Which device uses a reference to a well-known person, place, or event to evoke external context?

• A. Metaphor
• B. Allusion
• C. Simile
• D. Hyperbole

Answer: (B)

Allusion is the device that uses a reference to a well-known person, place, or event to evoke external context. By mentioning something familiar outside the text, the author invites readers to bring their own knowledge and associations to the meaning, adding depth without spelling it all out. For example, calling someone a "Scrooge" evokes Ebenezer Scrooge from Dickens, signaling stinginess or grumpiness through a shared cultural reference.

Metaphor and simile compare two things directly or with like/as, but they don’t rely on external references to evoke broader context. Hyperbole involves exaggerated statements for effect, not external allusions.