Rhetorical devices

Allusions and direct references

Allusions are indirect references to people, events, historical facts, or media relevant to the topic. Jose Antonio Vargas’s article, “ ‘Dreamers’ Put Their Trust in DACA. What Now?”, uses only a few allusions in the article and prefers making direct references.

For example, the opening of the article is an allusion to the opening of the DACA processing system in Chicago: “Past the Ferris wheel, a line of young immigrants snaked into the crowded hallways of an event space on Chicago’s Navy Pier. It was August 2012.” (ll. 1-2). The allusion is confirmed later through a direct reference: “I carried that thrill with me to Chicago on the first day that people could apply.” (ll. 28-29).

Vargas also makes direct references to people he knows that are connected with the topic in some way: “a friend who’s a DACA recipient” (l. 44); “Mrs. Denny” (l. 51), “Pat Foote, a recruiter at The Seattle Times” (l. 14).

The “so-called Dreamers” (l. 47) is an allusion to the children of illegal immigrants in the US and to the “Dream Act” from which the Dreamers get their name.

Direct references are also made to politicians: “Democrats and Republicans” (l. 46), “President Trump and Congress” (l. 48), “President Barack Obama” (l. 20), “the United States government” (l. 18). These references help discuss political aspects related to the status of illegal immigrants. The references to Congress are also an allusion to a statement by Donald Trump. When Trump announced ending DACA, he asked the Congress to find another legislative alternative.

A similar direct refe...