An allusion's a figure of speech that makes a reference to, or representation of, a place, event, literary work, myth, or work of art, either directly or by implication. M.H. Abrams defined allusion as "a brief reference, explicit or indirect, to a person, place or event, or to another literary work or passage". It's left to the reader or hearer to make the connection (Fowler); an overt allusion's a misnomer for what's simply a reference. In a freer informal definition allusion's a passing or ca… (More on Allusion)