Allusion II Figure of Speech II English Grammar & Literature II Brain Tech Tutorial

An allusion (পরক্ষ উল্লেখ/ইশারা/টিপ্পনী, ইত্যাদি) is a figure of speech that makes a brief, indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, or literary significance. It relies on the audience's prior knowledge to understand the implied meaning without explicit explanation. 

For example, calling a strong person a "Hercules" is an allusion to the powerful hero from Greek mythology. 

Key characteristics of allusions

Indirect reference: Allusions are not direct; they are a subtle nod to a well-known subject.

Requires shared knowledge: For an allusion to be effective, both the writer and the reader must share a common frame of reference.

Compresses meaning: They are used to add depth and context, conveying a wealth of information in a concise way.

Examples:

Literary: "He was a Romeo with every girl he met" alludes to the tragic lover from Shakespeare's play.

Historical/Biblical: "It was a Waterloo for the company" alludes to the Battle of Waterloo, the final defeat of Napoleon.

Mythological: "She had the strength of Hercules" alludes to the mythical hero's immense power. 

Allusion vs. illusion: 

It is important not to confuse "allusion" with "illusion". 

Allusion: A reference or hint.

Illusion: A false idea or misleading appearance.