The correct answer is “allusion”. Allusion is a figure of speech and its main function is to make a reference to a place, person or idea of political, cultural o historical importance. This reference is not explained by the speaker or narrator but relies on the reader’s familiarity. In this case, Dr. King used the quote “all men are created equally” alluding to the idea presented in The United States Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson (1776): “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,”. It is not a simile, since the reference does not present a comparison. It is not a metaphor, since it does not make an implicit comparison. It is not imagery because it does not appeal to our physical senses.
