What is allusion?
Okay, so allusion is basically when a writer name-drops something iconic from outside the story, like a Greek god, a TikTok trend, a Marvel movie, the Bible, or even Harry Potter, and trusts that you’ll get the reference.
- It’s not a deep dive. It’s more like a literary shout-out.
- Think of it like this:
- It adds a ton of meaning, without a ton of words.
- It relies on what you already know.
Why do writers use allusion?
- Because it slaps.
- No, seriously, it’s one of the smartest ways to deepen emotion or theme.
- Instead of writing five paragraphs explaining that someone feels completely destroyed, a writer can just say, “She felt like the last season of Game of Thrones, promising, then painfully tragic.”
- You get it. Instantly.
Let’s take a basic story…
- Tom and Ella go rock climbing. Cute date idea. Vibes are high. Until… Tom slips, loses his grip, and accidentally kicks a loose rock straight into Ella’s face.
- He’s horrified. She’s bleeding. It's giving "rom-com turns medical emergency" energy.
- Now, to show James' guilt, you could write:
“I couldn’t bear to look at her, I felt like the bruise would jump off her face and scream at me.”
Alright. Solid. But let’s crank it up with an allusion:
