Allusions
Biblical
Mythological
Historical
Literary
Pop culture
Political
Scientific
references to people, events, or phrases from the Bible.
references to characters, stories, or myths from Greek, Roman, or other mythologies.
references to historical figures or events
references to other works of literature, including novels, poems, plays, or essays
references to political events, figures, or ideologies
references to scientific discoveries, theories, or concepts
references to popular movies, TV shows, songs, or other elements of contemporary culture
Example
The novel The Help by Kathryn Stockett references the Montgomery Bus Boycott and Martin Luther King Jr.'s leadership in the Civil Rights Movement.
Example
In the Harry Potter series, the character Voldemort is named after the French phrase "vol de mort," meaning "flight of death," which is similar to the mythological creature called the basilisk that causes death through its gaze.
Example
In the TV show "Stranger Things," the characters dress up as Ghostbusters for Halloween, referencing the popular movie from the 1980s.
Example
The show The Last of Us is based on the idea that a fungus called cordyceps can infect humans and turn them into zombie-like creatures. This is inspired by the real-life phenomenon of cordyceps infecting insects and manipulating their behavior to spread their spores.
Example
The plot of Disney's, The Lion King, is an allusion to Shakespeare's Hamlet. Both stories feature a young prince whose father is killed by his uncle, who then takes control of the throne and marries his mother. The prince is visited by the ghost of his father, who urges him to avenge his death. The prince also has two loyal friends who help him in his quest.
The Rick Roll meme alludes to the Rick Astley’s song “Never Gonna Give You Up”. The song is considered cheesy and annoying by many people, so the prank is meant to annoy or embarrass the victim. 😆