briefly referred to or
mentioned this past event to make a point.)
My mom always subtly alludes to my brother’s excellent grades when she looks at my mediocre
report card.
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More specifically, allusion means to make an indirect reference to
something in literature, music, history, mythology, the Bible, etc.,
in order to deepen meaning through the connections we have to
that reference.
allusion (a-LOO-zhuhn): a reference in a literary work to a person, place, or
thing in history or another work of literature. Allusions are often indirect or brief
references to well-known characters or events. Allusions are often used to
summarize broad, complex ideas or emotions in one quick, powerful image.
Examples: In “The Most Dangerous Game, “ the author depicts General Zaroff humming an
aria from the classical opera Madama Butterfly, revealing in one quick reference the
sophistication of Zaroff. Not every homicidal lunatic can whistle from memory the tune from a
classical opera! In addition, the opera character Lt. Pinkerton uses the main character Butterfly
and abandons her later. This adds to the characterization of Zaroff as a man who uses others for
his own entertainment. The reference deepens the characterization.
“Then he sat down, took a drink of brandy from a silver flask, lit a perfumed cigarette, and
hummed a bit from Madama Butterfly.”
(Trivia: The band Weezer’s album Pinkerton is an allusion to this opera.)
This is a more literal ALLUSION. He is actually humming a tune from this famous opera.
It is not a comparison, but it is a deepening, layering reference.
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On still another level, allusion is a figure of speech.
It can be a metaphorical/comparative technique, in which a writer makes a comparison between
two things:
 whatever he/she is depicting
and
 something from history, mythology, literature, music, art, etc.,
to deepen meaning. It is figurative, not literal, just as similes, metaphors, personification, and
hyperbole are not literal.
Examples: Shakespeare refers to the battlefield upon which the valiant warrior Macbeth
achieves his acclaim as a "Golgotha." Golgotha was the place of Christ's crucifixion, and the
suggestion in the line presents an image of a bloody and horrible scene of death.
(It is not literally Golgotha; it is a figurative comparison.)
If I say, “He is the class Romeo,” this is an allusion at the figurative level. He is not literally
Romeo, but the comparison to Shakespeare’s character quickly defines his personality as a fickle
loverboy.
If I sarcastically refer to my husband, who will not ask for directions, as Columbus, I make an
allusion at a figurative level.
She fought the fire ants and killed them all; the holocaust was complete.
Literal allusion or figurative?
If she calls you an Adonis, this is a compliment, as he was, in myth, ever youthful and
handsome. Is this literal or figurative? (Movie trivia: Did you see the allusion to Adonis in
Zoolander? Hint: cemetery scene)
In the context of computer software, a Trojan horse is a program that, unlike a virus, contains or
installs a malicious program (sometimes called the payload or 'Trojan'). The term is derived from
the Iliad’s Trojan horse. Trojan horses may appear to be useful or interesting programs (or at the
very least harmless) to an unsuspecting user, but are actually harmful when executed.
Literal or figurative allusion?
Both types of literary allusion, literal and figurative, tap into what we already know and
feel and believe to add layers of meaning, much like clicking on a hyperlink in text!
Allusion Assignment- Major Grade
Choose one of the following allusions in To Kill a Mockingbird:
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“There is nothing to fear but fear itself.”—Ch. 1
Dracula --Ch. 1
Merlin –Ch. 1
Old Testament pestilence--Ch. 5
The Rosetta Stone--Ch. 8
“let this cup pass” --Ch. 9
William Jennings Bryan-- Ch. 16
Record the allusion as a quote.
Research the history of the allusion and summarize that information.
Write a short analysis of how the allusion deepens the meaning where it is used.
Type this up, citing the sources and creating a Works Cited as well.
Attached, you will find a sample paper. Use the exact format you see there, down to bolding,
indenting, MLA, and approximate length.
Individual Allusion Assignment Rubric
MLA Format –paper
Research Quality
Summary of Source Material
MLA Format- citations
Quote from Literary Source
Effect / Insight
10 _____
25 _____
10 _____
10 _____
5 _____
40 _____
T.C.
Ms. Aceto
English I-4
18 Jan. 2007
Demosthenes
Category: Historical/people
History of Allusion:
Demosthenes (384-322 BC), orator of ancient Greece, led the Athenian opposition to
Macedonia. He was born in Paeonia, near Athens. Afflicted with a speaking problem, he resorted
to unusual means to overcome his defect, including talking with pebbles in his mouth.
Demosthenes became interested in preserving Greek culture, which was threatened by King
Philip II of Macedonia. Most of his major orations, including the Philippics and Olynthiacs, were
against the threat of Macedonian conquest and the orator Aeschines. In 346 BC, Demosthenes
was sent on a mission to negotiate peace between Athens and the Macedonians. Philip defeated
Athens in 338 BC, but Demosthenes continued to speak for freedom.
In 324 BC, Demosthenes was convicted of accepting a bribe. After Alexander the Great
died in 323 BC, Demosthenes urged the Greeks to liberate themselves. Alexander’s successor,
Antipater, demanded that the Athenians turn over all patriots to him. When the Athenian
assembly condemned the patriots to death, Demosthenes escaped to the island of Calauria, where
he committed suicide.
Research Source Citation:
Johnson, William R. “Demosthenes.” History Web. 2005. 18 Jan. 2007.
<http:// www.historyweb.com/ancient/demosthenes>.
Quote from Literary Source:
“I’ve been studying history; I’ve been learning things about patterns in human behavior.
There are times when the world is rearranging itself, and at times like that, the right words can
change the world. Think about what Pericles did in Athens, and Demosthenes.”
“Yes, they managed to wreck Athens twice.”
“Pericles, yes, but Demosthenes was right about Philip.”
“Or provoked him” (Card 273).
Literature Source:
Card, Orson Scott. Ender’s Game. New York: Scribner, 1977.
Effect/Insight
Valentine didn’t have a speaking ailment, but she did have trouble writing her speeches
for the nets. She did, like Demosthenes, overcome it and become very influential and got her
points across. Demosthenes was a man searching for peace, and trying to preserve Greek culture.
He tried to keep Athens safe from drastic change that was not for the better. Valentine too was
trying to save the world from unhelpful change, and she was trying to instill old beliefs. She tried
to keep the old values alive, but in the end was crushed and pushed out of the spotlight by Peter.
Demosthenes ended up being defeated and losing all power he had to promote his ideas.
Antipater was the one who caused him to retreat and go to that island to kill himself. In Ender’s
Game, the outcome is not quite so drastic, but the person playing Demosthenes, Valentine, did
retreat. She left and went to live with her brother, away from all the things the world was doing
against her beliefs. Both societies were greatly affected by these people’s opinions, but both in
the end had no leverage on what the outcome was.
This allusion gives tremendous insight to the character of Valentine. It helps the reader to
understand why she does the things she does and what the final result will be. The allusion forms
the foundation for Valentine’s character. This allusion is very effective in its purpose, which
was to expand the character and give her depth. It gives Valentine real personality instead of
giving her meaningless characteristics. Having known this information before reading the book
would have been very helpful to understand the characters’ actions. The allusion also gives
foreshadowing: knowing that Demosthenes leaves and does not come back helps the reader to
understand what Valentine will do. The main effect of the whole allusion is to help the reader
understand that history repeats itself, to gain insight in the way things work in the world. The
good person does not always get the glory.