Allusions are present in many stories, referencing actual people, places, events, art, and literature. They help to plunge the reader into the time period in which the story takes place. Allusions can reference the political, social, artistic, and technological influences that are present in the characters' lives and, therefore, provide greater insight into the characters' thoughts and motivations.
In this activity, students will create a spider map in which they identify different allusions referenced in the story and describe them. Some allusions may be familiar to students and some may not. By researching the allusions that are unfamiliar, students will gain a deeper understanding of the story.
To tailor or scaffold this activity, teachers may provide students with a list of allusions before reading, before a new chapter, or afterward. They may also edit the template to add more cells depending on how many allusions they would like students to identify. Be sure to update the student instructions as necessary!
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard that identifies allusions present in the book. Allusions are references to actual people, places, events or works of art or literature. Illustrate each allusion and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
Before conducting an advanced level of character analysis, explain to students the concept of allusions. Discuss in detail the meaning of allusions, the reason behind putting historical references in fictional stories, and the impact of allusions on the overall narrative. Teachers can also share some examples with students to help them understand the concept.
Students can select a specific story and try to recognize allusions from that story as part of the practice. Help the students to set the recognized allusions in the story's historical and cultural context. Think about how these references' relevance is affected by the historical or cultural context.
Allusions provide more insight into the environment that the characters exist in. In order to understand the characters in a better way, students can perform more research on the social, economic, and political environment that the characters are a part of. These environments can be recognized with the help of allusions and historical references present in the story.
Ask the students to analyze why the author used certain allusions in the narrative. Students can also reflect on the themes and the central ideas and messages present in the story and try to make a connection between the two concepts. Analyze why the author assigned certain character traits to certain characters and how they support the allusions present in the story and help in the progress and development of the narrative.
Encourage the students to take part in writing activities where they construct characters through the use of allusions. Students will gain a deeper knowledge of how allusions add to character complexity by using this practical approach.
Teachers can assign a text to their students and ask them to find allusions in it. Arrange a scavenger hunt in which students look for references, report back on what they discover, and talk about each allusion's significance for the narrative. Additionally, teachers can assign a character from a work that contains allusions to each student. Ask students to study the character and play it out, focusing on how the character's perception of references influences their choices.
By introducing levels of complexity, depth, and meaning, allusions enhance a literary work. They can motivate readers to go further into the material, impact feelings, draw comparisons, and provide cultural or historical context.