What are the allusions in the poem Miniver Cheevy?

Question

Miniver Cheevy, child of scorn,
Grew lean while he assailed the seasons
He wept that he was ever born,
And he had reasons.

Miniver loved the days of old
When swords were bright and steeds were prancing;
The vision of a warrior bold
Would send him dancing.

Miniver sighed for what was not,
And dreamed, and rested from his labors;
He dreamed of Thebes and Camelot,
And Priam's neighbors.

Miniver mourned the ripe renown
That made so many a name so fragrant;
He mourned Romance, now on the town,
And Art, a vagrant.

Miniver loved the Medici,
Albeit he had never seen one;
He would have sinned incessantly
Could he have been one.

Miniver cursed the commonplace
And eyed a khaki suit with loathing:
He missed the medieval grace
Of iron clothing.

Miniver scorned the gold he sought,
But sore annoyed was he without it;
Miniver thought, and thought, and thought,
And thought about it.

Miniver Cheevy, born too late,
Scratched his head and kept on thinking;
Miniver coughed, and called it fate,
And kept on drinking.

Answer 1

An allusion is a rhetorical trope, a literary device which is really just a quick or hidden, perhaps indirect, but often straightforward reference to a common cultural idea or thing. For example, an allusion to classical mythology in a poem. This could be something like the references to Thebes, Camelot, and Priam's Neighbors found within the 1910 E.A. Robinson poem, Miniver Cheevy.

Of course, there are many more. And identifying an allusion includes citing the reference and explaining its accuracy and relationship to the poem.

Your work awaits! Good Luck.

Answer 2

Miniver Cheevy Allusions