allegory
AL-uh-gor-ee
/ˈæl.ə.ɡər.i/
A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden political, moral, or philosophical meaning.
In an allegory, almost every character, object, and event corresponds directly to a specific real-world parallel.
The story behind the word. From Greek 'allos' ('other') and 'agoreuein' ('to speak publicly'). Literally 'speaking otherwise'—saying one thing on the surface while communicating another beneath.
Word relationships
- parable: A simple story used specifically to illustrate a moral or religious lesson.
- fable: A short story usually featuring animals that explicitly teaches a moral lesson.
- literal text: A story meant to be understood strictly at surface value.
Commonly confused with
- metaphor: A metaphor compares two specific things in a sentence or phrase; an allegory is an entire narrative designed as an extended comparison.
Word family
- allegorical (adjective): Constituting or containing allegory.
- allegorically (adverb): In an allegorical manner.
- allegorist (noun): A person who creates or analyzes allegories.
Collocations
- political allegory
- moral allegory
- extended allegory
- veiled allegory
Example sentences
- "George Orwell's 'Animal Farm' is a celebrated allegory about the betrayal of the Russian Revolution." Political Novel Analysis
Memory hook
ALL-EGERY = ALL Eager for another meaning beneath the story. A story where every detail wears a mask for something else.
When not to use
Do not call any story with symbolism an allegory; an allegory requires a complete, sustained double meaning throughout.
Fun facts
- Plato's Allegory of the Cave is one of the oldest and most influential philosophical allegories in Western literature.
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