What are characteristics of allegory?

An allegory tells a story with multiple meanings. Inherently, the story must have at least two stories — the literal story presented in the words and the figurative story depicted in the way the writer intends readers to interpret the surface story.

What is allegorical fiction?

allegory, a symbolic fictional narrative that conveys a meaning not explicitly set forth in the narrative. Allegory, which encompasses such forms as fable, parable, and apologue, may have meaning on two or more levels that the reader can understand only through an interpretive process.

What makes a story allegorical?

An allegory is a simple story that represents a larger point about society or human nature, whose different characters may represent real-life figures. Allegories are similar to metaphors in that both illustrate an idea by making a comparison to something else.

What is an example of allegory in literature?

An allegory (AL-eh-goh-ree) is a story within a story. For example, the surface story might be about two neighbors throwing rocks at each other’s homes, but the hidden story would be about war between countries.

What is the literary definition of allegory?

Definition and Examples of Literary Terms. Allegory is a figure of speech in which abstract ideas and principles are described in terms of characters, figures, and events. It can be employed in prose and poetry to tell a story, with a purpose of teaching or explaining an idea or a principle.

Allegory Examples in Literature. Example of allegory: Perhaps the most famous example of allegory is Plato’s Allegory of the Cave from his text The Republic. In this allegory the speaker depicts two worlds, one of intellect and insight (the light, outside the cave) and one of ignorance and obedience (the dark, inside the cave).

How do you use allegory in a sentence?

It is as if the builders had had in mind an allegory about a plain body and a glorious soul.

What is allegory in contemporary poetry?

Allegory in contemporary poetry. As a literary device, an allegory is a general sense of an extended metaphor. It has been of much use in the history in different forms of art. But largely it is been used to illustrate complex ideas and concepts to make it more comprehensible or enticing to the viewers, reader, or listeners.