An allusion is a figure of speech in which an object or circumstance from an unrelated context is referred to covertly or indirectly, and it is left to the audience to make a direct connection. It is a concise way to communicate a lot of meaning, and it can give readers context for whats happening in a piece of writing. Allusions are generally regarded as brief but purposeful references, within a literary text, to a person, place, event, or to another work of literature. They are used to link concepts that the reader already has knowledge of, with concepts discussed in the story. Allusions can be based on the assumption that there is a body of knowledge that is shared by the author and the reader, and that therefore the reader will understand the authors referent. An allusion can be used as a straightforward device to enhance a 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.
Examples of allusions include references to the Bible, Greek or Roman mythology, and other works of literature. Allusions can also be internal, referring to something that happens earlier in the text. Its important to note that allusions should not be confused with other literary devices such as allegories or foreshadowing.
