What is an allegory? Let’s start with a bunch of definitions.

ALLEGORY a story in which people, things, and happenings have a hidden or symbolic meaning: allegories are used for teaching or explaining ideas, moral principles, etc.

ALLEGORY a narrative (that means story) in which characters and action represent concepts different from the literal meaning of the story.

ALLEGORY Extending a metaphor (comparison) through an entire speech, passage or story so that objects, persons, and actions in the text are equated with meanings that lie outside the text.

ALLEGORY a story with both a literal and symbolic meaning (characters, events or things in the story represent something else)

ALLEGORY An allegory is a fictional story that refers to a real life situation using metaphors (comparisons).

ALLEGORY a story in which the characters and events are symbols that stand for ideas about human life or for a political or historical situation

Still confused? Well then, let’s look at some examples.

TWO WOLVES One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.

One is evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

How is the story of the two wolves an allegory?

Think about the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

How is the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears an allegory?

Aesop's fables are examples of simple allegories, such as: The Ant and the Grasshopper - the grasshopper fails to provide for the winter while wasting time mocking the ant. The Dog and his Shadow - where the dog sees his reflection in a stream, and thinks the "other dog" has a larger piece of meat. He drops the one he's holding to grab it, and loses the meat in the water.

The Tortoise and the Hare The story of the tortoise and the hare is an allegory, expressing the belief that the slow and steady will always defeat the quick and prideful in the end. In Aesop’s popular fable two different distinct personality types compete, with the winner living slow and stable over the loser’s fast and impetuous lifestyle.

The Tortoise and the Hare continued… The hare has often been linked to youthful virility and physical vitality. The tortoise, on the other hand, is linked to age and tiredness. Two anthropomorphized creatures (animals given human qualities) compete for superiority, with the tortoise victor awarded fame, while the loser hare stews in his own disgrace, having failed to heed his elder's wisdom on matters of effective racing strategies.

The blindfolded figure with scales is an allegory of justice.

What is Dr. Seuss’s Star Bellied Sneetches an allegory for?

A great example of allegory is Dr. Seuss‘s work. One example is The Sneetches. Animals think they are greater than other animals because they have a star on their stomach.

With a partner: What other examples of allegory can you think of? Try to come up with two.