Question

Which excerpt from “The Latin Deli: An Ars Poetica” is an example of an allusion? the heady mix of smells from the open bins of dried codfish how she smiles understanding Suspiros, Merengues, the stale candy of everyone’s childhood reading the labels of packages aloud, as if they were the names of lost lovers

Answer 1

Answer:

Suspiros, Merengues, the stale candy of everyone’s childhood.

Explanation:

An allusion is the referencing of something without actually explicitly mentioning it. It acts as a means to bring something into the mind without directly mentioning it in detail. It could be used as a means to refer to something that the writer/author wants to bring into mind but not direct referencing.

Judith Cofer Ortiz's "The Latin Deli: An Ars Poetica" is an observation that uses vivid imagery and detailed description. It focuses on the issue of an immigrant displacement and the identity crisis, being uprooted from the 'old lie' into the new world of America. An example of an allusion is found in the mention of "Suspiros, Merengues, the stale candy of everyone's childhood" which is a reference to the childhood of the author or anyone displaced, for that matter. It brings back memories of their childhood.  

Thus, the correct answer is the third option.