Previous
Allegory
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 12: Mother, Mother
Explanation and Analysis—Fantine:
In Chapter 12, Stevenson focuses on incarcerated women. He describes one of them with incredible pathos, bolstered by an allusion:
One of the first incarcerated women I ever met was a young mother who was serving a long prison sentence for writing checks to buy her three young children Christmas gifts without sufficient funds... Like a character in a Victor Hugo novel, she tearfully explained her heartbreaking tale to me. I couldn’t accept the truth of what she was saying until I checked her file and discovered that she had, in fact, been convicted and sentenced to over ten years in prison for writing five checks, including three to Toys“R”Us. None of the checks was for more than $150.
Related Themes:
Chapter 16: The Stonecatcher’s Song of Sorrow
Explanation and Analysis—Sorrow Songs:
In Chapter 16, after a successful hearing, Stevenson encounters an old woman who calls him a "stonecatcher." Her comments are a double-layered allusion that helps make sense of the book's singing motif:
Unlock with LitCharts A+She squeezed me a bit and then said, “Now, you keep this up and you’re gonna end up like me, singing some sad songs. Ain’t no way to do what we do and not learn how to appreciate a good sorrow song."
Related Themes:
