allegory Definition
a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.
Using allegory: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "allegory" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
Animal Farm by George Orwell is an allegory of the Russian Revolution.
Example
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis is an allegory of Christianity.
Example
The movie The Matrix is an allegory of the struggle between man and machine.
allegory Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with allegory
a philosophical concept in Plato's Republic, where prisoners in a cave mistake shadows for reality, symbolizing the difference between appearance and reality
Example
The movie The Truman Show is an allegory of the cave, where the main character realizes that his entire life has been a lie.
a philosophical concept in Aristotle's Politics, where the ship represents the state and the captain represents the ruler, symbolizing the importance of good leadership
Example
The book The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli is an allegory of the ship, where the author argues that a ruler must do whatever it takes to maintain power.
a philosophical concept in the Bible, where the vine represents Israel and the branches represent the people, symbolizing the importance of staying connected to God
Example
The parable of the vine in John 15 is an allegory of the vine, where Jesus teaches his disciples about the importance of staying connected to him.
Origins of allegory
from Greek 'allos', meaning 'other', and 'agoria', meaning 'speaking'
Summary: allegory in Brief
'Allegory' [ˈæləɡɔːri] refers to a story, poem, or picture that reveals a hidden meaning, often a moral or political one. Examples include Animal Farm by George Orwell, which is an allegory of the Russian Revolution, and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, which is an allegory of Christianity. Allegories can also be philosophical concepts, such as Plato's allegory of the cave, which symbolizes the difference between appearance and reality.
