Biblical allusions are common in poetry. They help illustrate the meaning or moral behind the words, according to poet Michael Hickey on NaplesNews.com. Some poets use biblical allusions to strengthen or intensify their point of view. For example, T.S. Eliot uses biblical allusions in "The Wasteland" to parallel spiritual death in his era with the barrenness of the land in Ezekiel's day. John Milton uses biblical allusions to illustrate the rise and fall of man, the temptation of Adam and Eve, and their eventual exit from the Garden of Eden, in "Paradise Lost."
Some poets use mythical characters to develop their allusions. For example, Shakespeare refers to Troilus and Cressida during the time of the Trojan Wars in "Merchant of Venice." His allusion is purposeful because it conveys the idea of forbidden love, according to Hickey. References to mythical characters, such as Achilles, Midas and Odysseus, help readers associate epic hero tragedies with similar present-day situations. Mythical allusions define timeless concepts such as tragic death, unselfish love, jealousy, hatred and pride.
Roads and travel routes are frequently used as allusions. They often symbolize a character's journey to a final destination or the journey to uncover hidden revelation. For example, Robert Frost uses the allusion of a road in his poem "The Road Not Taken" to describe his battle to be both a poet and a teacher. Similarly, Homer uses a voyage to explain Odysseus's literal and emotional journey home in "The Iliad." Roads and routes provide a contextual map that helps the reader transition from one event or personal discovery to the next.
Some poets use children as allusions to explain coming-of-age or passing-of-time situations. For example, Emily Dickinson uses children to allude to a fading life that eventually leads to death in her poem "Death," says Lilia Melani, professor in the Department of English at The City University of New York. Children represent energy, innocence and vitality, so poets often contrast their youthfulness with the emotional and physical pain that comes with age, death and decay.