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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
Allusions
Explanation and Analysis—On the Beach:
At the end of the second part, the narrator describes the beach at Bray Dunes with a collection of similes and an allusions. After the dramatically depleting and seemingly endless trudge towards the coast, during which Robbie is barely able to remain conscious, this outburst of figurative language simulates his relief and hope at having made it to the Channel—but also his disorientation and struggle to make sense of everything around him.
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Part 1, Chapter 2
Explanation and Analysis—Fountain:
In the novel's first part, the Triton fountain—an allusion to Bernini's Fontana del Tritone in Rome—consistently exists in the background. McEwan uses personification and simile to develop the fountain motif, imbuing it with an ambiguous presence.
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Part 1, Chapter 8
Explanation and Analysis—Robbie's Books:
In the eighth chapter, McEwan's characterization of Robbie goes hand in hand with descriptions of his book collection. This chapter, the first to focus on Robbie's perspective, is full of allusions that give the reader a sense of the literary touchpoints that shape the character's self-perception. Over the course of the novel, Robbie's reigning stance on literature fluctuates. At times, he's content with literature's ability to uncover the truth. In other instances, he finds it insufficient for making sense of life as it really is—a view that makes him want to depart from literature and instead study medicine.
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Part 3
Explanation and Analysis—Fountain:
In the novel's first part, the Triton fountain—an allusion to Bernini's Fontana del Tritone in Rome—consistently exists in the background. McEwan uses personification and simile to develop the fountain motif, imbuing it with an ambiguous presence.
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Explanation and Analysis—Woolf and Modernism:
In line with the novel's postmodern features, there is a great degree of literary awareness embedded into the narrative of Atonement. Especially in the chapters from the perspective of Briony, who sees herself as a writer, the reader receives a number of reflections on storytelling, literary form, and narrative techniques. In the third part, McEwan uses simile and allusion to capture Briony's understanding of literary modernism.
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