Guan-Bok Kwok
English 101H MW 9:30-10:55 am
Professor McKeever
29 November 2013
Word Count: 459
What Allusions Teach
While researching allusions, I learned that in every allusion there are numerous interpretations. Allusions are a way of making a reference to a story, event, or person. Writers frequently allude to classic literature, myths, or even real world events in modern day writing. Stories that allude to love and courage have an emotional impact on the audience. The stories of Romeo and Juliet, Samson and Delilah, Thor, and David and Goliath show how writers use the readers' emotions to express a story.
In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare illustrates forbidden love within two rival families. The love Romeo and Juliet had for each other was so great; they were willing to take extensive risks in attempt to run away together. In the end, when they thought their plan failed, they both committed suicide because they could not bear living without one another. Whereas in Samson and Delilah, Samson falls in love with Delilah who acts as if she cares for him. Since their countries were at war, Delilah accepted a bribe to find and exploit Samsons' weakness. These stories show that people who are blinded by love will do or believe anything even if it means their own demise.
The myth of Thor depicts an arrogant, but courageous warrior god who protected earth from danger, even against the serpent Jörmungandr. Though his death was foretold on the day that he battles and kills the serpent, he still goes to the battle in order to protect earth. In the biblical story of David and Goliath, David shows his courage by volunteering to fight the mighty warrior Goliath. David faces the fully armored warrior wearing only a servents robe and carrying a sling as a weapon. These stories show a god and a servent courageously going into battles where the the odds are set against them.
Writers use these stories as a tool in order to create a sense of familiarity with the reader. While Shakespeare was writing Romeo and Juliet, he related to the myth of Cupid to describe their tragic love. The classic novel The Great Gatsby is similar to the story of Samson and Delilah in that both Gatsby and Samson die because of their blinding love towards a girl. These are just a couple examples of how writers incorperate known myths or stories into their own writings. Also, while studying different allusions, I found that while myths or stories may be completely unrelated to one another, if they share a common meaning such as love or courage, there will be similarities. Every myth or story can have many interpretations depending on the way it is read or presented.
English 101H MW 9:30-10:55 am
Professor McKeever
29 November 2013
Word Count: 459
What Allusions Teach
While researching allusions, I learned that in every allusion there are numerous interpretations. Allusions are a way of making a reference to a story, event, or person. Writers frequently allude to classic literature, myths, or even real world events in modern day writing. Stories that allude to love and courage have an emotional impact on the audience. The stories of Romeo and Juliet, Samson and Delilah, Thor, and David and Goliath show how writers use the readers' emotions to express a story.
In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare illustrates forbidden love within two rival families. The love Romeo and Juliet had for each other was so great; they were willing to take extensive risks in attempt to run away together. In the end, when they thought their plan failed, they both committed suicide because they could not bear living without one another. Whereas in Samson and Delilah, Samson falls in love with Delilah who acts as if she cares for him. Since their countries were at war, Delilah accepted a bribe to find and exploit Samsons' weakness. These stories show that people who are blinded by love will do or believe anything even if it means their own demise.
The myth of Thor depicts an arrogant, but courageous warrior god who protected earth from danger, even against the serpent Jörmungandr. Though his death was foretold on the day that he battles and kills the serpent, he still goes to the battle in order to protect earth. In the biblical story of David and Goliath, David shows his courage by volunteering to fight the mighty warrior Goliath. David faces the fully armored warrior wearing only a servents robe and carrying a sling as a weapon. These stories show a god and a servent courageously going into battles where the the odds are set against them.
Writers use these stories as a tool in order to create a sense of familiarity with the reader. While Shakespeare was writing Romeo and Juliet, he related to the myth of Cupid to describe their tragic love. The classic novel The Great Gatsby is similar to the story of Samson and Delilah in that both Gatsby and Samson die because of their blinding love towards a girl. These are just a couple examples of how writers incorperate known myths or stories into their own writings. Also, while studying different allusions, I found that while myths or stories may be completely unrelated to one another, if they share a common meaning such as love or courage, there will be similarities. Every myth or story can have many interpretations depending on the way it is read or presented.