The Haunting of Hill House Allusions & Cultural References

Literary and Philosophical References

• Alfred de Musset (1.7) 
• William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, or What You Will (1.64), (1.95), (1.128), (4.6)—specifically a song from Act II, Scene iii sung by the fool character, Feste
• Sister Anne (2.12)—a character from Charles Perrault's "Bluebeard," the story of a nobleman who murders his wives for sport
• The Book of Leviticus (3.91)—specifically chapter 14
• Homer (3.91)
• Hades (3.91)
• Samuel Richardson, Pamela: Or Virtue Rewarded (3.215) (4.236) (5.100)
• Henry Fielding (3.216)
• Laurence Sterne (3.216)
• Tobias Smollett (3.219)
• Venus (4.102)
• Don Juan (4.113)
• Samuel Richardson, Clarissa: Or the History of a Young Lady (4.237)—called Clarissa Harlowe by Dr. Montague, which is the full name of the novel's heroine
• Oscar Wilde, "The Canterville Ghost" (5.32)
• Samuel Richardson, The History of Sir Charles Grandison (5.100)
• "Here lies one whose name was writ in blood" (5.137)—most likely a shout-out to the epitaph on John Keats's tombstone reading, "Here lies One / Whose Name was writ in Water" (source)
• Francisco Goya (6.17)
• John Foxe (6.22)
• William Blake (6.25)
• Old-fashioned children's singing games (8.166) (8.169) (8.171) (9.13)

Historical References

• "Fellow babe in the woods" (2.78)—probably a shout-out to a particular type of children's tale where the innocent children enter a perilous situation; think Hansel and Gretel (sometimes, the real murders of children are referred to as "Babes in the Woods" murders)
• "I love my love with a B" (3.32)—a shout-out to a Victorian-era alphabet game; you can read up on the rules if you want to play (source)
• Winchester Mystery House (4.89)
• Octagon Houses (4.89)
• Double Stairway of Chambord (4.94)—trippy architecture 
• St. Francis of Assisi (4.103)
• The Nile River (4.155)
• Ballechin House (5.14)
• Borley Rectory (5.14)
• Glamis Castle (5.14)

Pop Culture References

• The Cheshire Cat (1.128)
• Count Dracula (2.82)
• Ouija Board (7.62)