Which term is a figure of speech that makes a reference to a place, person, or something that happened; can be real or imaginary?

• A. Irony
• B. Allusion
• C. Propaganda
• D. Flashback

Answer: (B)

Allusion is a figure of speech that makes a reference to a place, person, or something that happened; it can be real or imaginary. It works by calling to mind something familiar from literature, history, or culture, so the reader recognizes the connection without it being stated outright. For example, saying a plan will require a Herculean effort alludes to the strength of the mythic hero Hercules to convey the idea of enormous effort. This differs from irony, which relies on a contrast between expectation and reality; from propaganda, which aims to persuade with biased information; and from a flashback, which shows a scene from the past within the story.