An illusion is a distortion of the senses,
revealing how the brain normally organizes and interprets sensory stimulation.
An allusion is a figure of speech
that makes a reference to, or representation of, people, places, events,
literary work, myths, or works of art, either directly or by implication.
These two words are often misused at least in conversation,
if not in a literary sense. Illusion is what a magician does; he creates a
world or a vision of something that isn’t real. He makes you believe what he
shows you is genuine and factual, when in reality it is nothing more than
sleight of hand tricks or redirection of your gaze while he manipulates objects
before you.
Allusion is the act of reminding you of an earlier reference
of an established fact or idea. If you were asked the question, “Do you like
cherry trees as much as George does?” the speaker is referring to the youthful
indiscretion of our nation’s first president, George Washington, cutting down
cherry trees. You are directing my
attention to a bit of early history.
If a person’s long hair is wildly untidy, an allusion to Medusa’s head of snakes
would be a comparison easily recognized.
The way I remember to keep these words separate is that if I
believed in magic I could become ill;
therefore I must keep the illusion of
magic in its proper place. My brain is big enough to remember some of the most
notable references of historical and literary work ever written, but not all of them, so my allusions may need to be researched for their sources so I may
understand the reference to the subject under discussion.
~Anne
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