Post your novel's title and author.
An allusion is a reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art. For example, a novel might make an allusion to Pinnochio, Scrooge, Romeo and Juliet, Jesus, the Garden of Eden, the Mona Lisa, Adam and Eve, characters from mythology (Zeus, Aphrodite, etc.), Cyclops, celebrities, etc.
Find an allusion in your novel. Write the allusion and explain WHY the author chose to include it.
45 comments:
I am reading Tigers Destiny by Colleen Houck. The allusion being made refers to William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night,(which I am also reading, how funny). Kelsey has just been saved from the evil sorcerer Lokesh, and to keep her heart safe from pain, chooses to go back to Ren, her first love's brother, Kishan. Ren sees them together in the living room and runs upstairs with Kelsey running after him. The book says, "Ren really looked the part of Shakespeare's melancholic Duke Orsino pinning for his Lady Olivia"(Houck 114). The author chose to include this allusion to give the readers an idea of how Ren reacted and was acting without coming out and saying it, but explaining another character from another book or piece of literature and using it to describe their character to keep the book interesting. This is why the author chose to include this allusion.
Title: Halfway to the Sky
Author: Kimberly Brubakerr Bradley
The Allusion being made in my book refers to Appalachian Trail/ Mountains. The author chose to include the Appalachian Trail because main character, Dani, runs away from home.Dani plans to hike from her home in Georgia, to her recently divorced dad's house in Maine, at the end of the trail. She gives this alluion many times, to judge where, and how far Dani has gotten.
ABerryman: Sounds like an intrestin book....thats pretty neat how your reading Shakespeare too. :)
MalloryD6: Your book sounds really good. I'll have to read it some time. Good job on explainig your allusion;)
Book: Plus
Author: Veronica Chambers
The allusion in this book is when Chela, Bee's best friend, is telling her about how Kevin,(Bee's friend who she tutored), was swamped by people at this club when she was trying to get him. She said that he was so swamped that it was "like he was Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West, and Common all rolled into one. I think that the author used this allusion to prove to her readers exactly just how popular Kevin was, now that he was a rapper, without coming out and saying that he was really popular.
ABerryman5: That sounds like a really good book! I LOVE Shakespeare, so you'll have to tell me how it ends and whether not you'd reccomend it or not. :)
Right now I’m reading the book Ink Spell by Cornelia Funke. The allusion being made refers to the Titanic. “Louder than the Titanic’s foghorn, Mo always said” (37). The author uses this allusion in order to describe how loud the main character Meggie’s Aunt Elinor is. Her voice is so loud and powerful that it can be heard throughout her mansion of a house. Comparing her voice to the Titanic’s foghorn give you a pretty good idea of how loud she could be.
MaceyD6: Your book sounds good and the allusion makes it sound even more interesting. I’ll have to look into reading it sometime.
I am reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling. J.K. Rowling makes lots of mythological allusions. ONe allusion is Argus Filch, the grumpy caretaker who resents the magical students because he is a squib. The character Argus, in Greek mythology, had 100 eyes, until he was bored to death by Hermes so the clever messenger god could rescue one of Zeus's girlfriends from Hera. Filch seems to have 100 eyes, popping up everywhere and accusing students of ordering dungbombs or using magic in the corridors. He is highly suspicious of everyone doing everything. Argus, or Argus, you'll have a time getting past either one!
ABerryman5:I've probably commented onthis before, but I love that series sooooo much! I can't wait until the next one comes out!
I am reading Max: Maximum Ride by James Patterson
An allusion in my book would be when it refers to the Black and White knight. Iggy (one of the characters) made up a name for himself, the White Knight. The interviewer asked Iggy why he was called that and he gestured to his light skin and hair and said people weren't going to call him the Black Knight. This is an allusion because it refers to the Black and White knight which is in Chess, Alice and wonderland,and is a symbol for good and evil (and Iggy is a 'good' character). The author is using as a reference to skin color instead.
KPhillips5,
I've tried to read that book but I've never finished it! The figurative language that you described makes me want to try to read it again though!
I am reading The Rise of Nine (Lorien Legacies) by Pittacus Lore. An allusion would be when three of the characters go to India to look for another member of the Garde, who the locals believe is the reincarnation of Vishnu due to his Legacies (which are powers the Garde develop). This is an allusion to the Hindu god Vishnu. The author probably chose to include it to help readers understand how powerful the Garde are, and to make the member safer seeming. That is one allusion in my book The Rise of Nine.
M Langston5:
Huh. I never new that about Argus until now! And now I find it funny.
K House5:
I haven't read Max yet. Is it good?
In my book, “The Golem’s Eye,” by Jonathan Stroud, one allusion the author makes is a real person, but in the story, it tells him doing things that he never actually did. This person is well known to the English people, but many Americans wouldn’t recognize his name. William Gladstone, in the story, was a magician who made all the other magicians the government superpowers of the British Government. The author used this allusion because Gladstone, in his real life, was a powerful government statesman, so he would fit perfectly in the role that he plays in the book. Also, the author is English, so he wrote a book where everyone would know the name Gladstone.
