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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
Franny
Explanation and Analysis—Religious Texts:
Franny and Zooey repeatedly allude to various Eastern and Western religious texts, including the Bible, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Philokalia. The most significant of these references is The Way of a Pilgrim, which Franny has recently read. This book details the life of a Russian peasant who sets out to learn how to pray without ceasing. By repeatedly saying “the Jesus prayer,” the peasant achieves spiritual satisfaction, as Franny explains to her boyfriend Lane:
Something happens after a while. I don’t know what, but something happens, and the words get synchronized with the person’s heartbeats, and then you’re actually praying without ceasing. Which has a really tremendous, mystical effect on your whole outlook. I mean that’s the whole point of it, more or less. I mean you do it to purify your whole outlook and get an absolutely new conception of what everything’s about.
Related Themes:
Zooey
Explanation and Analysis—Yorick’s Skull:
During his transformative telephone conversation with Franny, Zooey makes an allusion to Hamlet by William Shakespeare:
Unlock with LitCharts A+At least I’m still in love with Yorick’s skull. At least I always have time enough to stay in love with Yorick’s skull. I want an honorable goddam skull when I’m dead, buddy. I hanker after an honorable goddam skull like Yorick’s. And so do you, Franny Glass. So do you, so do you.…
Related Themes:
