Greek and Roman Allusions in Literature

Having seen several allusions in our products, let's turn to art, and specifically, literature.

Colorful drawing of face of Edgar Allan Poe

Allusions in Literature: Edgar Allan Poe

Take a look at this poem by Edgar Allan Poe. Note all of the mythical allusions in the work.

Image note: a colorful portrait of the author and poet Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849).

To Helen - By Edgar Allan Poe

Helen, thy beauty is to me
Like those Nicean barks of yore
That gently, o'er a perfumed sea,
The weary, way-worn wanderer bore
To his own native shore.

On desperate seas long wont to roam,
Thy hyacinth hair, thy classic face,
Thy Naiad airs have brought me home
To the glory that was Greece,
And the grandeur that was Rome

Lo, in yon brilliant window-niche
How statue-like I see thee stand,
The agate lamp within thy hand,
Ah! Psyche, from the regions which
Are Holy Land!

Did you identify the mythical allusions in Edgar Allan Poe's poem? Check your answers below:

Helen: This allusion to Helen could be a reference to Helen of Troy, who was said to be the daughter of Zeus.
Naiad: In Greek mythology, Naiads are water nymphs who live in lakes, rivers, springs, and fountains.
Psyche: The personification of the human soul who married Cupid, the god of love.

Allusions in Literature: Dorothy Parker

Next up is a poem by Dorothy Parker which is called Penelope. In it, Parker alludes to Penelope, the wife of Odysseus from Homer's The Odyssey.

Image note: a painting by John William Waterhouse of Penelope and the Suitors. Penelope is in a red dress and at a loom with men around her vying for attention.

Penelope - By Dorothy Parker

In the pathway of the sun,
In the footsteps of the breeze,
Where the world and sky are one,
He shall ride the silver seas,
He shall cut the glittering wave.
I shall sit at home, and rock;
Rise, to heed a neighbor's knock;
Brew my tea, and snip my thread;
Bleach the linen for my bed.
They will call him brave.

Why do you think Parker titled this poem “Penelope”? When she could have used any name for the title, that was her choice. Why?

Reflection

Keep in mind that allusions are references that can tell you so much with a single word or phrase. When approaching an allusion in art or literature, your first step should be to identify the allusion itself, then figure out why the author or creator chose to make that reference. What broader idea are they communicating?

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Mei Zendra (Poe image)/Shutterstock.com. Image used under license from Shutterstock.com and may not be repurposed.