Allegory
noun
A story, poem, or picture using symbols to reveal a hidden meaning, usually a moral or political one.
The book is an allegory of the struggles faced by immigrant populations.
Often appears as...
- religious allegory
- political allegory
Usage tips
Literary
noun
A type of writing in which characters and events stand for other people or events or for ideas about human life.
Animal Farm is an allegory about the Russian Revolution.
Often appears as...
- literary allegory
- historical allegory
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A symbolic representation of something.
The broken mirror is an allegory of the shattered dreams of youth.
Often appears as...
- allegory of life
- allegory of death
Usage tips
Poetic
noun
A story, poem, or picture using symbols to reveal a hidden meaning, usually a moral or political one.
The book is an allegory of the struggles faced by immigrant populations.
Often appears as...
- religious allegory
- political allegory
Usage tips
Literary
noun
A type of writing in which characters and events stand for other people or events or for ideas about human life.
Animal Farm is an allegory about the Russian Revolution.
Often appears as...
- literary allegory
- historical allegory
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A symbolic representation of something.
The broken mirror is an allegory of the shattered dreams of youth.
Often appears as...
- allegory of life
- allegory of death
Usage tips
Poetic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Symbolic Storytelling
Allegories often use characters and events to symbolize real-world issues, making complex ideas easier to understand.
In the allegory, the sunflower represented the pursuit of happiness.
Pro Tip 2/3Hidden Meanings
Look beyond the surface to find deeper messages in an allegory, as they are not always obvious.
The story might seem simple, but as an allegory, it carries profound meanings about freedom.
Pro Tip 3/3Interpretation Varies
An allegory can be interpreted in different ways; there may not be one 'correct' interpretation.
Her interpretation of the allegory gave a different moral than mine.
Pro Tip 1/3Symbolic Storytelling
Allegories often use characters and events to symbolize real-world issues, making complex ideas easier to understand.
In the allegory, the sunflower represented the pursuit of happiness.
Pro Tip 2/3Hidden Meanings
Look beyond the surface to find deeper messages in an allegory, as they are not always obvious.
The story might seem simple, but as an allegory, it carries profound meanings about freedom.
Pro Tip 3/3Interpretation Varies
An allegory can be interpreted in different ways; there may not be one 'correct' interpretation.
Her interpretation of the allegory gave a different moral than mine.
Pro Tip 1/3Symbolic Storytelling
Allegories often use characters and events to symbolize real-world issues, making complex ideas easier to understand.
In the allegory, the sunflower represented the pursuit of happiness.
Pro Tip 2/3Hidden Meanings
Look beyond the surface to find deeper messages in an allegory, as they are not always obvious.
The story might seem simple, but as an allegory, it carries profound meanings about freedom.
Pro Tip 3/3Interpretation Varies
An allegory can be interpreted in different ways; there may not be one 'correct' interpretation.
Her interpretation of the allegory gave a different moral than mine.
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Video examples
The moral roots of...
respect here you see submissive gestures from two members of very closely related species but authority in humans is is not so closely based on on power and brutality as it is in other primates it's based on more voluntary deference and even elements of love at times the fifth foundation is purity sanctity this painting is called the allegory of chastity
Video examples
Plato’s Allegory of the...
by examining concepts like justice, truth and beauty. In the allegory, a group of prisoners have been confined in a cavern since birth, with no knowledge of the outside world. They are chained, facing a wall, unable to turn their heads, while a fire behind them gives off a faint light.
Video examples
Carolyn Steel: How food...
What would an allegory of good government look like today? Because I think it's an urgent question. It's one we have to ask, and we have to start answering. We know we are what we eat. We need to realize that the world is also what we eat. But if we take that idea, we can use food
Video examples
A brief history of goths...
Although Roman culture was never fully lost, its influence declined and new art styles arose focused on religious symbolism and allegory rather than proportion and realism. This shift extended to architecture
Video examples
Ebony Roberts and Shaka...
to discover why he was born. We are raising a free black boy in a world that despises black joy, and we refuse to put limits on him that the world already has. Our parenting can be seen as an allegory
Video examples
This is what democracy...
Some scholars have. I'm hardly an art historian, but I am passionate about art, and a work this massive can overwhelm me. So first, I focus on the big stuff. This is the allegory of good government.
Video examples
The myth of Sisyphus -...
about the rising and setting sun, or other natural cycles. But the vivid image of someone condemned to endlessly repeat a futile task has resonated as an allegory about the human condition.
Video examples
Why should you read...
an allegorical imagining of the soul’s journey towards God. But Dante’s "Divine Comedy" is more than just religious allegory. It’s also a witty, scathing commentary on Italian politics.
