What is the effect of using an allusion in writing?

The use of an allusion in writing serves primarily to enrich the text by drawing connections between the current work and other well-known literary, historical, or cultural references. This technique allows the writer to convey complex ideas and emotions succinctly without needing extensive explanations. By referring to something familiar, such as a myth, a historical event, or a classic piece of literature, allusions can add depth and layers of meaning to a text, encouraging readers to engage more critically with the material.

Connecting the current narrative to established stories or concepts can evoke specific feelings or thoughts and create a shared understanding between the writer and the reader. This shared knowledge can enhance the audience's experience and make the content more impactful. The familiarity of the alluded material often serves to illustrate or amplify the themes or characters in the new context.

The other choices do not align with the primary function of allusion. While confusion may occasionally arise from a poorly placed allusion, that is not its intended effect. Providing detailed explanations and introducing new characters also diverges from the purpose of allusions, which is focused on invoking prior knowledge to draw connections rather than adding extraneous information or characters.