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Obasan Allusions & Cultural References

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

  • The Bible, Habakkuk 2:2 (7.9), Daniel 1-3: Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego (9.7), Gospel of John (15.4), Ezekiel 37:1-14 (23.4)
  • Walter Scott, "The Lay of the Last Minstrel" (7.72)
  • Cupid (7.84)
  • Mary (Mother of Jesus) (8.11)
  • Momotaro (10.8)
  • The Brothers Grimm, "Snow White" (11.50)
  • Jesus (13.4)
  • The Book of Knowledge (13.7)
  • Peter Rabbit (13.35)
  • New Canadian (14.27)
  • James Oliver Curwood (14.109)
  • Humpty Dumpty (15.36)
  • Snow White (16.36)
  • Goldilocks (17.25)
  • Emerson, "The Mountain and the Squirrel" (19.45)
  • Long John Silver (19.58)
  • Rapunzel (22.4)
  • Highroads to Reading, Book Two (22.6)
  • Alfred Lord Tennyson, Minnie and Winnie (22.6)
  • Little Tales for Little Folk (22.22)
  • Chicken Little (22.22)
  • Johanna Spyri, Heidi (23.1)
  • Louisa May Alcott, Little Men (23.1)
  • Vancouver Daily Province (23.3)
  • Little Orphan Annie (23.3)
  • The Gumps (23.3)
  • The Katenjammer Kids (23.3)
  • Myrtle (23.3)
  • Paul Bunyan (26.6)
  • If all the Seas were One Sea (26.7)
  • Anne of Green Gables (30.16)
  • The Secret Garden(30.16)
  • Girl of the Limberlost (30.16)
  • The Frog Prince (31.24)

Historical References


  • Chief Sitting Bull (1.13)
  • Japanese Canadian Internment (4.4)
  • Rule Brittania (4.6)
  • Royal Canadian Mounted Police (4.29)
  • The Crusades (7.10)
  • Winston Churchill (7.17)
  • Stephen Leacock (7.17)
  • World War II (7.22)
  • Japanese American Internment (7.25)
  • 1907 Vancouver Anti-Asian Riots (7.34)
  • Red Cross (7.68)
  • Stanley Knowles (7.90)
  • Mackenzie King (7.92)
  • Ninomiya Kinjiro (9.31)
  • Hastngs Park Internment Camp (14.2)
  • Hitler (14.45)
  • The Holocaust (14.45)
  • Alderman Wilson (14.66)
  • Etsuji Morii (14.76)
  • Ian Mackenzie (14.93)
  • The British Royal Family (20.1)
  • Yellow Peril (22.24)
  • V Day (23.3)
  • King George V (25.46)
  • Beethoven (33.55)
  • Nagasaki Bombing (37.14)
  • Tokyo fire bombings (37.15)

Pop Culture References

  • Edo Lullaby (3.36)
  • Mandrake the Magician (4.14)
  • Charlie Chaplin (4.28)
  • Life (5.18)
  • New Liberty(5.18)
  • Mechanix Illustrated (5.18)
  • Salvation Army (5.22)
  • Mighty Mouse (7.14)
  • Gloria in Excelsis Deo (13.5)
  • Mickey Mouse (15.42)
  • Silver Threads Among the Gold (17.21)
  • Batman (18.9)
  • O Canada (22.65)
  • "The White Cliffs of Dover" (24.40)
  • Waltzing Matilda (24.40)
  • Guy Lombardo, "Auld Lang Syne" (26.3)