The Tortured Poets Department is filled with allusions. Allusions are short, indirect references to other people, places, or things. They are often used in written works to add depth and meaning. Taylor alludes to famous events, literature, and people throughout TTPD. The title track alludes to poet Dylan Thomas and singer Patti Smith. “The Albatross” is a reference to Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s long poem “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” In that, the albatross stands for the guilt and burdens that may come as the consequences of a person’s actions. The entirety of “Peter” is an allusion to Peter Pan from Neverland.