Allusion

-reference to someone or something that is known from history, literature, religion, politics, sports, science, or another branch of culture. An indirect reference to something- Through out the story it is made known that Bill, Jake, and mike fought in WWI. They struggle with the common struggles of veterans of WWI. for example they find their lives to be mundane and have little purpose. they have become alcholics and drink away their problems and memories of the war. All of these characters make brief references to the war and it is because of the war that Jake was injured and Brett will not be with him. The war is a huge under-lying factor on the characteristics of these people and how the story unfold.