Video examples
At 17 Million Years Old,...
going to navigate things going down a river is kind of like an allegory for life like you don't you don't know what's around that next bend you don't know what's going to happen
Video examples
Pororoca! Surfing the...
because I love to be with the nature and with the waves the guy who made this board he was the first guy that surf the Polka in Brazil in allegory River so he knows
Video examples
The moral roots of...
respect here you see submissive gestures from two members of very closely related species but authority in humans is is not so closely based on on power and brutality as it is in other primates it's based on more voluntary deference and even elements of love at times the fifth foundation is purity sanctity this painting is called the allegory of chastity
Video examples
Plato’s Allegory of the...
by examining concepts like justice, truth and beauty. In the allegory, a group of prisoners have been confined in a cavern since birth, with no knowledge of the outside world. They are chained, facing a wall, unable to turn their heads, while a fire behind them gives off a faint light.
Video examples
Carolyn Steel: How food...
What would an allegory of good government look like today? Because I think it's an urgent question. It's one we have to ask, and we have to start answering. We know we are what we eat. We need to realize that the world is also what we eat. But if we take that idea, we can use food
Video examples
A brief history of goths...
Although Roman culture was never fully lost, its influence declined and new art styles arose focused on religious symbolism and allegory rather than proportion and realism. This shift extended to architecture
Video examples
Ebony Roberts and Shaka...
to discover why he was born. We are raising a free black boy in a world that despises black joy, and we refuse to put limits on him that the world already has. Our parenting can be seen as an allegory
Video examples
This is what democracy...
Some scholars have. I'm hardly an art historian, but I am passionate about art, and a work this massive can overwhelm me. So first, I focus on the big stuff. This is the allegory of good government.
Video examples
The myth of Sisyphus -...
about the rising and setting sun, or other natural cycles. But the vivid image of someone condemned to endlessly repeat a futile task has resonated as an allegory about the human condition.
Video examples
Why should you read...
an allegorical imagining of the soul’s journey towards God. But Dante’s "Divine Comedy" is more than just religious allegory. It’s also a witty, scathing commentary on Italian politics.
Video examples
At 17 Million Years Old,...
going to navigate things going down a river is kind of like an allegory for life like you don't you don't know what's around that next bend you don't know what's going to happen
Video examples
Pororoca! Surfing the...
because I love to be with the nature and with the waves the guy who made this board he was the first guy that surf the Polka in Brazil in allegory River so he knows
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Neill Blomkamp
South African Director
Obviously I don't want to make a film that offends people, but the whole world is so politically correct - I'm not going to not do something because it may be politically incorrect. At some point, the metaphors and allegories break down. They disappear, and you just have science fiction.
Quote examples
Amandla Stenberg
American Actress
There's so much power in allegory, to form ideas and learn lessons that you can actually take and apply to real life. I think that's why I originally really loved fantasy and reading.
Quote examples
Henry Timrod
American Poet
Each has its lesson; for our dreams in sooth, come they in shape of demons, gods, or elves, are allegories with deep hearts of truth that tell us solemn secrets of ourselves.
Quote examples
Boots Riley
American Musician
If you tell a story that's only allegory, then it doesn't help you at all. If it doesn't bring some emotional charge, then it's just talking about something.
Quote examples
Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel
German Poet
A priest is he who lives solely in the realm of the invisible, for whom all that is visible has only the truth of an allegory.
Quote examples
Manuel Puig
Argentinian Author
I think cinema is closer to allegories than to reality. It's closer to our dreams.
Quote examples
Juan Antonio Bayona
Spanish Director
The tree has been always an allegory for spiritual growth.
Quote examples
Charles Baudelaire
French Poet
Everything for me becomes allegory.
Quote examples
George A. Romero
American Director
I like to use horror as allegory.
Quote examples
J. R. R. Tolkien
English Novelist
I don't like allegories.
Quote examples
Neill Blomkamp
South African Director
Obviously I don't want to make a film that offends people, but the whole world is so politically correct - I'm not going to not do something because it may be politically incorrect. At some point, the metaphors and allegories break down. They disappear, and you just have science fiction.
Quote examples
Amandla Stenberg
American Actress
There's so much power in allegory, to form ideas and learn lessons that you can actually take and apply to real life. I think that's why I originally really loved fantasy and reading.
Quote examples
Henry Timrod
American Poet
Each has its lesson; for our dreams in sooth, come they in shape of demons, gods, or elves, are allegories with deep hearts of truth that tell us solemn secrets of ourselves.
Quote examples
Boots Riley
American Musician
If you tell a story that's only allegory, then it doesn't help you at all. If it doesn't bring some emotional charge, then it's just talking about something.
Quote examples
Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel
German Poet
A priest is he who lives solely in the realm of the invisible, for whom all that is visible has only the truth of an allegory.
Quote examples
Manuel Puig
Argentinian Author
I think cinema is closer to allegories than to reality. It's closer to our dreams.
Quote examples
Juan Antonio Bayona
Spanish Director
The tree has been always an allegory for spiritual growth.
Quote examples
Charles Baudelaire
French Poet
Everything for me becomes allegory.
Quote examples
George A. Romero
American Director
I like to use horror as allegory.
Quote examples
J. R. R. Tolkien
English Novelist
I don't like allegories.
Example 1 of 10
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