Literary terms · AP English Literature, AP English Language, SAT Reading and Writing, ACT Reading
Allusion
Allusion: A brief reference to a well-known person, event, place or work of literature, art or scripture.
By the CollegePrepRoom editorial team · Updated · How we write and check these pages
What it means
An allusion borrows meaning from something outside the text. A reference to a myth, a Bible story, a historical figure or a famous poem brings that story's associations into the new work without explanation.
Allusions work only if the audience recognizes them, so they also say something about the intended audience.
Example
Describing a reckless young inventor as flying 'too close to the sun' alludes to the myth of Icarus, hinting at a fall to come.
On the exam
In both AP Lit and AP Lang, explain what associations the allusion brings and how they shape meaning or persuasion.