Some of the most frequently recurring types of allusions used in literature are those drawn from the Bible. Biblical allusions often refer to key figures such as Jesus or Job. For example, Jesus may be seen as the embodiment of self-sacrifice and selflessness, while Abraham may be referred to when the author wishes to express paternal love. Biblical allusions are most frequently seen in Western literature.
Greek and Roman mythology is a recurring source of allusion in Western literature. Like Biblical allusions, these employ key figures from mythology as vivid representations of crucial themes. Authors may allude to the great hero figures of “The Iliad,” such as Achilles, when referring to heroism and bravery. The use of Icarus, who tried to fly toward the sun on waxen wings that melted, may allude to over-zealousness and naivete. The primary texts from which mythological allusions are drawn include "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" of Homer and Ovid's "Metamorphoses."
Historical allusions refer to key events or characters in history in an effort to exemplify particular themes or emotions. For example, an author may allude to Alexander the Great when attempting to represent extraordinary heroism and courage or to the battle of Waterloo, in which Napoleon's French forces lost to a coalition of Prussian and British forces, as an example of a grand defeat and the overstepping of power.
Allusions to other literary works are also frequently seen in literature. The most common literary allusions are drawn from classic texts. For example, a writer may refer to Dante's "Inferno" when trying to evoke a sensation of extreme torment. Writers may also refer to Shakespeare's "Hamlet" when representing inner conflict or indecision. A novel with an extreme use of literary allusions is "Finnegan's Wake" by James Joyce. Folk ballads, which are part of the greater body of literary works, can also serve as a source of allusions.