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Literary Devices
Definition of Allusion
In literature, an allusion is an unexplained reference to someone or something outside of the text. Writers commonly allude to other literary works, famous individuals, historical events, or philosophical ideas... read full definition
In literature, an allusion is an unexplained reference to someone or something outside of the text. Writers commonly allude to other literary works, famous individuals... read full definition
In literature, an allusion is an unexplained reference to someone or something outside of the text. Writers commonly allude to... read full definition
Book 2
Explanation and Analysis—Bigger Was Not Listening:
Bessie, in her first scene in the novel, alludes to the true story of Leopold and Loeb. On May 21, 1924, Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, two students at the University of Chicago, kidnapped and murdered a 14-year-old boy named Bobby Franks, son of wealthy Chicago watch manufacturer Jacob Franks.
Related Themes:
Book 3
Explanation and Analysis—A Million Stars:
After Bigger faints at his trial, he meets with Reverend Hammond. The reverend wants to tell Bigger about the Book of Genesis. Bigger, mostly starved for over a week and likely brutally physically injured, is still not thinking clearly. He can hardly understand what Hammond says to him, but Bigger has a vision, perhaps a hallucination, in which he sees "a vast black silent void and the images of the preacher swam in that void, grew large and powerful." In a passage of one long sentence, Bigger's mind takes him through much of the Book of Genesis, guided by Hammond's words. This is how it begins:
Unlock with LitCharts A+... an endless reach of dark murmuring waters upon whose face was darkness and there was no form no shape no sun no stars and no land and a voice came out of the darkness and the waters moved to obey and there slowly emerged a slow spinning ball and the voice said let there be light and there was light and it was good light [...]
