1.“An allusion is a reference to historical events and people, to mythological a

1.“An allusion is a reference to historical events and people, to mythological a

1.“An allusion is a reference to historical events and people, to mythological and biblical figures, and to works of literature. Allusions always invite comparison between the work at hand and the items referred to” (Griffith, Writing Essays About Literature 99). The poems from “Carved on the Walls” are full of allusions. Find three allusions—and at least one that is repeated. Is there any thematic consistency to the allusions in these poems?
2.How do the allusions relate to the historical experience of the writers and help you (the reader) to construct an interpretation of each poem?
3.Critic Karen Polster Links to an external site. argues that the poems touch key themes in US literature including the Frontier, Equal and Unlimited Opportunity, and the immigrant experience of alienation and re-defining the self. Can you find examples?
4.“These poets […] were immigrants who sought to impart their experiences to countrymen following in their footsteps” (Lai, Lim, and Young, Heath Anthology 2164). Find three passages that directly address an audience. What kinds of information and sentiments are the poems trying to convey?
5.Find three passages that display an awareness of the political, social, or economic conditions of migration and detention. What does each passage reveal about the lived experience of Chinese migration?