ALLUSIONS, PARALLELISM,
RHETORICAL QUESTIONS
English II Honors- Argument Unit
Allusion
Definition: A brief and indirect reference
to a person, place, thing or idea of
historical, cultural, literary or political
significance.
 Purpose: Lets the reader understand new
information, characters, plot, setting, etc.
by connecting it to something already
known.

Not to be confused with ILLUSIONS
In order to understand allusions, one
must have a good grasp on “wellknown” works of literature, art, music,
pop culture, etc.
 So, if one is not well-read, It will be
difficult to fully grasp why an
author/writer/director uses an
allusion

Allusion Examples



Sally had a smile
rivaled only by that of
Mona Lisa.
Since everyone is
familiar with the
painting, they can
imagine Sally’s almost
expressionless smile.
What does this show
about Sally?
Allusions Example (Art to Film)
The makers of Scream the movie ALLUDED to Munch’s
work of art “The Scream in order to instill fear.
Allusion Example (TV to Film)
Family Guy
The Shining
The makers of Family Guy make Stewie’s blocks say
REDRUM as an ALLUSION to The Shining because they
know their audience will likely be familiar with the film.
Allusion Example (Film to Film)
Karate Kid
Disney’s Hercules
Hercules ALLUDES to Karate Kid when Hercules is training.
Disney uses this allusion so the viewer thinks of Karate Kid
and how, after training in the sunlight, Daniel wins the big
match. The allusion is being used to foreshadow that Hercules
will have a big win.
Allusion Example (Poem to Book)
John Steinbeck’s Of Mice
and Men book title alludes
to Robert Burns’ poem “To a
Mouse”
Steinbeck is trying to send
the message, through his
title, that things will not go
as the characters planned.
Most Popular Allusions

The Bible
Shakespeare

Greek/Roman
Mythology

Parallelism
Definition: When the same grammatical
structure is repeated within a sentence
or paragraph for emphasis.
 Purpose: To help a reader or listener
follow an argument. To show how
related ideas fit together. To show how
ideas contrast with each other.

Simple Example of Parallel Structure


CORRECT:
I like swimming, jogging, and playing
tennis.
I like to swim, to jog, and to play tennis.
INCORRECT:
I like swimming, jogging, and to play
tennis.
Parallel Structure Example

The Declaration of Independence:

that all Men are created equal,

that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable
Rights,

that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness--

That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men,
deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed,

that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of
these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it....
Parallel Structure Example

“I Have a Dream” Speech
"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live
out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be
self-evident, that all men are created equal.'
 I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the
sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will
be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood...
 I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in
a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their
skin but by the content of their character."

Rhetorical Questions
Definition: A question asked
solely to produce an effect or to
make an assertion and not to elicit
a reply.
 Purpose: To emphasize a point or
draw the audience’s attention.

Rhetorical Question Examples

Romeo and Juliet
JULIET: “Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.”
Rhetorical Question Example
Click the picture for a video compilation of rhetorical questions as
used in Geico advertisements.
http://www.vidoevo.com/yvideo.php?i=RHRwX21xcWuRpMmZPMjQ&geico-rhetoricalquestions-pilation