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THE ART OF ALLUSIONSBy Miss Ashley Huskey

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Definition…• Allusion- (noun) “an indirect reference to

some piece of knowledge not actually mentioned.”

• Allusions usually come from a body of information that the author presumes the reader will know. – Ex: an author who writes, “She was another

Helen,” is alluding to the proverbial beauty of Helen of Troy, a woman so beautiful that a war was fought over her.

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Allude- “to refer casually or indirectly”

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This cartoon contains a pop culture allusion to Star Trek and direct references to X files

& Knight Rider

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Allusion…• … in literature, an implied or indirect reference to a person, event, or

thing or to a part of another text which adds meaning to the story.

• Allusion is distinguished from such devices as direct quote and imitation or parody.

• Some authors, such as T.S. Eliot and James Joyce, deliberately use obscure and complex allusions that they know few people would understand.

• Similarly, an allusion can be used as a straightforward device to enhance the text by providing further meaning, but it can also be used in a more complex sense to make an ironic comment on one thing by comparing it to something that is dissimilar.

• The word is from the late Latin allusio meaning "a play on words" or "game" and is a derivative of the Latin word alludere, meaning "to play around" or "to refer to mockingly.“

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Types of Allusions…• Historical• Biblical• Pop Culture• Literary• Other classifications

can be used, such as Mythological Allusions

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Historical Allusions at Work

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Pop Culture Allusions• Can be from TV, movies, politics, music, and any other venue of

popular common knowledge that becomes part of our collective culture as a recognizable symbol or saying.

• Many pop culture allusions occur within another pop culture icons.

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Popular shows, especially animated ones, consistently draw from literary

allusions:

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Allusions within Tombstone• Literary Allusions

– Bird Cage Theatre: During a performance, actors give a speech from Henry V (Shakespeare) and performs a scene from Dr.Faustus (Marlowe) in which Faust makes a deal with the devil

– Doc Holliday quotes “Kubla Khan” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge in a dramatic scene when Ringo’s revenge is imminent

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Historical Allusions

• A wagon goes by in the down that states “Equal pay for equal work regardless of sex,” alluding to the Equal Employment Act of the time and the ongoing struggle for equality of the sexes.

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Biblical Allusions• In the beginning of the film, a priest is speaking in Spanish

and quoting Revelations: “Behold the pale horse…”• Doc refers to Kate as the “antichrist,” indicating in one word

that she works for the devil to deceive him and lead his astray

• After Wyatt pulls off a miraculous feat, Doc says he is “walking on water,” which is a reference to one of Jesus’s well know miracles from the New Testament.

Even non-believers have been exposed to these common elements from Christianity and understand the struggle between good and evil that is portrayed.

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Other Allusions within Tombstone• Johnny Ringo and Doc Holliday carry on a

conversation in Latin, which culturally alludes to the fact that they are both educated men.

• When Doc Holliday is playing piano he alludes to genres of popular music of the time.

• When Doc Holliday says Tombstone is “Very cosmopolitan,” is alluding sarcastically to what was modern and civilized at the time.

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Meaning• All of these allusions (and many

more) from the film contribute to the meaning and power of the story as a whole.

• Allusions cause people to draw on their prior knowledge and connect with the story on a more personal level.