English 263
Name:__________________
Allusions
Purpose: An allusion is a reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work
of art. Writers often include allusions in order to add deeper meaning to the subject they are
writing about.
Assignment: In each of the following quotes, there is an allusion. On the internet, look up the
allusion and take notes on its meaning or origin (where the allusion is from). Then, apply its
meaning or origin to the book to see what it reveals about the character that the allusion is
associated with. And of course, write the source--for this assignment, the internet address only is
fine. You can just cut and paste the URL into this document. Type right on to this document.
Save it to your user folder. Make sure your first name is in the title. Then copy and paste it into
my ToTeach folder.
*SAMPLE*
Example: “If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is
where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied
and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like
getting into it, if you want to know the truth” (1).
Meaning/Origin: Upon first google, it seems as though the David Copperfield allusion is
referring to the magician/illusionist/ex-fiancée of Claudia Schiffer. Upon closer inspection, we
find out that David Copperfield, the illusionist, was born in 1956, and since this novel was
published from 1945-1951, this Copperfield cannot be the one that Salinger in the voice of
Holden Caulfield is referencing. David Copperfield actually refers to the novel by Charles
Dickens entitled The Personal History, Adventures, Experience and Observation of David
Copperfield the Younger of Blunderstone Rookery. It’s a novel told in first person that
chronicles the life of David Copperfield (the character) from childhood through adulthood.
Application: First, we can infer that Holden is well-read, or is at least familiar with important
works of literature, which is confirmed later in the novel when he tells us he actually passed
English. More importantly, Holden not wanting to relay all the details of his childhood might
tell us that he’s 1) lazy perhaps, or 2) just does not deem his familial/early childhood important
to the formation of his identity.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Copperfield_(novel)
Example: “He [Spencer] was reading the Atlantic Monthly, and there were pills and medicine
all over the place, and everything smelled like Vicks Nose Drops” (7).
Meaning/ Origin:
Application:
Source:
Example: “… and my next favorite author is Ring Lardner. My brother gave me a book by
Ring Lardner for my birthday, just before I went to Pencey. It had these very funny, crazy plays
in it, and then it had this one story about a traffic cop that falls in love with this very cute girl
that’s always speeding. Only, he’s married, the cop, so he can’t marry her or anything. Then the
girl gets killed, because she’s speeding. That story just about killed me. What I like about I that
it’s at least funny once in a while” (18).
Meaning/ Origin:
Application:
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Example: “You take that book, Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham, though. ..It’s a
pretty good book and all, but I wouldn’t want to call Somerset Maugham up… He just isn’t the
kind of guy I’d want to call up, that’s all” (19).
Meaning/ Origin:
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Example: “I’d rather call old Thomas Hardy up. I like that Eustacia Vye” (19).
Meaning/ Origin:
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Example: “’It’s the opening night of the Ziegfeld Follies.’ I was getting out of breath. I have
hardly any wind at all” (29).
Meaning/ Origin:
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Example: “Stradlater kept whistling ‘Song of India’ while he shaved” (27). (Hint: Tommy
Dorsey)
Meaning/Origin:
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Example: “…he always picked out some song that’s hard to whistle even if you’re a good
whistler, like ‘Song of India’ or ’Slaughter on Tenth Avenue’” (27).
Meaning/Origin:
Application:
Source: