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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—The Title Hymn :
The title of Go Tell It on the Mountain is an allusion to the song of the same name, which likely originated in the mid-19th century. An African American spiritual hymn, the song celebrates Jesus's birth and has historical roots in communities of enslaved people across the country. "Go Tell It on the Mountain" promotes a message of liberation in both a spiritual and literal sense: during the post-Civil War Great Migration, the song traveled far and wide through freed Black populations who moved from the South to the North for economic, social, and political opportunity.
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Part 1: The Seventh Day
Explanation and Analysis—Biblical Naming :
Although Go Tell It on the Mountain is a novel filled with allusions to the Bible, Baldwin's most apparent and enduring allusions appear through the characters of John and Gabriel, who are both named after biblical figures. John, the primary protagonist, and Gabriel, the primary antagonist, have a complex and tortured father-son relationship, and their individual traits, beliefs, and expectations often reflect those of the biblical John and Gabriel.
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