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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 1
Explanation and Analysis—The Mark of Cain:
In the very first sentence of Chapter 1—appropriately titled "Genesis of the Tenement"—Riis alludes to the Bible as a means of describing the tenements:
The first tenement New York knew bore the mark of Cain from its birth, though a generation passed before the writing was deciphered.
Related Themes:
Chapter 14
Explanation and Analysis—Innocent Girls:
In Chapter 14, Riis details the plight of those in the slums he considers innocent victims of their environment: namely, women and young girls. In doing so, he utilizes a simile that doubles as a biblical allusion:
Unlock with LitCharts A+And yet it is not an uncommon thing to find sweet and innocent girls, singularly untouched by the evil around them, true wives and faithful mothers, literally "like jewels in a swine's snout," in the worst of the infamous barracks.
Related Themes:
