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Thomas Wozencraft Professor Jerome McKeever English 101H- What Allusions Can Teach 5 March 2014 Word Count: 536 Tom Wozencraft: What Allusions Can Teach Allusions hide in many of the sentences we use every day. Allusions are found in conversations with friend, or even in your favorite authors new novel. Allusions serve many different purposes and are found in many different forms of writing. To speak allusively is to provide the reader with a popular or historical reference that helps the reader better understand the situation or concept in which the allusion serves to define. Well known historical or popular stories, people, places, or ideas can help the reader fully understand the intent of what the writer or speaker is saying. This is due to the fact that the popular stories, people, places, or ideas are already fully understood by the reader thus adding instant clarity when allusively used to define what the writer or speaker wishes to convey. Commonly allusions derive from three major backgrounds, mythological, historical, and popular culture, all of which help to add humor, intrigue, or provide understanding to the reader. One of the most commonly used and intriguing allusions derive from mythology. Greek mythology is most common among mythology. This is primarily due to the fact it is included in school teaching. Since the majority of people have already been taught Greek mythology in

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school, this makes an excellent reference for allusive writing. One may find allusions referencing Greek gods, or popular characters in Greek stories. Ultimately Greek mythology is well understood by the majority of the public while also serving as an intriguing subject being one of the best subjects to speak allusively of. Just like mythology, history can provide excellent references to be used allusively. As history is well documented and some of the most outstanding and important events or people are documented and taught in school, history serves an excellent quantity of allusions ready to be used. Depending on the form of writing, one may use allusions referencing specific event, ideas, or people. As an example if a camera man who followed a military group in Afghanistan wished to provide his audience more clarification of a bloody battle, he may reference a similar popular historical event such as D-Day. Considering this is a well understood event by most of the public this serves as an excellent allusion. Lastly popular culture is found as one of the most commonly referenced subjects in allusive writing due to the publics awareness. Just as mythological or historical people and events are well known by the majority of the public, so is popular culture. If one wished to use Miley Cyrus allusively to describe the negative or rebellious behavior of say ones own daughter, then the audience may fully understand the characteristics to be attributed. Popular culture is excellent for allusive writing. Allusions derive from many different backgrounds. They may reference people, places, ideas, or events. Ultimately an allusion becomes a success when it provides the audience a better understanding of what the speaker or writing stands to convey. To do so the most

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successful allusions must be fully understood by the audience. Choosing well known topics in pop culture is an excellent choice and media usually ensures the public is fully aware. While also choosing allusions from any subject taught in school will ensure the same result. When the audience fully understands the allusion, then they will fully understand why it is used. Allusions are an essential aspect of writing. They reference intriguing subjects and help an audience fully understand the information. When one understands the concept and intent of allusions, one may appreciate how commonly they affect our language.