Allegory meaning: What Is an Allegory

What Is an Allegory? – Meaning and Definition The term ‘ allegory ’ refers to the form of writing that has a moral to be inferred. The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines ‘ allegory ’ as “a story, play, picture, etc. in which each character or event is a symbol representing an idea or a quality, such as truth, evil, death, etc.; the use of such symbols”. According to the Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms, ‘ allegory ’ is “a story or visual image with a second ... 4 meanings: 1. a poem, play, picture, etc, in which the apparent meaning of the characters and events is used to symbolize a.... Click for more definitions. Clear definition and examples of Allegory . An allegory is a story within a story. It has a “surface story” and another story hidden underneath. 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. Allegory and Related Terms Allegory Versus Symbolism An allegory is a complete story, while symbolism is a singular object that can assist an allegory . For example, in Moby Dick, the whale is a symbol of meaning , and the captain chasing after him is a parallel to mankind seeking after the meaning of life or religious understanding.