J DeVoe6- that book sounds cool, although some what strange...
I am currently reading the City Of bones, the 1st book in the mortal instruments. The author of this novel is Cassandra Clare. The allusion of this book is the events that occurred in Jace and Clary's time. They are the result of cult’s plot that was planned twenty years before. It was also the Institute and how the Shadowhunters were thought to be descendents of angel and man.
KHouse5: That sounds like a very interesting book, and i can't wait to read it.
The book that I am currently reading is called Dance Anecdotes; Stories from the Ballet world, Broadway, the ball room, and modern dance by Mindy Aloff. In this book there are many allusions as pointed out by Ms. J Thomas. The allusion that I will talk about is found on page 73. “I was sitting in the main studio in the New York State Theater, waiting for a rehearsal of Watermill to begin, when Jerry stomped in. He scanned the room for a moment, and his eyes settled on me. ‘You!’ he screamed. ‘What the H*** are you doing? You’re not doing my ballet anymore.’ I spent a very half- second trying to figure out if he meant that he was taking me out of Watermill (which I was never even in!) or just one off his ballets- I was performing three at the time- I was no longer welcome to be a part of when Jerry continued: ‘That step, you’re not doing my step anymore.’ This was accompanied by a miming of ‘AHA!’ [a signal that he wanted to see] a phrase from his West Side Story Suite. ‘Get off you’re a** and show me that step.’ At which point I did.” This quote is alluding to both Watermill and West Side Story Suite, both are famous ballet predictions. The Author Mindy Aloff chose to include this quote from a dancer to show what it was like in a rehearsal with Jerry. It is said that he was a very strict and intimidating man. This quote is very useful to see that the previous statement is really true. I think that I would be very scared to be in the same building as that man let alone the same studio!
ABerryman5: Your allusion is great. I love Shakespear and can't wait until we read A Mid Summers Night Dream.
I am currently reading Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech. The allusion being made in my book refers to one of the 50 states. To be more specific it is referring to Illinois. The author chose to include Illinois because the main character, Sal, short for Salamanca, is traveling with her grandparents to be reunited with her mother. Her parents got divorced when Sal wasn't too old. She hasn't seen her mother in years. As Sal tells a story to her grandparents about a friend named Phoebe, they are driving to Illinois. The author uses this allusion because this is where Sal will reunite with her mother.
CNorton5: I know a lot of people who have read that book. Sounds good! Great post by the way. :)
I am currently reading The Scorch Trials by James Dashner. The allusion being made is to Earth's equator in the future when the Sun Flares burn off the entire face of the Earth. I believe the author chose this allusion because its more realistic so the reader can easily relate to the setting without confusion in trying to imagine the setting in the reader's mind.
ABerryman5: That looks like a good book!
I am reading Maximum Ride:School's Out Forever by James Patterson.
The allusion being made refers to Bible. The author chose to include the famous Bible story of Moses to show that how Max and five children is similar to the Bible. The six children are still running away from the Erasers and the school. The Moses's story is about Moses escaping from Egypt.
AVellis6- That book sounds interesting. (Not because of the inappropriate words)
The author of Point of Retreat, Colleen Hoover,uses the band, The Avett Brothers, as an allusion in the novel. They had very poetic lyrics and the band is a common interest of the two main characters. In the first book, she included a quote at the beginning of each chapter. In this book, it is only mentioned a few times. I think that the author includes this to show that poetry is everywhere and is descirbes daily life.
MalloryD6: That is a great allusion!
I am currently reading Specials by Scott Westerfeld, the third book in the Uglies series. Because my book takes place in the future in a dystopian society there are no wars. Therefore they allude to the large “Rusty Wars” that caused the end of life as we know it. The author does this to describe how life in the dystopian cities is a lot different than it is now. He also uses it to describe how the ‘new’ world doesn’t have wars and it is much ‘better’.
I am currently reading the book, The Hunger Games by the author Susan Collins. An allusion from Susan collims is, Televising The Hunger Games as to be a reality-tv game show. Thia author used this allusion to show hoe cruel and evil that the capitol is of showing people kill eachother like its just a telivision show.
KPrindle6: I want to read that book really bad!
JasunC6: Good job! I love that allusion!
JasunC6:
I really want to read that series. Thats a really good allusion!!
I am reading Vanished by Kristi Hall. An allusion in this book is to a city in the Old Testament of the Bible, Jericho. The author included this allusion in the book to explain where the main character, Jeri, got her name from. Her mother named her this because it was from her favorite Bible story, Joshua and the fall of Jericho.
MacayD6: That books sounds really good! Thats a really good allusion!
In Hush Hush by Becca FitzPartick, there is only one allusion I could find. In this book the author refers to Heaven many times. This is because the book is about angles,fallen angles, and nephil. In order for anyone to understand the conflict and characters they must know about Heaven and the roles angels play on humanity in the book. This is an allusion because Heaven is a place many, if not all people know about even of they don't believe in it.
