The document provides information about allusions, including the definition and examples. It then analyzes the song "We Didn't Start the Fire" by Billy Joel, which contains many historical allusions from the post-World War 2 era. Students are assigned to write new verses of the song that contain allusions from more recent history in a similar format. Sample student responses are included that allude to people and events from the 1990s-2000s.

1. Allusion

2. Definition: Allusion is a brief reference to a person, event, or place, real or ficticious, or to a work of art. Casual reference to a famous historical or literary figure or event. An allusion may be drawn from history, geography, literature, or religion. Example: Stephen Vincent Benet's story "By the Waters of Babylon" contains a direct reference to Psalm 137 in the Bible.

3. An allusion is a reference, something you allude to: “Her allusion to flowers reminded me that Valentine’s Day was coming.” In that English paper, don’t write “literary illusions” when you mean "allusions.” A mirage, hallucination, or a magic trick is an illusion. (Doesn’t being fooled just make you ill? )

4. Billy Joel & “We Didn’t Start the Fire” We didn't start the fire It was always burning since the world's been turning We didn't start the fire No, we didn't light it But we tried to fight it

5. Recognizing Allusion We are going to listen to the song “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel. While we listen, I would like you to write down every allusion you hear. After the song ends, we will talk about allusion and how Joel used it, and what he is referring to in the chorus (we didn’t start the fire) and in his listing of people, events and places.

6. Writing Activity In your groups, you will write a new stanza (fitting for the current generation) that uses allusion. For example:

7. Student Examples: Bill Clinton, Bob Dole, George Bush, Ross Perot Tonya Harding, Susan Smith, Lorena Bobbit didn’t miss Oklahoma, Waco, Bosnia, Castro Forrest Gump, Lion King, Mr. Holland on the screen Baseball strike, Super Bowl, Nolan Ryan is getting old Michael Jackson and O.J., what else do I have to say?

8. Regan’s out, Bush’s in Chicago Bulls win again Desert Storm, Stormin’ Norman, Bush’s out, global warmin’ Bill and Hillary rule the nation Whitewater investigation Oklahoma City bomb Susan Smith’s a bad mom Valujet, TWA Branch Dividians, O.J. Unibomber, gay rights Bosnia, Baseball strikes Superman paralyzed Kurt Cobain- suicide Forrest Gump, Michael Crichton Hugh Grant, Mike Tyson Tupac, Easy-E Cindy Crawford, Lion King MTV, Pauly Shore I can’t take it anymore!

9. Josh and Pat Bush, Gore, no one really knows the score MTV, VH1, Simon says “you’re done!” Left Behind, CSI, Sega never made a dime Attorney Thompson, rap, games, who’ll really get the blame Phantom Menace, Blade III, Michael Jackson in a zoo Brittney Spears, Tom Hangs, which has more money in the bank?

10. Kevin, Aaron and Aaron Birth control, Tim McVeigh, The bloody gove is no OJ’s Clinton, Enron, Bosnia, Pokemon Recount, blackout, when will US troops get out? Building tension with Iran, US in Afghanistan

11. Virgil, Thomas and Keith Indian children so poor, why is J-Lo a whore Blasting aliens deception, fatalities, why does R-Kelly seem like animality? Paris Hilton has a lot of sass, as George W acts like milk-chan dumbass War of three rings War on terrorism continues to sing Enron cooks the books Martha decorates prison nooks Wardrobe malfunction and W’s disfunction

12. M. Staats & B. Katchmar Lots of rap, rock is dead Clinton got a lot of head Golden Eye, Halo, Doom Learned how to shoot up the room Lots of trilogy’s on the screen Terrorists got really mean. New York lights up lots of flares Bush’s lap dog, Tony Blair Lots of drug busts, medical weed Tsunami means lots of kids to feed. School shootings, gun control How low do we have to go?

13. Mortal Kombat, Doom and Quake Liberman these games did shake Columbine, 19 dead Doom taught me to shoot for the head IBM, Windows, DOS Bill Gates is still the boss Internet, google, plus and com All those businesses did bomb Jackie Chan, starred in “tux” Grand theft auto, candy sucks 50-cent booed off the stage, malcanrow, fits of rage Michael Jackson, Neverland, touching kids, will it never end? Tim McVeigh, Oklahoma, bombings, world trade center Cell phones, hard rock, ozzfest, hitchcock Al Gore, Nader, Arnold is the governator.

14. Martha Stewart, Scott Peterson Michael Jackson, Eminem Snoop Dog, Kobe Bryant They are all going to trial Iraq, Afghanistan, Osama Bin Laden 9-11, Crude Oil, Saddam Hussien Gas prices have gone insane Lord of the Rings, Kill Bill, Might as well take a sleeping pill Conan, Jay, David Letterman they All take control of the late night segment

15. Ev, Jesse and Dennis Kerry, Bush, Michael Moore Prelude to Iraqi war Janet Jackson, bra malfunction Spears, Madonna kiss injunction Macintosh, Napster, Microsoft Bit Torrent, Kazaa, Rip it off Will we ever see revision? Monster Garage, Survivor, Apprentice Too much reality television Trading Spaces redoes the floor I can’t take it anymore

16. Links where you can find more information on the song and it’s many meanings: http://www.school-for-champions.com/history/start_fire_lyrics.htm http://www.teacheroz.com/fire.htm http://www.billyjoel.com/discography/startthefire.html