allegory

noun

al·​le·​go·​ry ˈa-lə-ˌgȯr-ē 

plural allegories

1

: the expression by means of symbolic fictional figures and actions of truths or generalizations about human existence

a writer known for his use of allegory

also : an instance (as in a story or painting) of such expression

The poem is an allegory of love and jealousy.

2

: a symbolic representation : emblem sense 2

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an allegory and a metaphor?

Allegory is the expression of truths or generalizations about human existence by means of symbolic fictional figures and their actions. It encompasses such forms as fable and parable. A metaphor, broadly, is figurative language; specifically, it is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them. Aesop’s Fables are an example of allegory; "the ship plows the seas" is an example of metaphor.

What are different types of allegory?

Personification allegory is a type of allegory in which a fictional character represents a concept or a type. The character Everyman in the medieval play of that name and the Lover in The Romance of the Rose are figures of personification allegory. Symbolic allegory is one in which a character or material thing is not merely a transparent vehicle for an idea, but also has a recognizable identity or a narrative autonomy apart from the message it conveys. The poet Virgil in Dante's Inferno, a historical figure representing human reason within the poem, is an example of a symbolic allegorical figure.

What is the difference between allegory and simile?

A simile is a figure of speech in which two unlike things are compared, often introduced by like or as ("he had eyes like agates"). Allegory is a more or less symbolic fictional narrative that conveys a secondary meaning (or meanings) not explicitly set forth in the literal narrative. Parables, myths, and fables are all considered types of allegories.

Synonyms

• apologue
• fable
• parable

Examples of allegory in a Sentence

Luther dismissed this mystical reading of the creative act as mere "allegory." But for Augustine the six days are not just a rhetorical trope. They are unlike the figurative language of the curse on the snake. To say that Christ is a shepherd is a metaphor; but to say that he is light is literal, since physical light is a "shadow" of the real light spoken of in Genesis. —Garry Wills, Under God, 1990

The Scarlet Letter is his masterpiece, because of the simplicity of its allegory and the grandeur of its colonial, Jacobean setting—and because of its shocking subject so nervously handled. Hester and Dimmesdale are sacred and profane love, subjects for Titian, yet conventionally clothed. —Robert Lowell, Collected Prose, 1987

He saw thousands of Buddhas lined up in trays in the tourist shops … some in lead, some in wood, some carved in stone and dressed in a little knitted caps and capes. He came to see in this ubiquitous phenomenon the Buddha's godlike propensity for self-division, the endless fractioning of himself into every perceivable aspect, an allegory made by the people of Japan from the cellular process of life. —E. L. Doctorow, Loon Lake, 1979

Recent Examples on the Web

The screenwriter Peter Straughan and the director Edward Berger (whose previous movie, All Quiet on the Western Front, landed a Best Picture Oscar nomination) have constructed a propulsive psychological thriller that doubles as a blatant election-year allegory. —Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2024

The best stories flow organically from their characters; here, those characters are nothing more than pawns in a clumsy allegory. —Judy Berman, TIME, 25 Oct. 2024

Students will learn to interpret science fiction films constructively, as allegories about their place in a rapidly changing world. —Harry F. Dahms, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2024

The allegory envisions humanity living in chains, watching shadows move on the walls and mistaking them for reality. —Tiziana Cardini, Vogue, 2 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English allegorie, from Latin allegoria, from Greek allēgoria, from allēgorein to speak figuratively, from allos other + -ēgorein to speak publicly, from agora assembly — more at else, agora

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

allegory

noun

al·​le·​go·​ry ˈal-ə-ˌgōr-ē 

-ˌgȯr-

plural allegories

: a story in which the characters and events are symbols that stand for truths about human life

allegorical

ˌal-ə-ˈgȯr-i-kəl

-ˈgär-

adjective

allegorically

-i-k(ə-)lē

adverb