17 Literary Allusion Examples: What, Why, Where, How, When To Use

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Allusions are one of literary devices in literature with that we can use them in our literary work from the references of a person, place, thing, event those are having extreme important or other literary work with which we are familiar.

Why to use literary allusion?

  • Literary allusion is an effective literary device.
  • It is also one of the great forms of literature so it is more helpful to develop character in story or in novel.
  • It can provide context for the reader through comparison or contrast to another literary work.
  • It can also provide exposition for a story by referring the plot and character of another work so the reader can know more about the story’s events or characters presentation.

How to use literary allusion?

When creating allusions in literature, we should keep in mind the balance what we choose to the reference and how to use it in the work so it is understandable to the readers.

Here we will provide some allusions that we can choose to create a literary work.

  • Self reference- When we want to reference another work of our own.
  • Single reference-When we want to connect work to another through allusion.
  • Casual reference-When we made an allusion that is unnecessary.
  • Correlative reference-When we want to reference another work that is in opposing in comparison.
  • Apparent reference-When we want to allude to a specific source but in challenging way.
  • Multiple reference-When we want to use a variety of allusions.

Where to use literary allusion?

Creating settings, developing characterization, and contextualizing story or novel, we can use allusions in literature.

When to use literary allusion?

To explain to the literary work to the readers we use literary allusions.

What is literary allusion?

Allusions are one of literary devices in literature with that we can use them in our literary work from the references of a person, place, thing, and events of historical important or other literary work with which we are familiar.

17 Literary Allusion Examples

To eradicate the dowry from the society is a herculean task.

Anuradha, if you want to keep the place silent. Don’t open the Pandora’s Box at this moment.

Anil sometimes becomes a cupid boy in the class.

Getting the appreciation from the people, Rahul was in the Garden of Eden.

To stop noise in the class is a Noah’s Ark for Amit.

Ramen is a Benedict Arnold who can take complicated decision so easily.

The people sometimes decide to boycott the new price of Petrol and diesel.

Anamika is such Mother Tesera who came to the orphanage.

There is a Watergate in his mind. Nobody can reveal his secrecy.

The public want to change the Draconian Law of inheritance.

Who is a new Newton of Physics in your class?

Shyamal is a romantic boy and a romeo of the school.

The students must not feel in the great depression of unemployment.

Rani takes herself as she had the golden ticket.

My have interest in Physics is like an Achill’s Heel.

Bobita is like an Uncle Sam. She serves us food in the canteen.

We found the Titanic in our village.

The girl is a phoenix in life.

Explanations of Literary Allusions

1. Hercules ( or Herculean)

To eradicate the dowry from the society is a herculean task.

Herculean often used to emphasize someone’s strength.

2. Pandora’s Box

Anuradha, if you want to keep the place silent. Don’t open the Pandora’s Box at this moment.

Pandora’s Box is often used to describe big consequences or a possible source of trouble.

3. Cupid

Anil sometimes becomes a cupid boy in the class.

Cupid, God of love is always used to indicate someone’s romantic love.

4. Garden of Eden

Getting the appreciation from the people, Rahul was in the Garden of Eden.

Garden of Eden is used to discuss to paradise, beauty, and downfall.

5. Noah’s Ark

To stop noise in the class is a Noah’s Ark for Amit.

Here Noah’s Ark is used to indicate an impossible task or talk about.

6. Benedict Arnold

Ramen is a Benedict Arnold who can take complicated decision so easily.

Benedict Arnold is used to indicate a person who can win a hurdle successfully.

7. Boycott

The people sometimes decide to boycott the new price of Petrol and diesel.

Boycott is meanly used to refuse unfavorable thing to buy.

8. Mother Teresa

Anamika is such Mother Teresa who came to the orphanage.

Mother Teresa is a noble lady who a mother of orphan children. So this word is used as a symbolic way.

9. Water gate

There is a water gate in his mind. Nobody can reveal his secrecy.

Water gate is such a tact that a person can hide a secret or aware other secrecy with no matter.

10. Draconian

The public want to change the Draconian Law of inheritance.

Draconian was a lawmaker in Athens in 7th century B.C. Draconian Law is used here to the Code of rule.

11. Newton

Who is a new Newton of Physics in your class?

Sir Isaac Newton is a great Physicist. Here Newton is used to reference an encouragement.

12. Romeo

Shyamal is a romantic boy and a Romeo of the school.

Romeo and Juliet is a famous literary creation of William Shakespeare. Here Romeo is used to symbolize the great lover.

13. The Great Depression

The students must not feel in the great depression of unemployment.

In the past, the economic depression occurring in many countries to due to tension between countries in 1939-1945, and people got extremely depressed.

Here The great depression is used to indicate the extreme depression.

14. Golden

Rani takes herself as she had the golden ticket.

Gold is precious material. Here golden is used to take value of personality.

15. Achill’s Heel

My have interest in Physics is like an Achill’s Heel.

Achill’s Heel’ is usedhere to allude weakness in spite overall strength.

16. Uncle Sam

Bobita is like an Uncle Sam. She serves us food in the canteen.

Uncle Sam is the personification of the US federal govt. who served food to the people at that time.

17. Titanic

We found the Titanic in our village.

Titanic is referring to being a very large or massive that has great power to carry load.

18. Phoenix

The girl is a phoenix in life.

Phoenix is being named after a bird. It is a symbol of immortality or rebirth.

All the 17+ Literary Allusion Examples are explained above in details.

Conclusion

Literary allusions are having vast uses in literature so that the writer always create settings, and developing characters by using such historic literary allusions in their writing.