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Allegory

The Novel and Its Forms

As a literary device or artistic form, an allegory is a narrative or visual representation intended as symbolism for something with moral or political significance. Writers use allegory to convey semi-hidden or complex meanings through symbolic figures, actions, imagery or events that together build the moral, spiritual or political meaning the author intends, often through personification of abstract concepts.

Facts
Place of Origin
Ancient Greece 1
Notable Example
Plato's Allegory of the Cave, part of The Republic, is named among the best-known examples of allegory. 1
Defining Trait
As a literary device, an allegory is any narrative or visual work of art intended as symbolism for moral or political ideas, in which the depicted events and characters serve as symbols for those ideas. 1
FAQs

What is the best-known example of an allegory?

Plato's allegory of the cave in The Republic.

Plato's allegory of the cave is among the best-known examples of allegory. It forms a part of his larger work The Republic.

How far back do the origins of allegory go?

At least as far back as Homer.

The origins of allegory can be traced at least back to Homer, who made a quasi-allegorical use of personifications such as Terror (Deimos) and Fear (Phobos) in the Iliad.
Connections

Features Author

Source Wikipedia: Hans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen
In the Other Atlases

Originated In

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.

Source Allegory (Wikipedia)tier 2
Sources
1. Allegory (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Lead paragraph
    As a literary device or artistic form, an allegory is any narrative or visual work of art intended as symbolism for moral or political ideas.
  • Classical allegory section
    Among the best-known examples of allegory, Plato's Allegory of the Cave, forms a part of his larger work The Republic.
  • Classical allegory section, opening sentence
    The origins of allegory can be traced at least back to Homer in his "quasi-allegorical" use of personifications of, e.g., Terror (Deimos) and Fear (Phobos) at Il. 115 f.
  • In Group: Broad Forms and Narrative Modes of Fiction, Lead
    As a literary device or artistic form, an allegory is any narrative or visual work of art intended as symbolism for moral or political ideas.
View the Source
Wikipedia: Hans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen
Features Author: Hans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen, Infobox, genre field
Quote, Features Author: Hans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Novel, Allegory, Satire
View the Source
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