Allusions Practice

Why would an author choose to use an allusion in his/her work?

• To make things more confusing for the reader

• Because they can’t think of anything else original

• To make a point more clearly and precisely about characters or situations in his/her own work

• To leave clues that might foreshadow the ending

Read the following passage from the novel To Save a Life.  Then answer the question that follows.

Jake felt like his household was a constant battlefield; sometimes coming through the front door felt like storming the beaches of Normandy, and other times it was like the middle of the Cold War.

Notice the underlined portions.  In which of the following categories would these allusions fit?

• Mythological

• Historical

• Literary

• Biblical

Read the following character description of Katniss, the main character in The Hunger Games. Then answer the question that follows.

With her bow and arrow, Katniss turns to the forests as a refuge from which to help the poor and fight the forces of the Capitol. It is by hunting in the woods that Katniss learns the skills that help her to survive the Hunger Games and (in the later books of the series) help the oppressed people of Panem. Katniss's clothing includes a leather jacket, tight pants, and high boots.  Katniss’s efforts to hunt for food in the forests are deemed illegal by the unreasonable dictates of their respective states.

Based on this characterization of Katniss, which of the following literary characters does the author create an allusion to?

• Hercules

• Robin Hood

• Jack Black

• Effie Trinket

What does the allusion in this statement mean?

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

• The kindergarteners are scaredy-cats.

• Cruella DeVille is a good leader

• The principal is an intimidating person.

• The principal likes to wear fur coats.

What kind of allusion is in this example?

Christy was no Scrooge, but she seldom purchased more than just the bare necessities.

• Biblical

• Mythological

• Historical

• Literary

What does the allusion tell us about the boy?

His Goliath frame seemed to dwarf the other football players.

• The boy is a large boy.

• The boy likes mythology.

• The boy can be defeated by someone named David.

• Football is for giants.

Read the excerpt from Chapter 1 of Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.

Whether this prophecy is ever fulfilled or not, it is nevertheless plain that a very different-looking class of people are springing up at the south, and are now held in slavery, from those originally brought to this country from Africa; and if their increase do no other good, it will do away the force of the argument, that God cursed Ham, and therefore American slavery is right. If the lineal descendants of Ham are alone to be scripturally enslaved, it is certain that slavery at the south must soon become unscriptural; for thousands are ushered into the world, annually, who, like myself, owe their existence to white fathers, and those fathers most frequently their own masters.

How does the allusion to Ham affect the meaning of the text?

• It emphasizes Douglass's desire to be free.

• It allows Douglass to discredit using the Bible to justify slavery.

• It highlights the similarities between enslaved people and those who enslave them.

• It compares slavery in the modern world to slavery in Biblical times.