The very title of the novel, The Red Badge of Courage is an allusion. This is a reference to a battle wound, and it is significant in that Henry feels guilty that he chooses to flee the battle and he has no wound. He has left simply from fear. This is further emphasized through his interaction with Jim, as Jim is wounded and he isn’t. Ironically Henry does receive his “Red Badge of Courage” when he is accosted by another runaway soldier.

A more dramatic allusion would be, “The red sun was pasted in the sky like a wafer.” This is more than likely a reference to a communion wafer which is presented in the Christian faith as a means of cleansing of sins and salvation.