When authors refer to other great works, people, and events, it’s usually not accidental. Put on your super-sleuth hat and figure out why.
Literary and Philosophical References
- Euclid, Elements: "gnomon in the Euclid"(The Sisters.1)
- Thomas Moore
- Sir Walter Scott
- Lord Lytton: "the poetry of Thomas Moore or the works of Sir Walter Scott and Lord Lytton" (An Encounter.23)
- Walter Scott, The Abbot (Araby.2)
- Pacificus Baker, The Devout Communicant: or Pious Meditations and Aspirations for the Three Days Before and Three Days After Receiving the Holy Eucharist (Araby.2)
- François Eugène Vidocq, The Memoirs of Vidocq (Araby.2)\
- Caroline Norton, The Arab's Farewell to His Steed (Araby.23)
- Michael William Balfe, The Bohemian Girl (an opera) (Eveline.10)
- Charles Dibdin, "The Lass that Loves a Sailor" (Eveline.10)
- Nicholas Rowe, The Fair Penitent: "a gay Lothario" (Counterparts.20)
- Thomas Moore, Irish Melodies, "Silent, O Moyle" (Counterparts.51)
- Greek Mythology: "like alarmed Atalantas" (Clay.6)
- Lord Byron, "On the Death of a Young Lady" (Clay.110)
- John 1:29 "lamb of the world" (Clay.125)
- Shakespeare, Hamlet, "the liberal shepherds in the eclogues": (A Painful Case.44)
- Michael William Balfe, The Bohemian Girl: "I dreamt that I dwelt" (the song that Maria sings is from Act II of this play) (Ivy Day in the Committee Room.21)
- Maynooth Catechism. (A Mother.1). The version of the doctrine of the Catholic Church used in Ireland.
- Gerhart Hauptmann, Michael Kramer: "Hauptmann's Michael Kramer" (A Mother.1)
- Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spake Zarathustra and The Gay Science" (A Mother.13)
- William Wordsworth (A Mother.1)
- William Vincent Wallace and Edward Fitzball, Maritana: "the part of the king in the opera of Maritana at the Queen's Theatre" (A Mother.30), "Let Me Like a Soldier Fall," (The Dead.214)
- Michael William Balfe, Killarney: The ballad that Madam Glynn sings was written by Balfe, who also composed The Bohemian Girl (A Mother.60)
- John Dryden, Absalom and Achitophel: "Great minds are very near to madness" (Grace.233)
- Matthew 16:23: "Get behind me, Satan" (Grace.281)
- Luke 16:8-9: "For the children of this world" (Grace.297)
- Gabriel Conroy's name alludes to the archangel Gabriel, who announced the births of Jesus and John the Baptist. (XV)
- 1 Kings 18:44: The title of "A Little Cloud" refers to this verse. (VIII)
- Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet: "the balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet." (It's Act II, scene ii, in case you were wondering.) (The Dead.100)
- George Linley, "Arrayed for the Bridal." Linley wrote the music, but the song comes from an opera by Bellini called I Puritani (The Dead.158)
- Ambroise Thomas, Mignon: An opera. (The Dead. 214)
- Giacomo Meyerbeer, Dinorah (The Dead.214)
- Gaetano Donizetti, Lucrezia Borgia: An opera based on a novel by Victor Hugo, the famous French novelist. (The Dead.214)
- Greek mythology, The Three Graces (The Dead.255)
- Greek mythology, Paris (The Dead.260).
- You can find versions of the story in the Iliad and in Ovid's Metamorphoses.
- "The Lass of Aughrim," a popular ballad in Ireland: "O, the rain falls on my heavy locks." (The Dead.317)
- Robert Browning (XV)
Historical References
- Jeremiah O'Donovan (Araby.5)
- Saint Mary-Margaret Alacoque (Eveline.3). A 17th-century French nun.
- Charles Parnell (Ivy Day in the Committee Room.174-75, 82, 201)
- Edward VII (Ivy Day in the Committee Room. 44,46, 51, 79)
- Henry Charles Sirr (Ivy Day in the Committee Room.95). Chief of Police of Dublin, he sided with the English against Ireland in an uprising. It's like being the Benedict Arnold of Ireland.
- Mrs Pat Campbell, a contemporary actress in England (A Mother.55)
- Jesuits (Grace.155-171)
- Thomas Nicholas Burke, An Irish monk known for his speaking ability and his support of Irish nationalism. (Grace.182-94)
- Pope Leo XIII (Pope from 1878 to 1903). (Grace.191, 209-229)
- Pope Pius IX (Pope from 1846 to 1878) (Grace.214)
- Johann Döllinger, a German theologian who opposed papal infallibility. (Grace.249-51,259-60)
- John MacHale (Grace.251-58)
- Sir John Gray (owned the Freeman's Journal and supported Irish Home Rule)
- Edmund Dwyer Gray (Sir John Gray's son)
- Duke of Wellington (XV)
- Enrico Caruso (XV)
- Daniel O'Connell (XV)