Allusions

Why might a student say this as he or she is throwing away a paper ball?

Why would a student specifically say "Kobe?"

Someone says under his breath as he observes a woman cough at the grocery store.

Why would someone say that?

"Kobe" is a phrase that references famous basketball player, Kobe Bryant, and his skilled shooting form.

"COVID" is a phrase that references the Coronavirus, which has killed thousands of people, and is recognized for its symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath.

Think of Allusions as inside jokes. You have to understand the reference to really understand what it might mean in a sentence.

• Historical - Referencing history

• Cultural - Referencing movies, music, and memories from a time period

• Shakespearean - Referencing plays and main characters within the plays written by William Shakespeare.

• Mythological - Referencing events, stories, or names from Greek myths and legends.

• Biblical - Referencing people and events from the Bible

• Literary - Referencing characters, events, or settings from classic literature (a select group of books that are seen as being above the rest).

• The Bible

• Shakespeare.

• His smile is like kryptonite to me. (Superman)

• She felt like she had a golden ticket. (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)

• I feel like I just tumbled down the rabbit hole. (Alice in Wonderland)

• This guy is young, scrappy, and hungry. (Hamilton)

• I wish I could be like Dorothy and click my heels to get out of here. (Wizard of Oz)

• My boss Jedi mind tricked me into working an extra shift. (Star Wars)

• I've got English class with he who must not be named. (Harry Potter)

1. Look up the word you don't know (it's generally capitalized as a proper noun).

2. Decide what type of Allusion it is based on the previous list.

3. Explain the meaning of the Allusions