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
- Cartesian (1.1): Referring to the philosophy of René Descartes.
- Charon (1.35)
- "Serchio bathing party" (2.30): From Dante's Inferno, referring to a bathing party held in the Serchio river.
- Gordian knot (2.60)
- Babel, Tower of Babel (3.4, 7.10)
- Pisces (4.50)
- "remember that you must die" (4.77): Alluding to a memento mori (5.21, 5.25)
- Bible (6.4)
- Torah (the first five books of the Jewish Bible)
- Talmud (commentary on the Bible written by sages in the first through third centuries A.D.)
- Hercules (9.29, 11.29)
- Sodoma's San Sebastian (9.44)
- The Serpent (9.49): The serpent from the Bible, who tricked Eve into eating the forbidden apple and sinning.
- Genesis (9.49) first book of the Bible
- Oedipus (10.28)
- Sphinx (10.28)
- Malabolge (10.41)
- Dante (2.30, 11.22, 11.24)
- Ulysses (11.21)
- Divine Comedy (11.22)
- Dante, Inferno (11.22)
- Virgil (11.22)
- Beatrice (11.22)
- Aeneas (11.25)
- Polyphemus (16.10)
- Penelope (11.25)
Historical References
- SS (throughout the book from 1.6)
- Arbeit Macht Frei (2.1, 16.13): sign over entrance to the work camp.
- Iron Cross (3.12): a military award
- Hitler (12.4)
- Normandy (12.4): area on the French coast where the Allies landed in June 1944
Pop Culture References
- Rosamunda (2.32)—A song that was popular in Germany during WWII.