Literary Device - Allusion

Literary Device - Allusion

An allusion is a reference or mention to a figure or event from an outside source, factual or fictitious. Most literary allusions hinge on references to religious or mythological tales, other published literary works, and historical or political happenings. Example: Milhouse from The Simpsons on falling in love:

“It was just like Romeo & Juliet, only it ended in tragedy.”

What type of allusion is contained in the example above? How does this statement employ irony to create intended humor?

“Landscape with the Fall of Icarus” William Carlos Williams

According to Brueghelwhen Icarus fellit was spring

a farmer was ploughinghis fieldthe whole pageantry

of the year wasawake tinglingnear

the edge of the seaconcerned with itself

sweating in the sunthat meltedthe wings' wax

unsignificantlyoff the coastthere was

a splash quite unnoticedthis wasIcarus drowning

“Landscape with the Fall of Icarus” – Author’s Purpose

• What do you recall about the story of Icarus and his wings made of wax? What type of allusion is contained within both the painting and the poem?_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Write a brief description of the scene depicted in the painting:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Greek myth of Icarus concerns a young boy and his father taking flight using manmade wings of wax. Despite his father’s warning, Icarus flies too high and the sun melts the wings of wax - causing Icarus to fall to his demise.

In the painting there is a man plowing fields in the center of the composition. To the left, there are ruins of a fortress and a city on the edge of the sea. To the right, there is a sailing ship, a man fishing, and two legs sticking out of the water.

“Landscape with the Fall of Icarus” – Author’s Purpose

Entity Reaction

• In which season or time of year does Icarus’ fall occur according to both the poem and the painting?

_________

• Reread Williams’ poem and determine the reaction of the various entities to the fall of Icarus:

Spring

A farmer…

The sea…

The sun…

The year…

Unaware; plowing…

Awake, but oblivious…

Self-concerned…

Indifferent; melts wax…

“Landscape with the Fall of Icarus” – Author’s Purpose

• What two words are directly used within the poem to describe Icarus’ fall?

____________ and __________

• How is this idea communicated within the painting? (Hint: Focus on both foreground and background details. What is the major focus of the painting in terms of composition?)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

unsignificantly unnoticed

In terms of both picture composition and light/dark contrast, Brueghel’s painting contains the lower half of falling Icarus as almost an afterthought. The figures and landscape features accentuated by the composition and lighting do not include the flailing legs of Icarus as a major focal point.

“Landscape with the Fall of Icarus” – Author’s Purpose

• What are the author’s and painter’s purpose or artistic theme within the poem and painting? (Hint: Look closely again at the title and consider its full implications.) ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• How does the allusion to Icarus provide an effective framework for this message or theme?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Both the poet and the painter are expressing an age-old and grim truth: Despite personal defeat the world still moves forward, for the most part not impacted by individual tragedies.

Most individuals who are culturally aware have some knowledge of the Icarus myth and it consistently carries significant connotations. Every human being understands the elation and danger in soaring “too close to the sun.”

Answer the essay question below:• In both Pieter Bruegel’s and William Carlos

Williams’ “Landscape with the Fall of Icarus”, mankind’s true relationship with and importance within the larger world is explored. In a well-organized response, complete with text evidence, described painting details, and relevant commentary, examine how the painter and poet utilize a mythological allusion to communicate their artistic message.

Red – Major Writing TaskBlue – Minor Insights/Instructions