What term is used to describe a reference to another literary work or topic within a text?

The term that describes a reference to another literary work or topic within a text is "allusion." An allusion is a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance. It does not explicitly describe the referenced work or topic but instead relies on the reader's familiarity with it to convey deeper meaning or context.

For example, if a character in a novel makes a passing mention of "climbing Mount Olympus," this is an allusion to Greek mythology, suggesting aspirations of greatness or divinity without elaborating further on the story of the gods.

In contrast, allegory involves a complete narrative that conveys a broader moral or political meaning, symbolism uses specific objects or elements within a text to represent larger ideas, and theme refers to the central idea or message in a literary work. Each of these terms carries distinct meanings and functions within literary analysis.