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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
Key Examples in The Grapes of Wrath
Chapter 9
Explanation and Analysis—The Pilgrim's Progress:
In Steinbeck’s description of the many women who were forced to lead their households out of Oklahoma and other Western states as a result of the Dust Bowl, he alludes to John Bunyan’s book The Pilgrim’s Progress and the St. Louis Fair:
The women sat among the doomed things, turning them over and looking past them and back. This book. My father had it. He liked a book. Pilgrim’s Progress. Used to read it. Got his name in it. And his pipe—still smells rank. And this picture—an angel. I looked at that before the fust three come—didn’t seem to do much good. Think we could get this china dog in? Aunt Sadie brought it from the St. Louis Fair. See? Wrote right on it.
Related Themes:
Chapter 13
Explanation and Analysis—All that Lives:
After Grampa Joad dies of a stroke during the family’s trip to California, which Casy interprets as a sign of Grampa Joad’s strong connection to the land of Oklahoma, the family requests that Casy, a former preacher, say a few words to mark their informal funeral. In his brief sermon, Casy alludes to a poem by William Blake, an 18th-century English poet:
Unlock with LitCharts A+This here ol’ man jus’ lived a life an’ jus’ died out of it. I don’ know whether he was good or bad, but that don’t matter much. He was alive, an’ that’s what matters. An’ now he’s dead, an’ that don’t matter. Heard a fella tell a poem one time, an’ he says ‘All that lives is holy.’ Got to thinkin’, an’ purty soon it means more than the words says. An’ I wouldn’ pray for a ol’ fella that’s dead. He’s awright. He got a job to do, but it’s all laid out for ’im an’ there’s on’y one way to do it.
Related Themes:
Chapter 26
Explanation and Analysis—French Revolution:
At the peach-picking compound, the Joads encounter a labor strike. Curious about the protest, Tom sneaks out at night and encounters Casy, who has been working as an advocate for the workers. Casy then describes the experiences of a fellow labor advocate who was threatened by the workers, as they feared that his activities would raise trouble with the owners and the authorities. In recounting the event, Casy alludes to various historical revolutions:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Says, ‘Git out. You’re a danger on us.’ Well, sir, it hurt his feelin’s purty bad. But then he says, ‘It ain’t so bad if you know.’ He says, ‘French Revolution—all them fellas that figgered her out got their heads chopped off. Always that way,’ he says. ‘Jus’ as natural as rain. You didn’t do it for fun no way. Doin’ it ’cause you have to. ’Cause it’s you. Look at Washington,’ he says. ‘Fit the Revolution, an’ after, them sons-a-bitches turned on him. An’ Lincoln the same. Same folks yellin’ to kill ’em.
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—Pretty Boy Floyd:
After the Joads decide to leave the government camp, they return to their overstuffed car and Tom begins to talk about his experiences in prison, to Ma Joad’s distress. In her response to Tom’s anecdote about a man nicknamed “Hooligan,” who attempted unsuccessfully to escape from the prison, Ma Joad alludes to Charles Arthur Floyd, more widely known as “Pretty Boy Floyd,” who gained fame and infamy after several bank robberies in the the American West during the 1930’s:
Unlock with LitCharts A+“They tie up the mouth an’ take ’im back inside. Fellas laughed so hard they like to died. But it busted Hooligan’s spirit. He jus’ cried an’ cried, an’ moped aroun’ an’ got sick. Hurt his feelin’s so bad. Cut his wrists with a pin an’ bled to death ’cause his feelin’s was hurt. No harm in ’im at all. They’s all kinds a screwballs in stir.’’
“Don’ talk about it,’’ Ma said. “I knowed Purty Boy Floyd’s ma. He wan’t a bad boy. Jus’ got drove in a corner.’’
Related Themes:
