The Celestial Omnibus

Allusion is a direct or implied reference to an author, work, or event. Forster employs allusion to reinforce Mr. Bons’s allegorical representation as the intellectual elite. As the Literary Society president, he asserts intellectual superiority over the boy by quoting literary greats like Homer, William Shakespeare, and Dante Alighieri. He references these authors not to appreciate their artistry but to wield them as a form of authority.

Likewise, Forster incorporates allusions to reinforce the boy’s allegorical representation as a true artist. As the boy rides the omnibus, he consistently fails to recognize the literary greats, referring to Dante Alighieri as “Dan someone” (Paragraph 3.35). However, these moments suggest a capacity for less rigid understanding: Though the boy is unfamiliar with names and quotes, his eventual crowning suggests Forster’s preference for artistic intuition over allusions for their own sake.

Imagery is the use of descriptive language to enhance sensory meaning. Forster employs imagery to illustrate the boy’s sensitivity to the artistic process. When the boy observes his neighborhood, he compares it to “any Alpine valley, with the glory of the fir and the silver birch and the primrose” (Paragraph 1.15). These visuals are reminiscent of the Romantic literary movement, which often showcased the beauty of nature. Despite being unfamiliar with Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley and the like, the boy still exhibits understanding of art, literature, and nature.

Similarly, as the boy rides the omnibus, he rejoices at sensory thrills: He startles at a “ball of fire,” comparing the ensuing clamor to “the noise of a blacksmith’s forge” (Paragraph 1.34), and voices excitement at a rainbow “spreading from the horses’ feet into the dissolving mists” (Paragraph 1.36). Forster’s blend of sight and sound reinforces the idea that such pleasures are integral to meaningful art.