Word of the Day, October 07: ‘Allegory’

Word of the Day: ALLEGORY

Pronunciation: UK /ˈæl.ə.ɡər.i/ | US /ˈæl.ə.ɡɔːr.i/

Meaning

An allegory is a story, poem, picture or work of art in which the characters, events or settings represent deeper ideas, often about morality, politics, religion or human behaviour. In simple terms, an allegory tells one story while also suggesting another meaning beneath the surface.

Examples for daily usage

• The novel is an allegory about the dangers of unchecked power.
• Many readers interpret the story as an allegory for growing up.
• The painting works as an allegory of life and death.

Origin and history

The word allegory comes from the Latin allegoria, which came from Greek allēgoria. It combines allos, meaning “other” or “different”, with agoreuein, meaning “to speak publicly” or “to speak in an assembly”. The basic idea was therefore speaking about one thing while conveying another meaning.

The word entered English in the late 14th century. Allegorical storytelling itself is much older, however, and was used in ancient Greek and Roman literature as well as religious writing.

Also Read: Word of the Day, October 06: 'Zilch'

Cultural significance and modern usage

Allegory has been used across literature, religion, art and political writing because it allows writers and artists to discuss difficult or controversial ideas indirectly.

One of the best-known examples is George Orwell's Animal Farm, in which a rebellion by farm animals becomes a commentary on political power and the Russian Revolution.

John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress is another famous example. Its central character, Christian, travels through a series of places and encounters that represent different aspects of the Christian spiritual journey.

Allegory is not limited to books. Films, paintings, advertisements and even political cartoons can use allegorical ideas to communicate a message without stating it directly.

Interesting facts

An allegory can be a whole story or appear as a smaller part of a larger work.

Allegory is closely related to symbolism, but they are not exactly the same. A symbol can represent an idea within a work, while an allegory usually develops its deeper meaning across characters, events or the whole narrative.

Medieval writers frequently used allegory to communicate religious and moral ideas.

Examples from literature

• “In which was written, by allegory,” -- Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene
• “And in allegory I have not feigned” -- John Milton, Paradise Regained
• “The object of this sketch is not to set forth an allegory.” -- Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter

Synonyms

• Parable
• Metaphor
• Symbolism
• Analogy
• Fable

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