Drowning In Allusions

[nathank]

What's with these huge books that are stuffed full of various allusions to everything under the sun? I'm thinking of the works of Pynchon, Joyce, Gaddis, and so on. It seems like these are great books even without all the allusions and references (at least I like them even, though I'm sure I miss MOST of the references and allusions). So A) Why do the authors put them in there and B) Do you enjoy the books more if you are able to understand most of the references and allusions.

[chaplin]

Some authors are "name-droppers" and merely make numerous allusions to obscure or well-known texts to show us how well-read they are. Others do it to deepen and broaden the scope and inclusivity of their work.

I personally like and dislike the use of allusions in ficiton. I think if the allusion is subtle and not shouted at the reader than it can have a good effect on the text, linking it with the other work and the other work with another work etc.

[barbara0207]

I think you are right, chaplin.

But the problem is, the older these books get, the less people will understand the allusions, because many of the works mentioned will be forgotten. In these cases it is often helpful to read an annotated edition if available. (For many classics there are these versions annoteated by scholars researching on the subject.)

[chaplin]

I think you are right, chaplin. But the problem is, the older these books get, the less people will understand the allusions, because many of the works mentioned will be forgotten. In these cases it is often helpful to read an annotated edition if available. (For many classics there are these versions annoteated by scholars researching on the subject.)

Quite right, barbara. I make it a point to only buy editions of older works that have some sort of explanatory notes for those difficult spots, such as detailed political or topical references. One example is the numerous mentions that Dostoevsky makes to newspaper and magazine articles; without notes, probably every reader would be in the dark.

[nathank]

Do you feel your reading experiences are that much more satisfying because you are able to figure out those references? Or could you just gloss over them and still get most of the satisfaction? Do they add that much more depth to the reading to make it worth constantly breaking the flow of your reading to look up all kinds of references?

Sometimes I'll go back and look stuff up after finishing a chapter and I find that it generally adds very little to the overall story that the author is telling.

Thanks for the thoughts.

[barbara0207]

Do you feel your reading experiences are that much more satisfying because you are able to figure out those references? Or could you just gloss over them and still get most of the satisfaction? Do they add that much more depth to the reading to make it worth constantly breaking the flow of your reading to look up all kinds of references?


Depends. Sometimes you can read a work for the story only, and the references are not so important. But sometimes it nags at me that I don't know what the author is talking about. Then I'm happy if I have the chance to look it up at the back of the book right away. That doesn't break the flow too much, and you read on, satisfied.