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Literary Devices
Definition of Allusion
In literature, an allusion is an unexplained reference to someone or something outside of the text. Writers commonly allude to other literary works, famous individuals, historical events, or philosophical ideas... read full definition
In literature, an allusion is an unexplained reference to someone or something outside of the text. Writers commonly allude to other literary works, famous individuals... read full definition
In literature, an allusion is an unexplained reference to someone or something outside of the text. Writers commonly allude to... read full definition
Part 1, Chapter 2: The Science of Deduction
Explanation and Analysis—Poe and Gaboriau:
In Part 1, Chapter 2, Doyle makes an allusion to two other earlier authors of detective fiction: Edgar Allan Poe and Émile Gaboriau. Poe published three detective stories featuring an amateur detective (like Sherlock Holmes) named C. Auguste Dupin in the 1840s, about 40 years prior to the publication of A Study in Scarlet in 1887.
Watson first asks Holmes if he is familiar with Poe’s detective fiction upon learning that his new friend is, like Dupin, an amateur detective:
"It is simple enough as you explain it," I said, smiling. "You remind me of Edgar Allan Poe's Dupin. I had no idea that such individuals did exist outside of stories.”
Sherlock Holmes rose and lit his pipe. "No doubt you think you are complimenting me in comparing me to Dupin," he observed. "Now, in my opinion, Dupin was a very inferior fellow. That trick of his of breaking in on his friends' thoughts with an apropos remark was really very showy and superficial. He had some analytical genius, no doubt; but he was by no means such a phenomenon as Poe seemed to imagine."
Related Themes:
Part 2, Chapter 1: On the Great Alkali Plain
Explanation and Analysis—Brigham Young:
In Part 2, Chapter 1, Doyle makes an allusion to Brigham Young, a real man in history who was the second president of the Mormon church from 1847-1877 and founder of Salt Lake City. In 1847, ]Brigham Young led a group of Mormon pioneers west from Illinois to Utah to escape religious persecution. Once in Utah, they founded Salt Lake City. Over the next 20 years, about 70,000 Mormons made the migration west.
This historical event is depicted in Part 2, Chapter 1 of A Study in Scarlet. John and Lucy Ferrier, stranded in the wilderness and close to death, encounter the first group of pioneers headed west. They meet Brigham Young, who is painted in a somewhat villainous light. Young tells them that his people will only rescue them from death and take them into their community on the condition that they convert to Mormonism and follow the tenets of their faith. In essence, he forces them to convert, since the only other option for them is to starve to death in the desert:
Unlock with LitCharts A+“If we take you with us,” [Young] said, in solemn words, “it can only be as believers in our own creed. We shall have no wolves in our fold. Better far that your bones should bleach in this wilderness than that you should prove to be that little speck of decay which in time corrupts the whole fruit. Will you come with us on these terms?
“Guess I’ll come with you on any terms,” said Ferrier, with such emphasis that the grave Elders could not restrain a smile. The leader alone retained his stern, impressive expression.
Related Themes:
Part 2, Chapter 3: John Ferrier Talks With the Prophet
Explanation and Analysis—Brigham Young:
In Part 2, Chapter 1, Doyle makes an allusion to Brigham Young, a real man in history who was the second president of the Mormon church from 1847-1877 and founder of Salt Lake City. In 1847, ]Brigham Young led a group of Mormon pioneers west from Illinois to Utah to escape religious persecution. Once in Utah, they founded Salt Lake City. Over the next 20 years, about 70,000 Mormons made the migration west.
This historical event is depicted in Part 2, Chapter 1 of A Study in Scarlet. John and Lucy Ferrier, stranded in the wilderness and close to death, encounter the first group of pioneers headed west. They meet Brigham Young, who is painted in a somewhat villainous light. Young tells them that his people will only rescue them from death and take them into their community on the condition that they convert to Mormonism and follow the tenets of their faith. In essence, he forces them to convert, since the only other option for them is to starve to death in the desert:
Unlock with LitCharts A+“If we take you with us,” [Young] said, in solemn words, “it can only be as believers in our own creed. We shall have no wolves in our fold. Better far that your bones should bleach in this wilderness than that you should prove to be that little speck of decay which in time corrupts the whole fruit. Will you come with us on these terms?
“Guess I’ll come with you on any terms,” said Ferrier, with such emphasis that the grave Elders could not restrain a smile. The leader alone retained his stern, impressive expression.
Related Themes:
