What do you call a reference to a well-known story, event, person, or object?

An allusion is a literary device used to make an indirect reference to a well-known story, event, person, or object, often to enrich the text or provide deeper meaning without extensive explanation. By using allusion, writers can draw connections to familiar themes or concepts in the audience's mind, enhancing understanding or emotional impact.

In contrast, hyperbole involves exaggerated statements not meant to be taken literally, often for emphasis or effect, and does not reference other works or ideas. A metaphor draws a direct comparison between two unlike things to highlight their similarities, while a simile does the same but uses "like" or "as" to make the comparison explicit. Neither metaphor nor simile serves the purpose of referencing known entities or events in the way that an allusion does.