allegory
English meaning: Allegory
English Definition
(English)An allegory is an extended metaphor sustained through an entire narrative — where the surface story consistently parallels and illuminates a deeper meaning. Religious allegories (Bunyan's 'Pilgrim's Progress'), political allegories (Orwell's 'Animal Farm'), and moral allegories (Plato's 'Allegory of the Cave') use concrete narrative to convey abstract truths.
English Definition
A narrative in which characters, events, and settings represent abstract ideas or moral qualities, creating a second layer of meaning beneath the literal story. George Orwell's 'Animal Farm' is a political allegory of Stalinist Russia.
Example
“Plato's Allegory of the Cave describes prisoners mistaking shadows on a cave wall for reality — a profound allegory for the difference between opinion and philosophical knowledge.”
In English: “Plato's Cave allegory illustrates the philosopher's journey from illusion to enlightenment.”
Synonyms
- parable
- fable
- extended metaphor
Antonyms / Opposites
- literal narrative
Literary Heritage
“Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird! No hungry generations tread thee down.”
“Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird! No hungry generations tread thee down.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B