allegory

American  

[al-uh-gawr-ee, -gohr-ee] / ˈæl əˌgɔr i, -ˌgoʊr i /

noun

plural

allegories

1. a representation of an abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete or material forms; figurative treatment of one subject under the guise of another.

2. a symbolical narrative.

   the allegory of Piers Plowman.

   Synonyms:

   parable, fable

3. emblem.

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allegory British  

/ ˈælɪɡərɪ /

noun

1. a poem, play, picture, etc, in which the apparent meaning of the characters and events is used to symbolize a deeper moral or spiritual meaning

2. the technique or genre that this represents

3. use of such symbolism to illustrate truth or a moral

4. anything used as a symbol or emblem

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allegory Cultural  

1. A story that has a deeper or more general meaning in addition to its surface meaning. Allegories are composed of several symbols (see also symbol) or metaphors. For example, in The Pilgrim's Progress, by John Bunyan, the character named Christian struggles to escape from a bog or swamp. The story of his difficulty is a symbol of the difficulty of leading a good life in the “bog” of this world. The “bog” is a metaphor or symbol of life's hardships and distractions. Similarly, when Christian loses a heavy pack that he has been carrying on his back, this symbolizes his freedom from the weight of sin that he has been carrying.

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Other Word Forms

• allegorist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of allegory

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English allegorie, from Latin allēgoria, from Greek allēgoría, derivative of allēgoreîn “to speak so as to imply something else; speak allegorically,” equivalent to állos “other, another” + agoreúein “to speak (in an assembly), address, harangue,” a derivative of agorá; see origin at allo-, agora ¹

Compare meaning

How does allegory compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• allegory vs. metaphor
• allegory vs. parable

Explanation

The figurative style known as allegory has nothing to do with alligators — unless you're telling a story where alligators represent evil forces snapping at humanity. An allegory is like a metaphor on steroids: a writer tells a fictional story where everything and everyone in it is supposed to represent a deeper meaning. Using a plain old metaphor, you might call death "the grim reaper," but an allegory might build a whole tale of how the grim reaper goes around in a black cloak and informs people of their impending doom. Aesop's Fables are allegories, with animals taking the place of different human character types — though Aesop never wrote an allegory about an alligator.

Example Sentences

A Diego Rivera mural titled “The Allegory of California” hides in a private staircase inside the City Club of San Francisco.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2024

Aristotle was interesting and systematic, but he never created anything with the extraordinary richness and depth of Plato’s Allegory of the Cave.

From Scientific American • Jun. 23, 2023

However, it is anachronistic and inaccurate to claim that this is exclusively what it is about, as the Allegory of the Cave also has political significance specific to Plato’s time and social context.

From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022

In 2010, Mr. Salort-Pons borrowed a 17th century painting valued at $500,000, “An Allegory of Autumn,” attributed to the circle of the French artist Nicolas Poussin.

From New York Times • Jul. 15, 2020

I lie in bed and pick up Plato’s Republic and skim the Allegory of the Cave as I seethe.

From "Ask the Passengers" by A.S. King