What is an Allusion? Definition and Examples

What does allusion mean? Allusions are used in a variety of ways to invoke association. Before we dive too deep into our tips on writing allusions, let’s break down some allusion examples.

I felt likeCaesar getting stabbed in the back(historical/literary)

The company was going down like the Titanic(historical)

She was the Juliet to my Romeo (literary)

The girl was the artist’s muse  (mythological)

That meeting was a home run (pop cultural)

This house could be our garden of Eden(biblical)

An allusion is only successful if the reader/audience understands the reference. That’s why it’s imperative to either choose well-known references, or tailor your references to the audience. Certain writers have developed allusory styles. Author Dan Brown for example invokes historical and biblical allusions in a lot of his novels, such asAngels and DemonsandThe Da Vinci Code.