1. "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald:
Allusion: "Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her; / If you can bounce high, bounce for her too, / Till she cry 'Lover, gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover, / I must have you!"
Reference: This is an allusion to the poem "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot. The quote speaks of a man's desire for a woman's attention, mirroring the theme of Gatsby's pursuit of Daisy.
Effect: It elevates the meaning of the scene by associating Gatsby's pursuit of Daisy with the universal theme of unrequited love and societal pressures.
2. "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee:
Allusion: " 'You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.' "
Reference: This is an allusion to the novel "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain, where the character of Huck Finn must grapple with his own moral compass in the face of societal expectations.
Effect: It connects the reader to the universal theme of empathy and understanding, reinforcing Atticus Finch's values and highlighting the novel's message of challenging societal prejudice.
3. "The Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien:
Allusion: "All that is gold does not glitter, / Not all those who wander are lost; / The old that is strong does not wither, / Deep roots are not reached by the frost. / From the ashes a fire shall be woken, / A light from the shadows shall spring; / Renewed shall be blade that was broken, / The crownless again shall be king."
Reference: These lines are an allusion to the poem "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien himself, which foreshadows the events of the entire trilogy.
Effect: It creates a sense of mystery and anticipation, reinforcing the themes of hope, resilience, and the power of the underdog.
4. "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen:
Allusion: "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."
Reference: This line is an allusion to the social conventions of the time, particularly the pressure on wealthy men to marry and produce an heir.
Effect: It establishes the context of the novel, highlighting the importance of marriage and wealth within 19th-century society.
These are just a few examples of how allusion can be used to enrich literature. By referencing other works, authors can add depth, complexity, and new meanings to their stories, making them more engaging and thought-provoking for the reader.