supplemental corner: the trivium

Bores make cowards of us all.

    -- E.V. Lucas, "Bores"

I've been staying up past my bedtime to read The Trivium for the past few days, which makes use of a slew of good examples.  The above is an example of an allusion. The author, Sister Miriam Joseph, explains this sometimes-misunderstood literary form and then states:

For those whose literary background is inadequate and who therefore are unfamiliar with the source of the allusion* [in this quote], a work such as the concordance to the Bible or to Shakespeare, both frequent sources of allusion, will prove helpful.

I imagine presents of concordances, no doubt a delight for any child** on Christmas morning.

(Sister Miriam is one tough nun)

* ... the source is Thackeray's Pendennis, with perhaps a subtle nod to Puck in Midsummer Night's Dream

** well, maybe not any child ... but surely some child, somewhere.