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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
Chapter 9
Explanation and Analysis—Shakespeare:
Emma alludes to works by Shakespeare multiple times over the course of the novel. For example, in Chapter 9, when divulging to Harriet her theories about Mr. Elton being in love with Harriet, Emma makes a reference to Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream:
“The course of true love never did run smooth—A Hartfield edition of Shakespeare would have a long note on that passage.”
Related Themes:
Chapter 20
Explanation and Analysis—Napoleonic Wars:
Though Austen steers clear of discussing politics in the novel, she includes an allusion to the Napoleonic Wars taking place at the time. While offering some backstory on Jane’s family, the narrator mentions how her father—a lieutenant—died while “in action abroad”:
Unlock with LitCharts A+The marriage of Lieut. Fairfax, of the——regiment of infantry, and Miss Jane Bates, had had its day of fame and pleasure, hope and interest; but nothing now remained of it, save the melancholy remembrance of him dying in action abroad—of his widow sinking under consumption and grief soon afterwards—and this girl.
Related Themes:
Chapter 35
Explanation and Analysis—The Slave Trade:
Austen spends little time in the novel explaining to readers the social and political context of England outside the fictional town of Highbury. Yet at one point Mrs. Elton alludes to the slave trade while in conversation with Jane:
Unlock with LitCharts A+“There are places in town, offices, where inquiry would soon produce something—Offices for the sale—not quite of human flesh—but of human intellect.”
“Oh! my dear, human flesh! You quite shock me; if you mean a fling at the slave-trade, I assure you Mr. Suckling was always rather a friend to the abolition.”
“I did not mean, I was not thinking of the slave-trade,” replied Jane; “governess-trade, I assure you, was all that I had in view; widely different certainly as to the guilt of those who carry it on; but as to the greater misery of the victims, I do not know where it lies.”
Related Themes:
Chapter 39
Explanation and Analysis—Romani People:
In the final volume of the novel, Harriet is attacked by “gipsies” (or “gypsies”), a derogatory term alluding to Romani people, a nomadic European ethnic group. In Chapter 39, the narrator describes the attack like this:
Unlock with LitCharts A+How the trampers might have behaved, had the young ladies been more courageous, must be doubtful; but such an invitation for attack could not be resisted; and Harriet was soon assailed by half a dozen children, headed by a stout woman and a great boy, all clamorous, and impertinent in look, though not absolutely in word.—More and more frightened, she immediately promised them money, and taking out her purse, gave them a shilling, and begged them not to want more, or to use her ill.—She was then able to walk, though but slowly, and was moving away—but her terror and her purse were too tempting, and she was followed, or rather surrounded, by the whole gang, demanding more.
Related Themes:
Chapter 42
Explanation and Analysis—Romani People:
In the final volume of the novel, Harriet is attacked by “gipsies” (or “gypsies”), a derogatory term alluding to Romani people, a nomadic European ethnic group. In Chapter 39, the narrator describes the attack like this:
Unlock with LitCharts A+How the trampers might have behaved, had the young ladies been more courageous, must be doubtful; but such an invitation for attack could not be resisted; and Harriet was soon assailed by half a dozen children, headed by a stout woman and a great boy, all clamorous, and impertinent in look, though not absolutely in word.—More and more frightened, she immediately promised them money, and taking out her purse, gave them a shilling, and begged them not to want more, or to use her ill.—She was then able to walk, though but slowly, and was moving away—but her terror and her purse were too tempting, and she was followed, or rather surrounded, by the whole gang, demanding more.
Related Themes:
Chapter 46
Explanation and Analysis—Shakespeare:
Emma alludes to works by Shakespeare multiple times over the course of the novel. For example, in Chapter 9, when divulging to Harriet her theories about Mr. Elton being in love with Harriet, Emma makes a reference to Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream:
Unlock with LitCharts A+“The course of true love never did run smooth—A Hartfield edition of Shakespeare would have a long note on that passage.”
Related Themes:
