Question

Which line from the poem "Monet’s ‘Waterlilies’” by Robert Hayden includes an allusion?

Answer 1

Answer: “Today as the news from Selma and Saigon.”

Answer 2

Answer: “Today as the news from Selma and Saigon.”

An allusion is a figure of speech in which the author references an object or event from a different context. The audience is meant to make the connection and understand how these two topics are related.

In this case, Hayden makes an allusion to major events in the 1960s. Selma refers to the Selma to Montgomery Marches of 1965, a series of marches within the Civil Rights Movement. On the other hand, Saigon refers to the Vietnam War, as the city played an important role during this conflict.