allegory
AL-uh-gor-ee
/ˈæləɡəri/
A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.
In an allegory, every element (characters, setting) usually represents a specific real-world concept or historical event.
The story behind the word. From the Greek 'allegoria,' which means 'veiled language.' It comes from 'allos' (other) and 'agoreuein' (to speak in public). Essentially, it means 'speaking about one thing while actually referring to another.'
Word relationships
- parable: A parable is a short, simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson.
Commonly confused with
- symbolism: Symbolism uses one thing to represent another; allegory is a whole story where everything is a symbol.
Word family
- allegorical (adjective): Constituting or containing allegory.
- allegorize (verb): To interpret or represent as an allegory.
Collocations
- political allegory
- moral allegory
- religious allegory
- extended allegory
Example sentences
- "George Orwell's Animal Farm is a famous allegory for the events leading up to the Russian Revolution." Literature
- "Plato's 'Allegory of the Cave' illustrates the difference between belief and true knowledge." Philosophy
Memory hook
An 'Allegory' is an 'All-Story'—the whole story stands for something else. One story, two meanings.
When not to use
Don't confuse it with a simple metaphor; an allegory is an extended narrative that functions on two levels at once.
Fun facts
- The word 'agoreuein' comes from 'agora,' the Greek marketplace where people gathered to speak.
- C.S. Lewis's 'The Chronicles of Narnia' is often read as a Christian allegory.
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