AllusionAllusion

A reference in a literary work to a A reference in a literary work to a person, place, or thing in history person, place, or thing in history

or another work of literature. or another work of literature.

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Specific examples of allusions can be Specific examples of allusions can be found throughout Dante’s found throughout Dante’s InfernoInferno. In . In a passage, Dante alludes to the a passage, Dante alludes to the Greek mythological figures, Phaethon Greek mythological figures, Phaethon and Icarus, to express his fear as he and Icarus, to express his fear as he descends from the air into the eighth descends from the air into the eighth circle of hell. He states: circle of hell. He states:

Allusion 3Allusion 3

I doubt if Phaethon feared more - that time I doubt if Phaethon feared more - that time

he dropped the sun-reins of his father's he dropped the sun-reins of his father's chariot chariot and burned the streak of sky we see today and burned the streak of sky we see today - -

or if poor Icarus did - feeling his sides or if poor Icarus did - feeling his sides unfeathering as the wax began to melt, unfeathering as the wax began to melt, his father shouting:  "Wrong, your course his father shouting:  "Wrong, your course is wrong" (Canto XVII: 106-111).is wrong" (Canto XVII: 106-111).

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Allusion is used to explain or clarify a Allusion is used to explain or clarify a complex problem. Note that allusion complex problem. Note that allusion works best if you keep it short and works best if you keep it short and refer to something the reader / refer to something the reader / audience is familiar with, e.g.:audience is familiar with, e.g.:

famous people famous people history history (Greek) mythology (Greek) mythology literature literature the biblethe bible