HFern6: I've heard that series is good, can't wait to read it.
In my book Alex Cross by James Patterson, one allusion being made is refers back to the Bible. The allusion is when Alex Cross is talking to his mom on page 97. In this page it says, "This demon has condemned my wife, taken away my loved ones, and stripped me of all the joy in my life. I will not stop till I meet him at the gates of h***. I can do all things through christ who strengthens me momma always said. Lets see if she was right" (Patterson 97). The author used this allusion to portray just how serious this scene was. Also it showed Alex's religious side. I think this allusion was to keep the book interesting and to add emotion and feeling. book
HLee6, I love ALL of James Patterson's books and am going to hopefully read that book by him.
Book Title: Thirteen Reasons Why
Author: Jay Asher
The allusion in my book refers to Eisenhower Park. This is not a real park (that I know of) but it is well known in the book. The author chose to include this so she could show how much detail Hannah added in her tapes that Clay was listening to.
MalloryD6: That book sounds cool!
The book I am reading is the Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr. The allusion being made in my book refers to witches. The author uses this allusion to show that a boy named Adam could be able to tell the differences between monsters and actual humans. Since this book is dealing with hunting monsters, specifically "Daimons," she uses this allusion to say that Adam is very good at what he does.
AMeling5- That book sounds very cool and something I would be interested in reading.
JDevoe6- I've heard of that book, but I never read it. I might have to read it soon.
In The Sword Thief by Peter Lerangis an allusion is made to the Eiffel Tower. Amy and Dan have recently arrived in Japan and Dan spots a tall red tower that resembles the Eiffel Tower. I think the author chose to include it because it provides information about Japan and its history.
KPrindle6: Sounds like a cool book. The title makes the book sound interesting.
I am reading 1984 by George Orwell. "That too was a gesture belonging to the ancient times. Winston woke up the word "Shakespeare" on his lips (pg.31)." The author is describe the movements of someone. He probably used this allusion because the woman's movements were similar to movements of ancient people, like those out of Shakespeare. That is one allusion in my book.
ABerryman5: That sounds like a great book and it's cool how you're reading Shakespeare right now too!
I just finished The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan. One allusion is when Zeus is mentioned. Jason and Piper are at an island meeting Hercules. When he looked at Jason he said "Son of Zeus, eh?" This is referring to the Greek God Zues king of the sky. He chose to use it to tell you that Jason is a son of god.
MaceyD6- Sounds like a really cool book.
I am currently reading "Charlie St. Cloud" by Ben Sheerwood. Although an allusion is not made I think one that could be added is the main character referring their boat to the titanic. One of the main characters is really into boats and she decides to do a around the world sailing race and as she is her boat hits a rock and sinks. This could be similar to the Titanic because the Titanic also hit a rock- like object, a glacier, and sunk rapidly.
KPrindle6- I love that book! I read it in 6th garde and I thought it was amazing! Nice blog!:)
The book I am reading is Plus by Veronica Chambers. The author makes an allusion to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. “Not in an annoying way like my mom, but a cool way like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.” The author makes this reference because she compares the obsessive amount of public service her mom does in comparison to the acknowledgeable amount celebrities do.
MaceyD6: Haha, same book buddies!
I am currently reading Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass. This book is about a boy (Jeremy) who recieves a box, originally from his deceased father. However, the keys have been lost. He hunts for the keys alongside his best friend Lizzie. In the book, there is a reference to the old Betty and Veronic Comics. Mass writes,"'What about all the customers who won't learn about the new Betty and Veronic because of you?' She shrugs. 'Nobody reads Archie comics anymore"'(Mass 3). Although the reference is at the beginning of the book, it is signifigant through the entire book. The comic store was owned by Jeremy's father, therefore comics were a hobby they shared. The author decided to include the allusion to show the relationship between Jeremy and his deceased father.
TaylorC6- I'm not sure if the movie is based off the book or vice versa<---vocab word :) But I have seen the movie and it was amazing. I loved the plot line. I am postive I would love the book as well. I will need to borrow that!
In Then Again Maybe I Won't by Judy Blume the main character, Tony, alludes to the mafia in the passage that says: "So my father's not a secret agent. He's not mixed up with the mob. And he doesn't have cancer." In this passage, Tony disproves his previous theories as to why his mother and grandmother suddenly started to talk about Tony's brother, Vinny, who had recently died in the Vietnam War. The allusion to the mafia helps to reinforce the setting by describing what might be present in the town of New Jersey. Judy Blume also tends to allude to many things, especially brand names, in her books, so this allusion does not surprise me at all.
Hfern6,
That sounds like a really good series.
This week, I am reading Feed by M.T.Anderson. One of the allusions in this book, on page 29, refered to Gatorade. The allusion was included in this book so that the author can explain what the main character, Titus, saw. Titus saw how college students who were on the moon were spraying Gatorade from hoses at their spring break party. The author also included this becuase this allusion seems to add detail to the story and can help give readers an image of what the spring break party was like.
LexiS6: That is a REALLY good book Lex. Great job on your blog!
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