We use allusion in everyday speech all the time. When a writer alludes to something in their work, they’re making an apparent reference to cultural traditions or shared knowledge that their readers will understand. The word allusion comes from the Latin alludere, which means “to play with or make fun of.” In film it can also be called an “homage.” They can be funny, or thought-provoking, or add more depth to a rich and powerful theme. In fact, reading an expertly placed allusion can be one of the most enjoyable parts of a story. In writing, allusions can be very clever and catch the reader off guard. For example, if you’re caught in the middle of an argument between two people and you tell them they make you feel like Mercutio from Romeo and Juliet, then you’ve made a direct reference to the popular Shakespeare play-you just told them so! But if instead you tell them that they make you want to curse a plague on both their houses, that’s a more subtle allusion to the same Shakespeare play. True allusions are generally more subtle than direct references. This reference might be to another literary work, a film, a popular song, a political movement, a moment in history, or sometimes a moment from an author’s own life. An allusion is literary device in which a writer makes a subtle, indirect reference to a moment, idea, or part of culture that the reader will recognize.
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