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Literary allusion

Device
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

An indirect reference to another literary work, character, or motif

Detailed Definition
Literary allusion is an indirect reference within a poem to another literary work, author, or character, relying on reader recognition to enrich meaning through association; unlike quotation, allusion condenses complex intertexts into brief evocations, allowing poets to engage in dialogue with tradition while maintaining original voice and concision.
Example
Example in poetry:
T.S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land” alludes to Shakespeare, Dante, and the Upanishads; John Milton’s “Lycidas” alludes to Virgil and biblical prophets; W.H. Auden’s “Musée des Beaux Arts” alludes to Bruegel’s Icarus; Sylvia Plath’s “Lady Lazarus” alludes to the biblical Lazarus and Nazi Germany.
Additional Notes
Literary allusion indirectly references another literary work; differs from quotation by implication; students should identify the source and consider why the poet chose it—homage, critique, or ironic contrast.
Also Known As
Textual allusion Literary echo Intertextual nod Canonical reference Intertextuality Intertextual linkage Literary citation
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