What is an allusion in poetry?

Answer by  xela (349)

An allusion is a reference to something else (another work, an event in history) within a work of literature. It is not the same thing as an illusion. An author might choose to allude to a point in the past without directly saying what he is alluding to-- it is for the audience to recognize.

Answer by  helper09 (108)

An allusion is a reference to something outside of that poem. Common allusions include biblical, mythological, historical, or pop culture references. The more you know about each of these categories, the better you can often understand poetry. An illusion is totally different -- it means something that fools the eye.