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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 3
Explanation and Analysis—David Copperfield:
Allusions figure into Furlong’s conversations with Eileen in Chapter 3. While exchanging their own Christmas wishlists with each other, Furlong explains to his wife how he’d rather receive books than trousers:
“Would you like new trousers?”
“I don’t know that I would,” Furlong said. “A book, maybe. I might settle in and read a bit over Christmas.”
Eileen took a sip from her glass and threw him a glance. “What sort of a book?”
“A Walter Macken, maybe. Or David Copperfield.”
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—A Christmas Carol:
Furlong unearths an allusion in Chapter 3 as he revisits his childhood memories. While reminiscing of Christmases many years past, he thinks to the copy of Dickens’s A Christmas Carol that he had received one year:
Unlock with LitCharts A+On Christmas morning, when he’d gone down to the drawing room Mrs. Wilson occasionally let them share, the fire was already lighted and he’d found three parcels under the tree wrapped in the same green paper: a nailbrush and bar of soap were wrapped together in one. The second was a hot water bottle, from Ned. And from Mrs. Wilson he’d been given A Christmas Carol, an old book with a hard, red cover and no pictures, which smelled of rust.
Related Themes:
