Allusion: (n) a reference to a well-known piece of literature, art, song, event, or person in a work of literature.

Question

Example: His Goliath frame seemed to dwarf the other football players.
“Goliath” is a reference to a character who was a giant. This allusion tells the readers that the boy in the sentence above is much larger than the other football players.

Directions: Underline the allusions in the following sentences, determine to what the writer is referring, and then determine a possible meaning for the allusion. The first one is done for you.

Example: The kindergarteners were frightened of the new principal who reminded them of Cruella DeVille.

Reference to: Cruella DeVille who was a very mean lady in the movie 101 Dalmatians
Possible Meaning: The principal is a mean lady

1. I hoped to sign the birthday card our team bought for Coach, but I couldn’t find a spot to sign my name because someone went all John Hancock on it and signed his name across the whole card.

Reference to: ______________________________________________________
Possible meaning: __________________________________________________

2. Although the earthquake did a great deal of damage, it was nothing like the disaster of 9/11.

Reference to: ______________________________________________________
Possible meaning: __________________________________________________

3. I poured myself a cup of coffee in the teacher's lounge and took a sip. It wasn't Starbucks, but the jolt of hot, steamy caffeine helped wake me up.

Reference to: ______________________________________________________
Possible meaning: __________________________________________________

Answer 1

1. Reference to: John Hancock who famously signed his name large and bold on the Declaration of Independence
Possible meaning: Someone signed their name in a bold and noticeable way on the birthday card

2. Reference to: 9/11, the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001
Possible meaning: The earthquake caused significant damage, but it was not as catastrophic and tragic as the events of 9/11

3. Reference to: Starbucks, a popular coffee chain
Possible meaning: The coffee in the teacher's lounge may not be as high quality or delicious as Starbucks, but it still provided the necessary caffeine boost.