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 1
Explanation and Analysis—Norwegian Wood:
The novel’s title, Norwegian Wood, is an allusion to the Beatles song of the same name. The song comes up several times throughout the novel. Adult Toru begins narrating the novel after hearing the song on a plane in Chapter 1:
Once the plane was on the ground, soft music began to flow from the ceiling speakers: a sweet orchestral cover version of the Beatles’ “Norwegian Wood.” The melody never failed to send a shudder through me, but this time it hit me harder than ever.
Related Themes:
Chapter 3
Explanation and Analysis—Great Gatsby:
Toru’s favorite novel is F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, the classic tale of 1920s opulence and the dangers of overconsumption. Toru is rereading the novel when he meets his friend Nagasawa. In Chapter 3, he says:
Unlock with LitCharts A+We lived in the same dorm and knew each other only by sight, until one day when I was reading Gatsby in a sunny spot in the dining hall. He sat down next to me and asked what I was reading. When I told him, he asked if I was enjoying it. “This is my third time through,” I said, “and every time I find something new that I like even more than the last time.” “This man says he has read The Great Gatsby three times,” he said as if to himself. “Well, any friend of Gatsby is a friend of mine.”
Related Themes:
Chapter 6
Explanation and Analysis—Norwegian Wood:
The novel’s title, Norwegian Wood, is an allusion to the Beatles song of the same name. The song comes up several times throughout the novel. Adult Toru begins narrating the novel after hearing the song on a plane in Chapter 1:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Once the plane was on the ground, soft music began to flow from the ceiling speakers: a sweet orchestral cover version of the Beatles’ “Norwegian Wood.” The melody never failed to send a shudder through me, but this time it hit me harder than ever.
Related Themes:
Chapter 7
Explanation and Analysis—Euripides:
Toru reads the work of the Greek tragedian Euripides in History of Drama. Midori is in the class, too. In their first conversation, she references Euripides and Electra, one of Euripides’ most famous plays, cementing an association between Midori and Euripides. In Chapter 7, when Toru is taking care of Midori's dad, he tells him about the works of Euripides:
Unlock with LitCharts A+What marks his plays is the way things get so mixed up the characters are trapped. Do you see what I mean? A bunch of different people appear, and they’ve all got their own situations and reasons and excuses, and each one is pursuing his or her own brand of justice or happiness. As a result, nobody can do anything.
Related Themes:
