An allusion is a literary technique where a text subtly or indirectly refers to another text, event, or tradition through shared language, imagery, or themes. Rather than naming the source directly, an allusion expects readers to recognize the reference and bring that earlier context into their reading or interpretation. This allows authors to create layered meaning, reinforce authority, or reshape earlier material without interrupting the flow of the new text. Allusions are common in literary and religious writings, where they connect texts across time and help construct continuity through memory and recognition.
Intertexts
References
- McDonald, Lee Martin, "A Canonical History of the Old Testament Apocrypha" in Oegema, Gerbern S (ed.) The Oxford Handbook of the Apocrypha
- Docherty, Susan, "The Reception of Tobit in the New Testament and Early Christian Literature, with Special Reference to Luke-Acts" in Menken, M.J.J. (ed.) The Scriptures of Israel in Jewish and Christian Tradition: Essays in Honour of Maarten J.J. Menken
- de Jong, John, Making Sense in Zephaniah: An Intertextual Reading
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